bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Scene‐content‐sensitive real‐time adaptive foveated rendering
Authors: Shen Chuanyu , Chen Chunyi , Hu Xiaojuan 
Published: July 2024

AbstractIn recent years, techniques for accelerating rendering by exploiting the limitations of the human visual system have become increasingly prevalent. The foveated rendering method significantly reduces the computational requirements during rendering by reducing image quality in peripheral regions. In this paper, we propose a scene‐content‐sensitive real‐time adaptive foveated rendering method. First, we pre‐render the three‐dimensional (3D) scene at a low resolution. Then, we utilize the low‐resolution pre‐rendered image as input to extract edge, local contrast, and color features. Subsequently, we generate a screen‐space region division map based on the gaze point position. Next, we calculate the visual importance of each 16 × 16 pixel tile based on edge, local contrast, color, and screen‐space region. We then map the visual importance to the shading rate to generate a shading rate control map for the current frame. Finally, we complete the rendering of the current frame based on variable rate shading technology. Experimental results demonstrate that our method effectively enhances the visual quality of images near the foveal region while generating high quality foveal region images. Furthermore, our method can significantly improve performance compared to per‐pixel shading method and existing scene‐content‐based foveated rendering methods.
Impact of hepatic steatosis on risk of acute liver injury in people with chronic hepatitis B and SARS‐CoV‐2 infection
Authors: Chung Matthew S. H. , Wong Carlos K. H. , Li Xue , Lai Francisco T. T. , Wan Eric Y. F. , Chui Celine S. L. , Cheng Franco W. T. , Chan Esther W. , Cheung Ching Lung , Xiong Xi , Li Lanlan , Seto Wai Kay , Yuen Man‐Fung , Mak Lung‐Yi , Wong Ian C. K. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractBackgroundSARS‐CoV‐2 infection was known to be associated with higher risk of liver impairment in people with chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB). However, evidence regarding the impact of concomitant hepatic steatosis (HS) on the risk of liver disease among people with CHB and SARS‐CoV‐2 infection is lacking. We investigated the impact of concomitant HS on people with CHB suffering from SARS‐CoV‐2 infection.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study was performed using an electronic health database for people in Hong Kong with CHB and confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection between 21 January 2020 and 31 January 2023. People with HS diagnosis (HS + CHB + COVID‐19) were identified and matched 1:1 by propensity score with those without (CHB + COVID‐19). Each person was followed up until death, outcome event, or 31st January 2023. Study outcome was incidence of acute liver injury (ALI) within first 28 days since COVID‐19 diagnosis. Severity of ALI and comparison of ALI risk stratified by the presence of CHB infection and HS were also analysed. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were estimated by Poisson regression models.ResultsOf 52 259 COVID‐19 patients with CHB infection in the cohort, 15 391 people with HS + CHB + COVID‐19 and 15 391 people with CHB + COVID‐19 were included after matching. HS + CHB + COVID‐19 was associated with increased risk of ALI (IRR: 1.41, 95% CI:1.05–1.90, p = 0.023), compared to CHB + COVID‐19. Over 99% ALI cases were mild to moderate severity, and there were no differences in the severity of ALI between HS + CHB + COVID‐19 and CHB + COVID‐19 (p = 0.127).ConclusionsConcomitant HS was associated with increased risk of ALI among people with CHB infection suffering from SARS‐CoV‐2 infection.
DNMT3A dysfunction promotes neuroinflammation and exacerbates acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Lyu Tian‐Jie , Qiu Xin , Wang Yubo , Zhang Ling , Dai Yalun , Wang Xuechun , Zhao Shunying , Xiang Meilin , Cui Lu , Cheng Si , Liu Yang , Gu Hongqiu , Jiang Yong , Meng Xia , Wang Yilong , Zhao Xingquan , Wang Xianwei , Li Qian , Wang Meng , Jiang Yingyu , Xu Zhe , Huang Xinying , Li Hao , Wang Yongjun , Li Zixiao 
Published: July 2024

AbstractSomatic mutations related to clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) are risk factors for stroke. The impact of DNMT3A, the most mutated gene in CHIP, on clinical functional outcomes of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) remains unclear. In a well‐characterized cohort of 8524 ischemic stroke patients, we demonstrated that DNMT3A‐driven CHIP was significantly associated with neurological disability in these patients. With a stroke mouse model of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO), we demonstrated that DNMT3A protein levels in the brain penumbra increased. The DNMT3A inhibitor RG108 administration amplified neutrophil proliferation in the blood, promoted neutrophil infiltration into the brain penumbra, and exaggerated proinflammatory activation in tMCAO male mice. DNMT3A inhibition also significantly increased infarct volume and worsened neurobehavioral function in tMCAO male mice. In conclusion, DNMT3A somatic mutations are associated with worsened neurological disability in some patients with AIS, potentially through increased neutrophil proliferation and infiltration in the ischemic brain region. These findings suggest a possible mechanism for proinflammatory activation and tissue damage in the affected brain tissue, highlighting the need for further research in this area.
Smartphone Voice Calls Provide Early Biomarkers of Parkinsonism in Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder
Authors: Illner Vojtěch , Novotný Michal , Kouba Tomáš , Tykalová Tereza , Šimek Michal , Sovka Pavel , Švihlík Jan , Růžička Evžen , Šonka Karel , Dušek Petr , Rusz Jan 
Published: July 2024

AbstractBackgroundSpeech dysfunction represents one of the initial motor manifestations to develop in Parkinson's disease (PD) and is measurable through smartphone.ObjectiveThe aim was to develop a fully automated and noise‐resistant smartphone‐based system that can unobtrusively screen for prodromal parkinsonian speech disorder in subjects with isolated rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) in a real‐world scenario.MethodsThis cross‐sectional study assessed regular, everyday voice call data from individuals with iRBD compared to early PD patients and healthy controls via a developed smartphone application. The participants also performed an active, regular reading of a short passage on their smartphone. Smartphone data were continuously collected for up to 3 months after the standard in‐person assessments at the clinic.ResultsA total of 3525 calls that led to 5990 minutes of preprocessed speech were extracted from 72 participants, comprising 21 iRBD patients, 26 PD patients, and 25 controls. With a high area under the curve of 0.85 between iRBD patients and controls, the combination of passive and active smartphone data provided a comparable or even more sensitive evaluation than laboratory examination using a high‐quality microphone. The most sensitive features to induce prodromal neurodegeneration in iRBD included imprecise vowel articulation during phone calls (P = 0.03) and monopitch in reading (P = 0.05). Eighteen minutes of speech corresponding to approximately nine calls was sufficient to obtain the best sensitivity for the screening.ConclusionWe consider the developed tool widely applicable to deep longitudinal digital phenotyping data with future applications in neuroprotective trials, deep brain stimulation optimization, neuropsychiatry, speech therapy, population screening, and beyond. © 2024 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Phase stabilization with motion compensated diffusion weighted imaging
Authors: Hannum Ariel J. , Cork Tyler E. , Setsompop Kawin , Ennis Daniel B. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractPurposeDiffusion encoding gradient waveforms can impart intra‐voxel and inter‐voxel dephasing owing to bulk motion, limiting achievable signal‐to‐noise and complicating multishot acquisitions. In this study, we characterize improvements in phase consistency via gradient moment nulling of diffusion encoding waveforms.MethodsHealthy volunteers received neuro () and cardiac () MRI. Three gradient moment nulling levels were evaluated: compensation for position (), position + velocity (), and position + velocity + acceleration (). Three experiments were completed: (Exp‐1) Fixed Trigger Delay Neuro DWI; (Exp‐2) Mixed Trigger Delay Neuro DWI; and (Exp‐3) Fixed Trigger Delay Cardiac DWI. Significant differences () of the temporal phase SD between repeated acquisitions and the spatial phase gradient across a given image were assessed.Results moment nulling was a reference for all measures. In Exp‐1, temporal phase SD for diffusion encoding was significantly reduced with (35% of t‐tests) and (68% of t‐tests). The spatial phase gradient was reduced in 23% of t‐tests for and 2% of cases for . In Exp‐2, temporal phase SD significantly decreased with gradient moment nulling only for (83% of t‐tests), but spatial phase gradient significantly decreased with only (50% of t‐tests). In Exp‐3, gradient moment nulling significantly reduced temporal phase SD and spatial phase gradients (100% of t‐tests), resulting in less signal attenuation and more accurate ADCs.ConclusionWe characterized gradient moment nulling phase consistency for DWI. Using M1 for neuroimaging and M1 + M2 for cardiac imaging minimized temporal phase SDs and spatial phase gradients.
Micronutrient supplementation in patients with malabsorptive conditions
Authors: Gardner Gabriela 
Published: July 2024

AbstractPatients with malabsorptive conditions can develop micronutrient deficiencies, even if they receive vitamins, minerals, or trace elements through their enteral or parenteral nutrition. Additionally, clinicians have faced challenges with micronutrient supplementation during parenteral product shortages and when transitioning patients from parenteral to enteral/oral nutrition. Evaluating micronutrient deficiencies through laboratory markers has various limitations, including that many are acute phase reactants, may not reflect storage status, or may not be readily available in clinical practice. Furthermore, clinicians can become overwhelmed with the variety of vitamin and mineral products available, the differences in dosages and ingredients in these products, and lastly, the inherent challenges associated with an impaired gastrointestinal tract. The current review will discuss some challenges clinicians may encounter in clinical practice during the evaluation, assessment, and prescription of micronutrient supplementation in patients with malabsorptive conditions.
Variational formulation and monolithic solution of computational homogenization methods
Authors: Hesch Christian , Schmidt Felix , Schuß Stefan 
Published: July 2024

AbstractIn this contribution, we derive a consistent variational formulation for computational homogenization methods and show that traditional FE and IGA approaches are special discretization and solution techniques of this most general framework. This allows us to enhance dramatically the numerical analysis as well as the solution of the arising algebraic system. In particular, we expand the dimension of the continuous system, discretize the higher dimensional problem consistently and apply afterwards a discrete null‐space matrix to remove the additional dimensions. A benchmark problem, for which we can obtain an analytical solution, demonstrates the superiority of the chosen approach aiming to reduce the immense computational costs of traditional FE and IGA formulations to a fraction of the original requirements. Finally, we demonstrate a further reduction of the computational costs for the solution of general nonlinear problems.
Enhanced classification of microplastic polymers (polyethylene, polystyrene, low‐density polyethylene, polyhydroxyalkanoate) in waterbodies
Authors: Thavasimuthu Rajendran , Vidhya P. M. , Sridhar S. , Sasirekha S. P. , Sherubha P. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe contamination of microplastics (MPs) creates a substantial risk to both the environment and human health, necessitating the development of efficient methods for detecting and categorizing these micro pollutant particles. As a solution, Dense‐UNet with Convolutional Vision Transformer (Dense‐UNet‐CvT), a novel deep learning (DL)‐based model is proposed to detect and classify the MPs by performing the computer vision tasks. The main objective of this work is to enhance the detection accuracy in detecting the MPs classified from the input images. Initially, a holographic MPs image dataset comprising primary classes such as polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), low‐density polyethylene (LDPE), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) is collected for training and evaluating the research model. The images from the dataset are preprocessed by performing image resizing, Recursive Exposure based Sub‐Image Histogram Equalization (RESIHE)‐based image enhancement, Gaussian Adaptive Bilateral Filtering (GABF)‐based denoising to improve the visual quality of the images. The preprocessed images are applied for segmentation using the Dense‐UNet model for performing semantic segmentation. The CvT model is implemented to extract useful features and to perform classification on detecting the known and unknown classes of MPs labeled in the collected dataset. The MPs detection and classification performances are computed in terms of detection rate, accuracy, f1‐score, and precision. The Dense‐UNet‐CvT model achieved 98.22% detection rate, 98.59% accuracy, 98.35% f1‐score, and 98.76% precision. These performances are compared with the current models for proper validation, in which the research model outperformed all the compared models in terms of performance. Overall, the proposed Dense‐UNet‐CvT model demonstrates superior performance across multiple evaluation metrics, suggesting its effectiveness in detecting and classifying MPs contamination in holographic images.
Healthcare utilization disparities among children with high‐risk neuroblastoma treated on Children's Oncology Group clinical trials
Authors: Shoag Jamie , Li Yimei , Getz Kelly D. , Huang Yuan‐Shung , Hall Matt , Naranjo Arlene , Richardson Troy , Desai Ami V. , Umaretiya Puja J. , Aziz‐Bose Rahela , Kelly Colleen A. , Zheng Daniel J. , Newman Haley , Zahler Stacey , Aplenc Richard , Bagatell Rochelle , Bona Kira 
Published: July 2024

AbstractIntroductionDisparities in relapse and survival from high‐risk neuroblastoma (HRNBL) persist among children from historically marginalized groups even in highly standardized clinical trial settings. Research in other cancers has identified differential treatment toxicity as one potential underlying mechanism. Whether racial and ethnic disparities in treatment‐associated toxicity exist in HRNBL is poorly understood.MethodsThis is a retrospective study utilizing a previously assembled merged cohort of children with HRNBL on Children's Oncology Group (COG) post‐consolidation immunotherapy trials ANBL0032 and ANBL0931 at Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) centers from 2005 to 2014. Race and ethnicity were categorized to reflect historically marginalized populations as Hispanic, non‐Hispanic Black (NHB), non‐Hispanic other (NHO), and non‐Hispanic White (NHW). Associations between race‐ethnicity and intensive care unit (ICU)‐level care utilization as a proxy for treatment‐associated toxicity were examined with log binomial regression and summarized as risk ratio (RR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI).ResultsThe analytic cohort included 370 children. Overall, 88 (23.8%) patients required ICU‐level care for a median of 3.0 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 1.0–6.5 days). Hispanic children had nearly three times the risk of ICU‐level care (RR 3.1, 95% CI: 2.1–4.5; fully adjusted RR [aRR] 2.5, 95% CI: 1.6–3.7) compared to NHW children and the highest percentage of children requiring cardiovascular‐driven ICU‐level care.ConclusionChildren of Hispanic ethnicity with HRNBL receiving clinical trial‐delivered therapy were more likely to experience ICU‐level care compared to NHW children. These data suggest that further investigation of treatment‐related toxicity as a modifiable mechanism underlying outcome disparities is warranted.
Valorization of waste Ti6Al4V chips for epoxy composite production: A circular economy approach
Authors: Teke Erdoğan , Alyamaç‐Seydibeyoğlu Elif , Mocan Merve , Seydibeyoğlu M. Özgür 
Published: July 2024

AbstractWith increasing awareness of the circular economy, utilizing waste materials from titanium alloys for polymer composites offers numerous advantages. In this study, medical‐grade titanium alloy, Ti6Al4V chips were finely ground and mixed with epoxy resin to produce particulate‐reinforced composites. The tensile strength showed a 32% improvement compared to the neat epoxy. Similar results were observed for the flexural test, showing a 36% improvement in the composites. Moreover, a substantial 96% increase in thermal conductivity was observed, significantly expanding the potential application areas for the epoxy‐based composites. These improvements were achieved without the use of superfine nanoparticles or other expensive additives. This underscores the potential of a circular approach in the materials world, offering many new opportunities while promoting sustainability.Highlights
Circular utilization of titanium powders in polymer composites.
Demonstrated effectiveness of titanium milling in composite production.
Production of low‐cost, affordable composites suitable for diverse applications.
Remarkable thermal conductivity values.
Attainment of finely tuned mechanical properties.
Anisotropic polymer components with desired elastic properties manufactured through fused filament fabrication additive manufacturing
Authors: Bagheri Bami Alireza , Honarvar Farhang , Teimouri Reza 
Published: July 2024

AbstractFused filament fabrication (FFF) is a popular additive manufacturing (AM) process, primarily used for fabricating polymer components. Optimizing the mechanical properties of FFF components, such as their elastic moduli, is crucial in many applications. This study focuses on adjusting the elastic properties of polymer components manufactured through FFF process by selecting appropriate process parameters. The elastic constants of the anisotropic FFF components are measured by using ultrasonic testing (UT). Response surface methodology (RSM) is employed to determine the optimal settings for these parameters to achieve the desired elastic properties. The effects of layer thickness, printing speed, and raster angle on Young's modulus are explored. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) is used to identify the contributions of each process factor on the output responses. According to ANOVA results, the optimal conditions identified are: a printing speed of 2040 mm/min, a layer thickness of 0.2 mm, and a raster angle of 29°. These conditions collectively achieved the maximum Young's modulus. The differences between the predicted and measured moduli for all responses are less than 5%. The structural factors influencing the results are examined by analyzing the fracture surfaces of the tensile testing (TT) specimens with field emission scanning electron microscopy. Additional measurements of other properties, including ultrasound velocity and wave attenuation, are conducted on the samples. The findings indicate that optimizing the parameters by setting them to their minimum values does not only improve the maximum elastic modulus in specific directions but also reduces attenuation. It is concluded that the desired elastic modulus for a component can be achieved by properly adjusting the process parameters.Highlights
Optimizing AM parameters to achieve the desired elastic properties of FFF samples.
Examining the effects of each AM parameter by utilizing ANOVA and RSM methods.
Measuring the anisotropic elastic properties of AM samples by UT.
Verifying UT results through TT and measuring attenuation.
Cytochrome P450CYP81A104 in Eleusine indica confers resistance to multiherbicide with different modes of action
Authors: Yao Sai , Yin Hanqi , Li Yang , Yang Qian , Yuan Shuzhong , Deng Wei 
Published: July 2024

AbstractBACKGROUNDDeveloping herbicide‐resistant (HR) crop cultivars is an efficient way to control weeds and minimize crop yield losses. However, widespread and long‐term herbicide application has led to the evolution of resistant weeds. Here, we established a resistant (R) E. indica population, collected from imidazolinone‐resistant rice cultivar fields.RESULTSThe R population evolved 4.5‐fold resistance to imazamox. Acetolactate synthase (ALS) gene sequencing and ALS activity assays excluded the effect of target‐site resistance in this population. P450 inhibitor malathion pretreatment significantly reversed resistance to imazamox. RNA sequencing showed that a P450 gene CYP81A104 was expressed higher in R versus susceptible (S) plants. Arabidopsis overexpressing CYP81A104 showed resistance to ALS inhibitors (imazamox, tribenuron‐methyl, penoxsulam and flucarbazone‐sodium), PSII inhibitor (bentazone), hydroxyphenyl pyruvate dioxygenase inhibitor (mesotrione) and auxin mimics (MCPA), which was generally consistent with the results presented in the R population.CONCLUSIONThis study confirmed that the CYP81A104 gene endowed resistance to multiherbicides with different modes‐of‐action. Our findings provide an insight into the molecular characteristics of resistance and contribute to formulating an appropriate strategy for weed management in HR crops. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Making an Influence: Sponsorship and Creolization on Social Media
Authors: McLean Cheryl A. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe growing presence and impact of predominantly female online influencers suggests the proliferation of a cultural phenomenon that characterizes the social aspects of our digital lives. Working with the notion of gender and maker literacies, this paper shines light on newer forms of making practices by looking at influencer cultures of five popular online social media platforms. Situating the research in a Caribbean context, this paper examines the “influencer culture” by looking at the platformized literacy practices of four Caribbean female influencers and using the concepts of literacy sponsorship and creolization as lenses through which to view the interrelationships and accompanying practices between the influencers and their local and global followers. The paper argues that social media platforms are strategically curated digital‐maker spaces that influencers use to shift and change literacy practices and perspectives related to gender, language, and culture. Findings from this qualitative study suggest that these influencers' sponsorship of creolized literacies is reflected in their power to enact social change and transformation through advocacy, consciousness, and community‐building. The paper concludes by considering the potential for such social actors and their digital‐making practices to influence our contemporary global sociocultural and educational landscapes.