bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Changes of in vivo electrical conductivity in the brain and torso related to age, fat fraction and sex using MRI
Authors: He Zhongzheng , Soullié Paul , Lefebvre Pauline , Ambarki Khalid , Felblinger Jacques , Odille Freddy 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThis work was inspired by the observation that a majority of MR-electrical properties tomography studies are based on direct comparisons with ex vivo measurements carried out on post-mortem samples in the 90’s. As a result, the in vivo conductivity values obtained from MRI in the megahertz range in different types of tissues (brain, liver, tumors, muscles, etc.) found in the literature may not correspond to their ex vivo equivalent, which still serves as a reference for electromagnetic modelling. This study aims to pave the way for improving current databases since the definition of personalized electromagnetic models (e.g. for Specific Absorption Rate estimation) would benefit from better estimation. Seventeen healthy volunteers underwent MRI of both brain and thorax/abdomen using a three-dimensional ultrashort echo-time (UTE) sequence. We estimated conductivity (S/m) in several classes of macroscopic tissue using a customized reconstruction method from complex UTE images, and give general statistics for each of these regions (mean-median-standard deviation). These values are used to find possible correlations with biological parameters such as age, sex, body mass index and/or fat volume fraction, using linear regression analysis. In short, the collected in vivo values show significant deviations from the ex vivo values in conventional databases, and we show significant relationships with the latter parameters in certain organs for the first time, e.g. a decrease in brain conductivity with age.
Association of triglyceride glucose-body mass index with Alzheimer’s disease pathology, cognition and brain structure in non-demented people
Authors: Zhang Zihao , Chen Xin , Sheng Zehu 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe relationship between the triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI) index and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology, cognition, and brain structure remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate these associations, focusing on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers, cognitive measures, and brain imaging data. Eight hundred and fifty-five non-demented participants were included. Linear regression was used to explore associations between the TyG-BMI index and AD pathology, cognition, and brain structure. The association between the TyG-BMI index and AD risk was assessed using Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazards models. Longitudinal relationships were assessed using linear mixed-effects models. Mediation analyses were conducted to examine AD pathology’s potential mediating role between the TyG-BMI index and cognition as well as brain structure. In the linear regression analyses, higher TyG-BMI levels were associated with increased Aβ42 and decreased Tau, pTau, Tau/Aβ42, pTau/Aβ42, and pTau/Tau. Positive correlations were observed with mini-mental state examination (MMSE), memory (MEM), executive function (EF), and the volumes of the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, and middle temporal regions, while negative correlations were found with Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS). Longitudinally, the TyG-BMI index was inversely associated with ADAS, and positively with MMSE, MEM, EF, hippocampus, entorhinal, and middle temporal. High TyG-BMI levels were correlated with lower AD risk (HR 0.996 [0.994, 0.999]). Mediation analyses revealed AD pathology mediated the association between TyG-BMI index and cognition as well as brain structure. Additionally, the TyG-BMI index could mediate cognitive changes by influencing brain structure. The TyG-BMI index is associated with AD pathology, cognition, and brain structure.
Water body extraction from high spatial resolution remote sensing images based on enhanced U-Net and multi-scale information fusion
Authors: Cao Huidong , Tian Yanbing , Liu Yanli , Wang Ruihua 
Published: July 2024

AbstractEmploying deep learning techniques for the semantic segmentation of remote sensing images has emerged as a prevalent approach for acquiring information about water bodies. Yet, current models frequently fall short in accurately extracting water bodies from high-resolution remote sensing images, as these images often present intricate details of terrestrial objects and complex backgrounds. Vegetation, shadows, and other objects close to water boundaries have increased similarity to water bodies. Moreover, water bodies in high-resolution images have different boundary complexities, shapes, and sizes. This situation makes it somewhat challenging to accurately distinguish water bodies in high-resolution images. To overcome these difficulties, this paper presents a novel network model named EU-Net, specifically designed to extract water bodies from high-resolution remote sensing images. The proposed EU-Net model, with U-net as the backbone network, incorporates improved residual connections and attention mechanisms, and designs multi-scale dilated convolution and multi-scale feature fusion modules to enhance water body extraction performance in complex scenarios. Specifically, in the proposed model, improved residual connections are introduced to enable the learning of more complex features; the attention mechanism is employed to improve the model's discriminative ability by focusing on important channels and spatial areas. The implemented multi-scale dilated convolution technique enhances the model's receptive field while maintaining the same number of parameters. The designed multi-scale feature fusion module is capable of processing both small-scale details and large-scale structures in images, while simultaneously modeling the spatial context relationships of features at different scales. Experimental results validate the superior performance of EU-Net in accurately identifying water bodies from high-resolution remote sensing images, outperforming current models in terms of water extraction accuracy.
Efficient musculoskeletal annotation using free-form deformation
Authors: Fukuda Norio , Konda Shoji , Umehara Jun , Hirashima Masaya 
Published: July 2024

AbstractTraditionally, constructing training datasets for automatic muscle segmentation from medical images involved skilled operators, leading to high labor costs and limited scalability. To address this issue, we developed a tool that enables efficient annotation by non-experts and assessed its effectiveness for training an automatic segmentation network. Our system allows users to deform a template three-dimensional (3D) anatomical model to fit a target magnetic-resonance image using free-form deformation with independent control points for axial, sagittal, and coronal directions. This method simplifies the annotation process by allowing non-experts to intuitively adjust the model, enabling simultaneous annotation of all muscles in the template. We evaluated the quality of the tool-assisted segmentation performed by non-experts, which achieved a Dice coefficient greater than 0.75 compared to expert segmentation, without significant errors such as mislabeling adjacent muscles or omitting musculature. An automatic segmentation network trained with datasets created using this tool demonstrated performance comparable to or superior to that of networks trained with expert-generated datasets. This innovative tool significantly reduces the time and labor costs associated with dataset creation for automatic muscle segmentation, potentially revolutionizing medical image annotation and accelerating the development of deep learning-based segmentation networks in various clinical applications.
Elevated TyG index is associated with increased risk of vitamin D deficiency among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Xiang Qunyan , Xu Hu , Liu Youshou , Huang Wu 
Published: July 2024

AbstractVitamin D deficiency (VDD) is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and insulin resistance (IR). We aimed to investigate the association between the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index that represents IR and VDD in elderly patients with T2DM. We enrolled 572 elderly participants with T2DM in this study. TyG index was calculated as ln [fasting triglyceride (TG, mg/dL) × fasting blood glucose (mg/dL)/2]. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level below 50 nmol/L was defined as VDD. The association between the TyG index and the VDD risk was evaluated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. We observed a significant decreased 25(OH)D level with the increase of the TyG index in elderly diabetic patients, and a negative correlation between the TyG index and 25(OH)D level. The participants in the highest TyG quartile had a 2.40-fold higher risk of VDD than those in the lowest TyG index quartile [OR 2.40; 95% CI 1.47–3.92; P < 0.001]. The association persisted after adjustments for age, sex, smoking, obesity, insulin therapy, hypoglycemic agents’ medication, and some biochemical parameters. TyG index may be involved in the pathophysiology of VDD, which could be a predictor for VDD in elderly diabetic patients.
A cross-sectional study on the self-management of asthma and asthma control among adult asthmatic patients in the Aseer region, KSA
Authors: Makki Soha , Siddiqua Ayesha , Alqahtani Bushra Ali , Alkhuwaylidi Hanan , Alhefzi Lama , Hussain Maram , Saeed Sarah , Ahmed Waad , Abdelkarim Randa A. , Khaled Arwa 
Published: July 2024

AbstractProper management of asthma is crucial for maintaining control over the disease and has a significant impact on the patient’s overall condition. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of self-management and the level of Asthma control in the patients from the Aseer region of Saudi Arabia, as well as to investigate determinants of illness control. A study was conducted using quantitative cross-sectional methods. Researchers utilised a web-based, self-administered structured questionnaire to gather data. The questionnaire included three sections: a socio-demographic section, an Asthma Self-Management Questionnaire (ASMQ), and Asthma Control Test (ACT). An analysis using the chi-square test was conducted to determine if there was a notable connection between the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants and the level of asthma control. A total of 305 responses were collected. The average score for the Asthma Self-Management Questionnaire was 5.72, which corresponds to 40.9%. Based on the scores from the Asthma Control Test, it was found that 60 patients (20.0%) had asthma that was not under control, 94 (30.0%) had asthma that was partially controlled, and 151 (50.0%) had asthma that was well controlled. Factors such as gender, non-smoking status, and having asthma for over 10 years (p ˂0.05) were found to be strongly correlated with improved disease control. Significant gaps were found in patients’ awareness of the most important and critical aspects concerning the condition, medications, and preventative actions that limit asthma aggravation. To address the current situation, hospitals and clinics must make substantial efforts.
Lightweight bobbin yarn detection model for auto-coner with yarn bank
Authors: Dai Ning , Hu Xiaohan , Xu Kaixin , Hu Xudong , Yuan Yanhong , Tu Jiajia 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe automated replacement of empty tubes in the yarn bank is a critical step in the process of automatic winding machines with yarn banks, as the real-time detection of depleted yarn on spools and accurate positioning of empty tubes directly impact the production efficiency of winding machines. Addressing the shortcomings of traditional methods, such as poor adaptability and low sensitivity in optical and visual tube detection, and aiming to reduce the computational and detection time costs introduced by neural networks, this paper proposes a lightweight yarn spool detection model based on YOLOv8. The model utilizes Darknet-53 as the backbone network, and due to the dense spatial distribution of yarn spool targets, it incorporates large selective kernel units to enhance the recognition and positioning of dense targets. To address the issue of excessive focus on local features by convolutional neural networks, a bi-level routing attention mechanism is introduced to capture long-distance dependencies dynamically. Furthermore, to balance accuracy and detection speed, a FasterNeck is constructed as the neck network, replacing the original convolutional blocks with Ghost convolutions and integrating with FasterNet. This design minimizes the sacrifice of detection accuracy while achieving a significant improvement in inference speed. Lastly, the model employs weighted IoU with a dynamic focusing mechanism as the bounding box loss function. Experimental results on a custom yarn spool dataset demonstrate a notable improvement over the baseline model, with a high-confidence mAP of 94.2% and a compact weight size of only 4.9 MB. The detection speed reaches 223FPS, meeting the requirements for industrial deployment and real-time detection.
In vitro fertilization results of GNRH antagonists and medroxyprogesterone acetate used to prevent premature LH surge during ovarian hyperstimulation
Authors: Dinç Can , Arıkan Saltuk Buğra , Özer Mustafa , Olgan Şafak 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) treatment in comparison to those of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists for the prevention of premature luteinizing hormone surges during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (OS) and the impact of these effects on developing embryos and pregnancy outcomes. Data from 757 cycles of GnRH antagonist treatment and 756 cycles of MPA treatment were evaluated at the Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine Assisted Reproductive Treatment Center between October 2018 and April 2022. Patient records were obtained from the electronic database of the centre and analysed. In our centre, GnRH antagonist protocols were used between 2018 and 2020, and MPA protocols were used between 2020 and 2022. We chose our study population by year. Our study is a comparative retrospective study. All methods in this study were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations. Patients using MPA were significantly older (33.9 ± 5.6 vs. 32.6 ± 5.6, p < 0.001) and had a lower number of antral follicles (AFC) (10.7 ± 8.6 vs. 11.9 ± 10.8, p = 0.007) than those using GnRH antagonists. Both MPA (2.9%) and GnRH antagonists (2.2%) had similar effectiveness in preventing premature ovulation (p = 0.415). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the number of total developed embryos (1.3 ± 1.3 vs. 1.2 ± 1.2, p = 0.765). There was no significant difference in the clinical pregnancy rates with the first ET (%35.4 vs. %30.1, p = 0.074), per total number of transfers (35.3% vs. 30.1%, p = 0.077). MPA was found to be effective at preventing premature ovulation during OS treatment, and the incidence of developing embryo and pregnancy outcomes in patients using MPA were similar to those in patients using GnRH antagonists. Therefore, the use of MPA instead of GnRH antagonists during OS may be a viable alternative for patients not scheduled for fresh ET.
Rising seas could cross thresholds for initiating coastal wetland drowning within decades across much of the United States
Authors: Osland Michael J. , Chivoiu Bogdan , Grace James B. , Enwright Nicholas M. , Guntenspergen Glenn R. , Buffington Kevin J. , Thorne Karen M. , Carr Joel A. , Sweet William V. , Couvillion Brady R. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractAccelerated sea-level rise is an existential threat to coastal wetlands, but the timing and extent of wetland drowning are debated. Recent data syntheses have clarified future relative sea-level rise exposure and sensitivity thresholds for drowning. Here, we integrate these advances to estimate when and where rising sea levels could cross thresholds for initiating wetland drowning across the conterminous United States. Our results show that there is much spatial variation in relative sea-level rise rates, which impacts the potential timing and extent of wetlands crossing thresholds. High rates of relative sea-level rise along wetland-rich parts of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coasts highlight areas where wetlands are already drowning or could begin to drown within decades, including large wetland landscapes within the Mississippi River delta, Greater Everglades, Chesapeake Bay, Texas, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Collectively, our results underscore the need to prepare for transformative coastal change.
Recommendations for evaluating photoplethysmography-based algorithms for blood pressure assessment
Authors: Elgendi Mohamed , Haugg Fridolin , Fletcher Richard Ribon , Allen John , Shin Hangsik , Alian Aymen , Menon Carlo 
Published: July 2024

AbstractPhotoplethysmography (PPG) is a non-invasive optical technique that measures changes in blood volume in the microvascular tissue bed of the body. While it shows potential as a clinical tool for blood pressure (BP) assessment and hypertension management, several sources of error can affect its performance. One such source is the PPG-based algorithm, which can lead to measurement bias and inaccuracy. Here, we review seven widely used measures to assess PPG-based algorithm performance and recommend implementing standardized error evaluation steps in their development. This standardization can reduce bias and improve the reliability and accuracy of PPG-based BP estimation, leading to better health outcomes for patients managing hypertension.
Varizella Zoster
Authors: Ehrchen Jan , Hoy Matthias 
Published: July 2024

ZusammenfassungDas Varizella-zoster-Virus (VZV) ist Erreger der Varizellen (Primärinfektion) und des Herpes zoster (Rezidiv). Die Erstinfektion erfolgt meist im Kindesalter über die respiratorische Route. Es kommt dabei zu einer systemischen Infektion mit dem VZV und an der Haut zu dem typischen VZV-Exanthem. Das VZV-Virus persistiert nach der Primärinfektion lebenslang in den sensorischen Spinalganglien. Im Laufe des Lebens kann es aus den Spinalganglien zu einer Reaktivierung des VZV kommen. Das VZV gelangt dabei entlang der sensorischen Nerven in das entsprechende Dermatom und verursacht in diesem den Herpes zoster. Zur Therapie stehen spezifische Virostatika zur Verfügung. Eine medikamentöse Therapie ist bei schweren Verläufen der Varizellen und bereits bei Risiko für schwere Verläufe des Herpes zoster angezeigt.
Informations- und Beratungsbedarf bei Elternschaftsentscheidungen:
Genügen bestehende Angebote und welche Rolle spielen
Depressionen?
Authors: Meyer Olivia Maria , Ehrenthal Johannes C. , Erbe Doris 
Published: July 2024

Zusammenfassung
Ziel der Studie Unterstützungsbedarf bei Elternschaftsentscheidungen und
der damit einhergehende Wunsch nach Informations- und Beratungsangeboten sind
insbesondere in Bezug auf Gruppen von Menschen mit psychischen Belastungen
unzureichend erforscht. Ziel der Studie war das Erfassen von Informations- und
Beratungsbedarf bei Elternschaftsentscheidungen. Zudem wurde untersucht, ob
stärkere depressive Symptomatik mit erhöhten Bedarfen einhergeht.
Methodik In einer Online-Studie wurde eine Stichprobe von 187 Personen
zwischen 20 und 44 Jahren erhoben.
Ergebnisse Nicht genügend Informationen zum Thema zu haben, äußerten 45%
der Teilnehmenden, der Informationswunsch bezog sich auf zahlreiche Themen. Ein
größeres Angebot professioneller Beratung wünschten sich 65% der Teilnehmenden,
74% wussten (eher) nicht, wo diese in Anspruch genommen werden kann. Bestehende
Beratungsangebote wurden in Relation zu den Bedarfen selten und bei überwiegend
mittelmäßiger Zufriedenheit genutzt. Eine stärkere depressive Symptomatik ging
nicht mit erhöhten Informations- oder Beratungsbedarfen einher.
Diskussion und Schlussfolgerung Die Ergebnisse legen einen Ausbau der
Unterstützungsangebote zu Elternschaftsentscheidungen nahe. Die weitere
Erforschung der Bedarfe verschiedener Gruppen und Hürden bei der Inanspruchnahme
bestehender Angebote ist hierzu maßgeblich.
Determination of the optimal imaging protocol for [18F]PSMA-PET-CT for the detection of bone metastases in prostate cancer patients
Authors: Bredensteiner Linus , Ventura David , Rassek Philipp , Schäfers Michael , Bögemann Martin , Schindler Philipp , Weckesser Matthias , Rahbar Kambiz , Roll Wolfgang 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Aim Prostate-specific membrane antigen-positron emission tomography (PSMA-PET) is a widely used diagnostic tool in patients with prostate cancer (PC). However, due to the limited availability of PET scanners and relevant acquisition costs, it is important to consider the indications and acquisition time. The aim of this investigation was to determine whether a PET scan from the skull base to the proximal thigh is sufficient to detect the presence of bone metastases.
Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1050 consecutive [18F]PSMA-1007-PET-CT scans from the head to the proximal lower leg. The PET scans were categorised according to the presence and amount of bone metastases: (1) 1–5, (2) 6–19 and (3) ≥20. Additionally, the PET scans were evaluated for the presence of bone metastases below the proximal thigh as well as bone metastases above the skull base. Imaging results were compared to patients PSA values.
Results Of the 391 patients with bone metastases, 146 (37.3%) exhibited metastases located below the proximal thigh and 104 (26.6%) above the skull base. The majority of bone metastases located below the proximal thigh (145, 99.3%) and above the skull base (94, 90.4%) were identified in patients with more than five bone metastases. No solitary distal metastasis was detected. The PSA value correlated significantly with number of bone metastases (e. g., 1–5 vs. ≥20 bone metastases, P < 0.001) and was significantly higher in patients with distal bone metastases (P < 0.001). ROC analysis showed that a PSA value of 11.15 ng/mL is the optimal cut-off for detecting bone metastases located below the proximal thigh, with an AUC of 0.919 (95% CI: 0.892–0.945, sensitivity 87%, specificity 86%). Similarly, the PSA value of 12.86 ng/mL is the optimal cut-off for detecting bone metastases above the skull base with an AUC of 0.904 (95% CI: 0.874–0.935, sensitivity 87%, specificity 83%).
Conclusion PSMA-PET acquisition protocols from the skull base to the proximal femur may be sufficient to accurately detect bone metastatic disease in PC. PSA values can provide decision support for individual PET acquisition protocols.