bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Computerized tongue image segmentation via the double geo-vector flow
Authors: Shi Miao-Jing , Li Guo-Zheng , Li Fu-Feng , Xu Chao 
Published: February 2014

Abstract

Background
Visual inspection for tongue analysis is a diagnostic method in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Owing to the variations in tongue features, such as color, texture, coating, and shape, it is difficult to precisely extract the tongue region in images. This study aims to quantitatively evaluate tongue diagnosis via automatic tongue segmentation.

Methods
Experiments were conducted using a clinical image dataset provided by the Laboratory of Traditional Medical Syndromes, Shanghai University of TCM. First, a clinical tongue image was refined by a saliency window. Second, we initialized the tongue area as the upper binary part and lower level set matrix. Third, a double geo-vector flow (DGF) was proposed to detect the tongue edge and segment the tongue region in the image, such that the geodesic flow was evaluated in the lower part, and the geo-gradient vector flow was evaluated in the upper part.

Results
The performance of the DGF was evaluated using 100 images. The DGF exhibited better results compared with other representative studies, with its true-positive volume fraction reaching 98.5%, its false-positive volume fraction being 1.51%, and its false-negative volume fraction being 1.42%. The errors between the proposed automatic segmentation results and manual contours were 0.29 and 1.43% in terms of the standard boundary error metrics of Hausdorff distance and mean distance, respectively.

Conclusions
By analyzing the time complexity of the DGF and evaluating its performance via standard boundary and area error metrics, we have shown both efficiency and effectiveness of the DGF for automatic tongue image segmentation.
Electromyography and sonomyography analysis of the tibialis anterior: a cross sectional study
Authors: Ruiz‐Muñoz Maria , Cuesta‐Vargas Antonio I 
Published: February 2014

AbstractBackgroundFoot dorsiflexion plays an essential role in both controlling balance and human gait. Electromyography (EMG) and sonomyography (SMG) can provide information on several aspects of muscle function. The aim was to establish the relationship between the EMG and SMG variables during isotonic contractions of foot dorsiflexors.MethodsTwenty‐seven healthy young adults performed the foot dorsiflexion test on a device designed ad hoc. EMG variables were maximum peak and area under the curve. Muscular architecture variables were muscle thickness and pennation angle. Descriptive statistical analysis, inferential analysis and a multivariate linear regression model were carried out. The confidence level was established with a statistically significant p‐value of less than 0.05.ResultsThe correlation between EMG variables and SMG variables was r = 0.462 (p < 0.05). The linear regression model to the dependent variable “peak normalized tibialis anterior (TA)” from the independent variables “pennation angle and thickness”, was significant (p = 0.002) with an explained variance of R2 = 0.693 and SEE = 0.16.ConclusionsThere is a significant relationship and degree of contribution between EMG and SMG variables during isotonic contractions of the TA muscle. Our results suggest that EMG and SMG can be feasible tools for monitoring and assessment of foot dorsiflexors. TA muscle parameterization and assessment is relevant in order to know that increased strength accelerates the recovery of lower limb injuries.
Volume-rendered hemorrhage-responsible arteriogram created by 64 multidetector-row CT during aortography: utility for catheterization in transcatheter arterial embolization for acute arterial bleeding
Authors: Minamiguchi Hiroki , Kawai Nobuyuki , Sato Morio , Ikoma Akira , Sanda Hiroki , Nakata Kouhei , Tanaka Fumihiro , Nakai Motoki , Sonomura Tetsuo , Murotani Kazuhiro , Hosokawa Seiki , Nishioku Tadayoshi 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
Aortography for detecting hemorrhage is limited when determining the catheter treatment strategy because the artery responsible for hemorrhage commonly overlaps organs and non-responsible arteries. Selective catheterization of untargeted arteries would result in repeated arteriography, large volumes of contrast medium, and extended time. A volume-rendered hemorrhage-responsible arteriogram created with 64 multidetector-row CT (64MDCT) during aortography (MDCTAo) can be used both for hemorrhage mapping and catheter navigation. The MDCTAo depicted hemorrhage in 61 of 71 cases of suspected acute arterial bleeding treated at our institute in the last 3 years. Complete hemostasis by embolization was achieved in all cases. The hemorrhage-responsible arteriogram was used for navigation during catheterization, thus assisting successful embolization. Hemorrhage was not visualized in the remaining 10 patients, of whom 6 had a pseudoaneurysm in a visceral artery; 1 with urinary bladder bleeding and 1 with chest wall hemorrhage had gaze tamponade; and 1 with urinary bladder hemorrhage and 1 with uterine hemorrhage had spastic arteries. Six patients with pseudoaneurysm underwent preventive embolization and the other 4 patients were managed by watchful observation. MDCTAo has the advantage of depicting the arteries responsible for hemoptysis, whether from the bronchial arteries or other systemic arteries, in a single scan. MDCTAo is particularly useful for identifying the source of acute arterial bleeding in the pancreatic arcade area, which is supplied by both the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries. In a case of pelvic hemorrhage, MDCTAo identified the responsible artery from among numerous overlapping visceral arteries that branched from the internal iliac arteries. In conclusion, a hemorrhage-responsible arteriogram created by 64MDCT immediately before catheterization is useful for deciding the catheter treatment strategy for acute arterial bleeding.
Comparison of three different kits for extraction of high-quality RNA from frozen blood
Authors: Kim Jin-Hee , Jin Hyeon-Ok , Park Jin-Ah , Chang Yoon Hwan , Hong Young Jun , Lee Jin Kyung 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
Extraction of high-quality RNA is a crucial step in gene expression profiling. To achieve optimal RNA extraction from frozen blood, the performance of three RNA extraction kits- TRI reagent, PAXgene blood RNA system (PAXgene) and NucleoSpin RNA blood kit (NucleoSpin)- was evaluated. Fifteen blood specimens collected in tubes containing potassium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and stored at −80°C for approximately 5 years were randomly selected. The yield and purity of RNA, RIN (RNA integrity number) values and cycle threshold (Ct) values were assessed. Mean RNA yields with TRI reagent, PAXgene and NucleoSpin were 15.6 ± 8.7 μg/ml, 3.1 ± 1.7 μg/ml and 9.0 ± 5.5 μg/ml, respectively. Mean A260/280 ratios of RNA for the three kits were 1.7 ± 0.1, 2.0 ± 0.1, and 2.0 ± 0.0, and mean RIN values recorded as 3.2 ± 0.8, 6.0 ± 1.1, and 6.4 ± 0.9, respectively. The Ct values of housekeeping genes, 18S rRNA, β-actin, RPLP0 and HPRT1, were as follows: TRI reagent (19.2 ± 1.6, 30.6 ± 1.8, 29.9 ± 1.4 and 36.3 ± 1.3), PAXgene 16.6 ± 1.4, 26.4 ± 1.3, 28.2 ± 1.8 and 33.8 ± 1.1), and NucleoSpin (16.3 ± 1.5, 27.2 ± 1.3, 27.0 ± 1.6 and 32.9 ± 1.6). RNA yield using TRI reagent was 1.7 times higher than that with NucleoSpin and 5 times higher than that with PAXgene. However, the purity and integrity of TRI-extracted RNA was lower than that extracted with PAXgene and NucleoSpin. Moreover, the Ct values of housekeeping genes after extraction with TRI reagent were approximately 1.7-3.8 times higher than those obtained with PAXgene and NucleoSpin. The PAXgene and NucleoSpin kits produced similar results in terms of RNA purity and integrity and subsequent gene amplification. However, RNA yields from NucleoSpin were 2.9-fold higher, compared to PAXgene. Based on these findings, we conclude that NucleoSpin is the most effective kit for extraction of abundant and high-quality RNA from frozen blood.
Smoothing surfaces and attributes
Authors: Hall Matt 
Published: February 2014

Welcome to this new column. Every two months, a geoscientist will present a brief exploration of a geophysical topic. The idea is to take a tour bus around a subject and point out some of the sights, perhaps stopping briefly at an exemplary problem or instructive viewpoint. So far it's useful, but maybe not remarkable. The remarkable thing, I hope, is that the tour will be open access. The tutors will use only open data sets that anyone can download. There will be no proprietary software. I will strongly encourage the use of Octave, R, or Python, all high-level (that is, easy-to-learn) programming languages for scientists, and the important parts of the code will be shared. I've tried to give a flavor of all this in today's tutorial, using Python. If you are new to Python, IPython is a great place to start—visit ipython.org/install .
Patient-Reported Quality of Supportive Care Among Patients With Colorectal Cancer in the Veterans Affairs Health Care System
Authors: van Ryn Michelle , Phelan Sean M. , Arora Neeraj K. , Haggstrom David A. , Jackson George L. , Zafar S. Yousuf , Griffin Joan M. , Zullig Leah L. , Provenzale Dawn , Yeazel Mark W. , Jindal Rahul M. , Clauser Steven B. 
Published: February 2014

Purpose High-quality supportive care is an essential component of comprehensive cancer care. We implemented a patient-centered quality of cancer care survey to examine and identify predictors of quality of supportive care for bowel problems, pain, fatigue, depression, and other symptoms among 1,109 patients with colorectal cancer. Patients and Methods Patients with new diagnosis of colorectal cancer at any Veterans Health Administration medical center nationwide in 2008 were ascertained through the Veterans Affairs Central Cancer Registry and sent questionnaires assessing a variety of aspects of patient-centered cancer care. We received questionnaires from 63% of eligible patients (N = 1,109). Descriptive analyses characterizing patient experiences with supportive care and binary logistic regression models were used to examine predictors of receipt of help wanted for each of the five symptom categories. Results There were significant gaps in patient-centered quality of supportive care, beginning with symptom assessment. In multivariable modeling, the impact of clinical factors and patient race on odds of receiving wanted help varied by symptom. Coordination of care quality predicted receipt of wanted help for all symptoms, independent of patient demographic or clinical characteristics. Conclusion This study revealed substantial gaps in patient-centered quality of care, difficult to characterize through quality measurement relying on medical record review alone. It established the feasibility of collecting patient-reported quality measures. Improving quality measurement of supportive care and implementing patient-reported outcomes in quality-measurement systems are high priorities for improving the processes and outcomes of care for patients with cancer.
Open-Label, Exploratory Phase II Trial of Oral Itraconazole for the Treatment of Basal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Kim Daniel J. , Kim James , Spaunhurst Katrina , Montoya Javier , Khodosh Rita , Chandra Kalyani , Fu Teresa , Gilliam Anita , Molgo Monserrat , Beachy Philip A. , Tang Jean Y. 
Published: February 2014

Purpose Itraconazole, a US Food and Drug Administration–approved antifungal drug, inhibits the Hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway, a crucial driver of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) tumorigenesis, and reduces BCC growth in mice. We assessed the effect of itraconazole on the HH pathway and on tumor size in human BCC tumors. Patients and Methods Patients with ≥ one BCC tumor > 4 mm in diameter were enrolled onto two cohorts to receive oral itraconazole 200 mg twice per day for 1 month (cohort A) or 100 mg twice per day for an average of 2.3 months (cohort B). The primary end point was change in biomarkers: Ki67 tumor proliferation and HH activity (GLI1 mRNA). Secondary end points included change in tumor size in a subset of patients with multiple tumors. Results A total of 29 patients were enrolled, of whom 19 were treated with itraconazole. Itraconazole treatment was associated with two adverse events (grade 2 fatigue and grade 4 congestive heart failure). Itraconazole reduced cell proliferation by 45% (P = .04), HH pathway activity by 65% (P = .03), and reduced tumor area by 24% (95% CI, 18.2% to 30.0%). Of eight patients with multiple nonbiopsied tumors, four achieved partial response, and four had stable disease. Tumors from untreated control patients and from those previously treated with vismodegib showed no significant changes in proliferation or tumor size. Conclusion Itraconazole has anti-BCC activity in humans. These results provide the basis for larger trials of longer duration to measure the clinical efficacy of itraconazole, especially relative to other HH pathway inhibitors.
Book Reviews
Authors: Rand Graham K. 
Published: February 2014

In Book Reviews, we review an extensive and diverse range of books. They cover theory and applications in operations research, statistics, management science, econometrics, mathematics, computers, and information systems. In addition, we include books in other fields that emphasize technical applications. The editor will be pleased to receive an e-mail from those willing to review a book, with an indication of specific areas of interest. If you are aware of a specific book that you would like to review, or that you think should be reviewed, please contact the editor. The following books are reviewed in this issue of Interfaces, 44(1), January–February 2014: Blackett’s War: The Men Who Defeated the Nazi U-Boats and Brought Science to the Art of Warfare, Stephen Budiansky; Handbook of Newsvendor Problems: Models, Extensions and Applications, Tsan-Ming Choi; Measuring the Performance of Public Services: Principles and Practice, Michael Pidd; Portfolio Decision Analysis: Improved Methods for Resource Allocation, Ahti Salo, Jeffrey Keisler, and Alec Morton; Managing Supply Chain Risk, ManMohan Sodhi and Christopher S. Tang; Public Policy Analysis: New Developments, Wil A. H. Thissen and Warren E. Walker; and Global Optimization: A Stochastic Approach, Stefan Schäffler.
Abortion Incidence and Service Availability In the United States, 2011
Authors: Jones Rachel K. , Jerman Jenna 
Published: February 2014

CONTEXTFollowing a long‐term decline, abortion incidence stabilized between 2005 and 2008. Given the proliferation of state‐level abortion restrictions, it is critical to assess abortion incidence and access to services since that time.METHODSIn 2012–2013, all facilities known or expected to have provided abortion services in 2010 and 2011 were surveyed. Data on the number of abortions were combined with population data to estimate national and state‐level abortion rates. Incidence of abortions was assessed by provider type and caseload. Information on state abortion regulations implemented between 2008 and 2011 was collected, and possible relationships with abortion rates and provider numbers were considered.RESULTSIn 2011, an estimated 1.1 million abortions were performed in the United States; the abortion rate was 16.9 per 1,000 women aged 15–44, representing a drop of 13% since 2008. The number of abortion providers declined 4%; the number of clinics dropped 1%. In 2011, 89% of counties had no clinics, and 38% of women of reproductive age lived in those counties. Early medication abortions accounted for a greater proportion of nonhospital abortions in 2011 (23%) than in 2008 (17%). Of the 106 new abortion restrictions implemented during the study period, few or none appeared to be related to state‐level patterns in abortion rates or number of providers.CONCLUSIONSThe national abortion rate has resumed its decline, and no evidence was found that the overall drop in abortion incidence was related to the decrease in providers or to restrictions implemented between 2008 and 2011.
Citizenship teachers – Different types, different needs
Authors: Leighton Ralph 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
This article outlines the diverse nature of Citizenship Education provision in England and identifies some problems arising from such diversity in relation to the initial and continued professional development of pre-service and in-service teachers. It goes on to outline some of the variety of academic background among teachers of Citizenship Education and some of the challenges that arise for both specialist and non-specialist citizenship teachers in addressing divergent and complex modes of subject provision. Differences in school provision, teacher background and attitude(s) to the subject require sensitivity in the construction and delivery of programmes intended to enhance teacher confidence and competence in Citizenship Education. A typology of the ‘8 Cs’ of citizenship teachers is identified and discussed, outlining the range of needs and attitudes among specialist and non-specialist teachers of Citizenship Education, and some recommendations are offered regarding how these can be approached.
Reviews
Authors: Davies Ian , Stahl Garth 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
The Years of Lyndon Johnson, Volume 4. The Passage of Power, Robert A. Caro (2012) London: The Bodley Head, 736pp., ISBN: 9781847922175, h/bk, £35
The Teacher and the World: A Study of Cosmopolitanism as Education, David T. Hansen (2011) New York: Routledge, 176 pp., ISBN: 9780415783323, p/bk, £16.99
Identification of external critical success factors in biotechnology firms
Authors: Gholamali Abdolreza , Abbasi Dariush , Zanjani Sima Sarafi 
Published: February 2014

Biotechnology is expected to change production methods, the products themselves and the structure of the industries in the new economies. Hopefully, countries in the Middle-East, Latin America, Asia and Africa have already recognized the importance of biotechnology's promise. In this sense, the importance of externalities which might affect the success or failure of these companies becomes an issue of paramount importance. In the present study, we will try to identify the main external factors which could lead in the success of biotechnology firms in Iran. To do so, the research follows a qualitative research design to answer this main question. Based on our findings, critical success factors are categorized in the following categories: General Environment (GE), Political Position (PP), Economic Position (EP), and Market Position (MP).
ZnO:Al films prepared by inline DC magnetron sputtering
Authors: Bingel Astrid , Füchsel Kevin , Kaiser Norbert , Tünnermann Andreas 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
Aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) is one of the most promising transparent conductive oxide (TCO) materials that can substitute the high-quality but costly indium tin oxide (ITO). To ensure high-quality films as well as moderate production costs, inline DC magnetron sputtering was chosen to deposit thin AZO films. The influence of sputter gas pressure, substrate temperature, and film thickness on the electrical, optical, and structural properties was analyzed. The resistivity reaches a minimum of 1.3×10-5 Ωm at around 1 Pa for a substrate temperature of 90°C. A maximum conductivity was obtained by increasing the substrate temperature to 160°C. An annealing step after deposition led to a further decrease in resistivity to a value of 5.3×10-6 Ωm in a 200 nm thin film. At the same time, the optical performance could be improved. Additionally, simulations of the transmittance and reflectance spectra were carried out to compare carrier concentration and mobility determined by optical techniques with those from Hall measurements.
The Minimum Wage and Crime
Authors: Beauchamp Andrew , Chan Stacey 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
Does crime respond to changes in the minimum wage? A growing body of empirical evidence indicates that increases in the minimum wage have a displacement effect on low-skilled workers. Economic reasoning provides the possibility that disemployment may cause youth to substitute from legal work to crime. However, there is also the countervailing effect of a higher wage raising the opportunity cost of crime for those who remain employed. We use the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 cohort to measure the effect of increases in the minimum wage on self-reported criminal activity and examine employment–crime substitution. Exploiting changes in state and federal minimum wage laws from 1997 to 2010, we find that workers who are affected by a change in the minimum wage are more likely to commit crime, become idle, and lose employment. Individuals experiencing a binding minimum wage change were more likely to commit crime and work only part time. Analyzing heterogeneity shows those with past criminal connections are especially likely to see decreased employment and increased crime following a policy change, suggesting that reduced employment effects dominate any wage effects. The findings have implications for policy regarding both the low-wage labor market and efforts to deter criminal activity.
On-the-Job Search and Finding a Good Job Through Social Contacts
Authors: Horvath Gergely 
Published: February 2014

AbstractThe interactions between on-the-job search and finding a job through social contacts are investigated in a Diamond–Mortensen–Pissarides search model with heterogeneous wages. Workers may find a job through their social contacts and on the formal market. The presence of social contacts increases the overall welfare in society as it rises the number of workers earning high wages and decreases the unemployment rate. However, unemployed workers finding a job through social ties earn lower wages on average than those who obtain a job on the formal market. This result follows from on-the-job search: employed workers pass only those offers on to their neighbors that pay (weakly) lower wages than their current wages earned. Despite the wage discount, unemployed workers still might find it beneficial to search via social ties because arrival rate of offers is higher for this channel than for the formal market when the number of neighbors is sufficiently large. There is a trade-off between unemployment duration and wages earned for workers obtaining a job via social ties.
WPC Soft: Prototype Simulation Software to Predict the Internal Changes During Hot Pressing of Wood Plastic Composites
Authors: Gupta Ritu , Sulaiman Norrozila , Gupta Arun , Beg Mohammed Dalour Hossen 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
This paper proposes a simulation model for the heat transfer of the wood plastic composite (WPC), manufactured by using the compression moulding technique. A generalised one-dimensional model for transient heat transfer during hot pressing is proposed based on mathematical equations and engineering principles. Finite difference approach is applied using numerical methods, and a solution to the problem is obtained using explicit method. MATLAB is used for programming purpose. The results obtained from the simulation model are then validated with the experimental data available in the literature. It is observed that the simulation results are in close agreement with the experimental results within an acceptable range. The model is integrated with the GUI in the form of simulation software, and the user does not need knowledge of MATLAB. A case study is also performed for the application of the model. This simulation model can be useful for gaining the insight during compression moulding process and may be helpful to optimize the hot-pressing parameters to improve the quality of WPC, while reducing the pressing time.