bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Automatic anatomy recognition via multiobject oriented active shape models
Authors: Chen Xinjian , Udupa Jayaram K. , Alavi Abass , Torigian Drew A. 
Published: December 2010

Purpose:This paper studies the feasibility of developing an automatic anatomy recognition (AAR) system in clinical radiology and demonstrates its operation on clinical 2D images.Methods:The anatomy recognition method described here consists of two main components: (a) multiobject generalization of OASM and (b) object recognition strategies. The OASM algorithm is generalized to multiple objects by including a model for each object and assigning a cost structure specific to each object in the spirit of live wire. The delineation of multiobject boundaries is done in MOASM via a three level dynamic programming algorithm, wherein the first level is at pixel level which aims to find optimal oriented boundary segments between successive landmarks, the second level is at landmark level which aims to find optimal location for the landmarks, and the third level is at the object level which aims to find optimal arrangement of object boundaries over all objects. The object recognition strategy attempts to find that pose vector (consisting of translation, rotation, and scale component) for the multiobject model that yields the smallest total boundary cost for all objects. The delineation and recognition accuracies were evaluated separately utilizing routine clinical chest CT, abdominal CT, and foot MRI data sets. The delineation accuracy was evaluated in terms of true and false positive volume fractions (TPVF and FPVF). The recognition accuracy was assessed (1) in terms of the size of the space of the pose vectors for the model assembly that yielded high delineation accuracy, (2) as a function of the number of objects and objects' distribution and size in the model, (3) in terms of the interdependence between delineation and recognition, and (4) in terms of the closeness of the optimum recognition result to the global optimum.Results:When multiple objects are included in the model, the delineation accuracy in terms of TPVF can be improved to 97%–98% with a low FPVF of 0.1%–0.2%. Typically, a recognition accuracy of yielded a TPVF and FPVF . Over the three data sets and over all tested objects, in 97% of the cases, the optimal solutions found by the proposed method constituted the true global optimum.Conclusions:The experimental results showed the feasibility and efficacy of the proposed automatic anatomy recognition system. Increasing the number of objects in the model can significantly improve both recognition and delineation accuracy. More spread out arrangement of objects in the model can lead to improved recognition and delineation accuracy. Including larger objects in the model also improved recognition and delineation. The proposed method almost always finds globally optimum solutions.
Computerized quantitative evaluation of mammographic accreditation phantom images
Authors: Lee Yongbum , Tsai Du‐Yih , Shinohara Norimitsu 
Published: December 2010

Purpose:The objective was to develop and investigate an automated scoring scheme of the American College of Radiology (ACR) mammographic accreditation phantom (RMI 156, Middleton, WI) images.Methods:The developed method consisted of background subtraction, determination of region of interest, classification of fiber and mass objects by Mahalanobis distance, detection of specks by template matching, and rule‐based scoring. Fifty‐one phantom images were collected from 51 facilities for this study (one facility provided one image). A medical physicist and two radiologic technologists also scored the images. The human and computerized scores were compared.Results:In terms of meeting the ACR's criteria, the accuracies of the developed method for computerized evaluation of fiber, mass, and speck were 90%, 80%, and 98%, respectively. Contingency table analysis revealed significant association between observer and computer scores for microcalcifications but not for masses and fibers.Conclusions:The developed method may achieve a stable assessment of visibility for test objects in mammographic accreditation phantom image in whether the phantom image meets the ACR's criteria in the evaluation test, although there is room left for improvement in the approach for fiber and mass objects.
Commissioning Siemens Virtual Wedges in the Oncentra MasterPlan treatment planning system using Gafchromic EBT film
Authors: Ferretti A. , Simonato F. , Zandonà R. , Reccanello S. , Fabbris R. 
Published: December 2010

Purpose:Virtual Wedges™ were introduced in Siemens LINACs to improve the treatment workflow. The aim of the present work is the validation of dose calculation by MasterPlan‐Oncentra treatment planning system for virtual wedged beams.Methods:The Oncor Siemens accelerator installed in the authors' department produces 6 and 15 MV photon beams. At first, the consistency of VW LINAC production was tested and the EBT film measuring method was verified. This method is based on the scanner uniformity correction and absolute dose calibration as reported in literature. Then, the measured and calculated wedge factors and beam profiles are compared. For 15°, 30°, 45°, and 60° wedge angles, the wedge factors for different field sizes were measured by an ionization chamber and the dose profiles were acquired by Gafchromic EBT film. Both types of measurements were collected in isocentric condition.Results:The comparison between measured and calculated VW factors shows discrepancies that increase with field size and angle. The OTP Enhanced algorithm produces better agreement with measurements than the Classic one, with improvement overall visible for large angles. The agreement between measured and planned beam profiles is within limits reported by the ESTRO Booklet No. 7 in terms of confidence limits.Conclusions:The MasterPlan‐Oncentra treatment planning system determines wedge factors and VW profiles within the requested accuracy in the majority of treatment conditions. For big field dimensions and wedge angle, wedge factor accordance was worse, but it may be increased with an improvement of the LINAC dosimetric board calibration.
Direct three‐dimensional coherently scattered x‐ray microtomography
Authors: Cui Congwu , Jorgensen Steven M. , Eaker Diane R. , Ritman Erik L. 
Published: December 2010

Purpose:It has been shown that coherently scattered x rays can be used to discriminate and identify specific components in a mixture of low atomic weight materials. The authors demonstrated a new method of doing coherently scattered x‐ray tomography with a thin sheet of x ray.Methods:A collimated x‐ray fan‐beam, a parallel polycapillary collimator, and a phantom consisting of several biocompatible materials of low attenuation‐based contrast were used to investigate the feasibility of the method. Because of the particular experimental setup, only the phantom translation perpendicular to the x‐ray beam is needed and, thus, there is no need of Radon‐type tomographic reconstruction, except for the correction of the attenuation to the primary and scattered x rays, which was performed by using a conventional attenuation‐based tomographic image data set. The coherent scatter image contrast changes with momentum transfer among component materials in the specimen were investigated with multiple x‐ray sources with narrow bandwidth spectra generated with anode and filter combinations of Cu/Ni (8 keV), Mo/Zr (18 keV), and Ag/Pd (22 keV) and at multiple scatter angles by orienting the detector and polycapillary collimator at different angles to the illuminating x ray.Results:The contrast among different materials changes with the x‐ray source energy and the angle at which the image was measured. The coherent scatter profiles obtained from the coherent scatter images are consistent with the published results.Conclusions:This method can be used to directly generate the three‐dimensional coherent scatter images of small animal, biopsies, or other small objects with low atomic weight biological or similar synthetic materials with low attenuation contrast. With equipment optimized, submillimeter spatial resolution may be achieved.
An algorithm for fast beam angle selection in intensity modulated radiotherapy
Authors: Vaitheeswaran R. , Sathiya Narayanan V. K. , Bhangle Janhavi R. , Nirhali Amit , Kumar Namitha , Basu Sumit , Maiya Vikram 
Published: December 2010

Purpose:This article aims to introduce a novel algorithm for fast beam angle selection in intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).Methods:The algorithm models the optimization problem as a beam angle ranking problem and chooses suitable beam angles according to their rank. A new parameter called “beam intensity profile perturbation score (BIPPS)” is used for ranking the beam angles. The BIPPS‐based beam angle ranking implicitly accounts for the dose‐volume effects of the involved structures. A simulated phantom case with obvious optimal beam angles is used to verify the validity of the presented technique. In addition, the efficiency of the algorithm was examined in three clinical cases (prostate, pancreas, and head and neck) in terms of DVH and dose distribution. In all cases, the judgment of the algorithm's efficiency was based on the comparison between plans with equidistant beams (equal‐angle‐plan) and plans with beams obtained using the algorithm (suitable‐angle‐plan).Results:It is observed from the study that the beam angle ranking function over BIPPS instantly picks up a suitable set of beam angles for a specific case. It takes only about 15 min for choosing the suitable beam angles even for the most complicated cases. The DVHs and dose distributions confirm that the proposed algorithm can efficiently reduce the mean or maximum dose to OARs, while guaranteeing the target coverage and dose uniformity. On the average, about 17% reduction in the mean dose to critical organs, such as rectum, bladder, kidneys and parotids, is observed. Also, about 12% (averaged) reduction in the maximum dose to critical organs (spinal cord) is observed in the clinical cases presented in this study.Conclusions:This study demonstrates that the algorithm can be effectively applied to IMRT scenarios to get fast and case specific beam angle configurations.
NBTI-Aware Clustered Power Gating
Authors: Calimera Andrea , Macii Enrico , Poncino Massimo 
Published: December 2010

The emergence of Negative Bias Temperature Instability (NBTI) as the most relevant source of reliability in sub-90nm technologies has led to a new facet of the traditional trade-off between power and reliability. NBTI effects in fact manifest themselves as an increase of the propagation delay of the devices over time, which adds up to the delay penalty incurred by most low-power design solutions. This implies that, given a desired lifetime of a circuit (i.e., a given performance target at some point in time), a power-managed component will fail earlier than a nonpower-managed one.
In this work, we show how it is possible to partially overcome this conflict, by leveraging the benefits in terms of aging provided by power-gating (i.e., by using switches that disconnect a logic block from the ground). Thanks to some electrical properties, it is possible to nullify aging effects during standby periods.

Based on this important property, we propose a methodology for a
NBTI-aware
power gating that allows synthesizing low-leakage circuits with maximum lifetime.
Business intelligence for small and middle-sized entreprises
Authors: Grabova Oksana , Darmont Jerome , Chauchat Jean-Hugues , Zolotaryova Iryna 
Published: December 2010

Data warehouses are the core of decision support systems, which nowadays are used by all kind of enterprises in the entire world. Although many studies have been conducted on the need of decision support systems (DSSs) for small businesses, most of them adopt existing solutions and approaches, which are appropriate for large-scaled enterprises, but are inadequate for small and middle-sized enterprises.Small enterprises require cheap, lightweight architectures and tools (hardware and software) providing online data analysis. In order to ensure these features, we review web-based business intelligence approaches. For real-time analysis, the traditional OLAP architecture is cumbersome and storage-costly; therefore, we also review in-memory processing.Consequently, this paper discusses the existing approaches and tools working in main memory and/or with web interfaces (including freeware tools), relevant for small and middle-sized enterprises in decision making.
Fixed Points and Stability in Nonlinear Equations with Variable Delays
Authors: Ding Liming , Li Xiang , Li Zhixiang 
Published: December 2010

AbstractWe consider two nonlinear scalar delay differential equations with variable delays and give some new conditions for the boundedness and stability by means of the contraction mapping principle. We obtain the differences of the two equations about the stability of the zero solution. Previous results are improved and generalized. An example is given to illustrate our theory.
Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Activity Selects for Lung Adenocarcinoma Stem Cells Dependent on Notch Signaling
Authors: Sullivan James P. , Spinola Monica , Dodge Michael , Raso Maria G. , Behrens Carmen , Gao Boning , Schuster Katja , Shao Chunli , Larsen Jill E. , Sullivan Laura A. , Honorio Sofia , Xie Yang , Scaglioni Pier P. , DiMaio J. Michael , Gazdar Adi F. , Shay Jerry W. , Wistuba Ignacio I. , Minna John D. 
Published: December 2010

AbstractAldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) is a candidate marker for lung cancer cells with stem cell-like properties. Immunohistochemical staining of a large panel of primary non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) samples for ALDH1A1, ALDH3A1, and CD133 revealed a significant correlation between ALDH1A1 (but not ALDH3A1 or CD133) expression and poor prognosis in patients including those with stage I and N0 disease. Flow cytometric analysis of a panel of lung cancer cell lines and patient tumors revealed that most NSCLCs contain a subpopulation of cells with elevated ALDH activity, and that this activity is associated with ALDH1A1 expression. Isolated ALDH+ lung cancer cells were observed to be highly tumorigenic and clonogenic as well as capable of self-renewal compared with their ALDH− counterparts. Expression analysis of sorted cells revealed elevated Notch pathway transcript expression in ALDH+ cells. Suppression of the Notch pathway by treatment with either a γ-secretase inhibitor or stable expression of shRNA against NOTCH3 resulted in a significant decrease in ALDH+ lung cancer cells, commensurate with a reduction in tumor cell proliferation and clonogenicity. Taken together, these findings indicate that ALDH selects for a subpopulation of self-renewing NSCLC stem-like cells with increased tumorigenic potential, that NSCLCs harboring tumor cells with ALDH1A1 expression have inferior prognosis, and that ALDH1A1 and CD133 identify different tumor subpopulations. Therapeutic targeting of the Notch pathway reduces this ALDH+ component, implicating Notch signaling in lung cancer stem cell maintenance. Cancer Res; 70(23); 9937–48. ©2010 AACR.
Antitumor Activity of Pyridocarbazole and Benzopyridoindole Derivatives that Inhibit Protein Kinase CK2
Authors: Prudent Renaud , Moucadel Virginie , Nguyen Chi-Hung , Barette Caroline , Schmidt Frédéric , Florent Jean-Claude , Lafanechère Laurence , Sautel Céline F , Duchemin-Pelletier Eve , Spreux Elodie , Filhol Odile , Reiser Jean-Baptiste , Cochet Claude 
Published: December 2010

Abstract
The alkyloid compound ellipticine derived from the berrywood tree is a topoisomerase II poison that is used in ovarian and breast cancer treatment. In this study, we report the identification of ellipticine derivatives and their tetracyclic angular benzopyridoindole analogues as novel ATP-competitive inhibitors of the protein kinase CK2. In vitro and in vivo assays showed that these compounds have a good pharmacologic profile, causing a marked inhibition of CK2 activity associated with cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human cancer cells. Further, in vivo assays demonstrate antitumor activity in a mouse xenograft model of human glioblastoma. Finally, crystal structures of CK2–inhibitor complex provide structural insights on the molecular basis of CK2 inhibition. Our work lays the foundation for development of clinically useful CK2 inhibitors derived from a well-studied scaffold with suitable pharmacokinetics parameters. Cancer Res; 70(23); 9865–74. ©2010 AACR.
Novel Metastasis-Related Gene CIM Functions in the Regulation of Multiple Cellular Stress–Response Pathways
Authors: Yanagisawa Kiyoshi , Konishi Hiroyuki , Arima Chinatsu , Tomida Shuta , Takeuchi Toshiyuki , Shimada Yukako , Yatabe Yasushi , Mitsudomi Tetsuya , Osada Hirotaka , Takahashi Takashi 
Published: December 2010

Abstract
Various stresses of the tumor microenvironment produced by insufficient nutrients, pH, and oxygen can contribute to the generation of altered metabolic and proliferative states that promote the survival of metastatic cells. Among many cellular stress–response pathways activated under such conditions are the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathway and the unfolded protein response (UPR), which is elicited as a response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. In this study, we report the identification of a novel cancer invasion and metastasis-related gene (hereafter referred to as CIM, also called ERLEC1), which influences both of these stress–response pathways to promote metastasis. CIM was identified by comparing the gene expression profile of a highly metastatic human lung cancer cell line with its weakly metastatic parental clone. We showed that CIM is critical for metastatic properties in this system. Proteomic approaches combined with bioinformatic analyses revealed that CIM has multifaceted roles in controlling the response to hypoxia and ER stress. Specifically, CIM sequestered OS-9 from the HIF-1α complex and PHD2, permitting HIF-1α accumulation by preventing its degradation. Ectopic expression of CIM in lung cancer cells increased their tolerance to hypoxia. CIM also modulated UPR through interaction with the key ER stress protein BiP, influencing cell proliferation under ER stress conditions. Our findings shed light on how tolerance to multiple cellular stresses at a metastatic site can be evoked by an integrated mechanism involving CIM, which can function to coordinate those responses in a manner that promotes metastatic cell survival. Cancer Res; 70(23); 9949–58. ©2010 AACR.
Failure of Downregulation of Survivin Following Neoadjuvant Radiochemotherapy in Rectal Cancer Is Associated with Distant Metastases and Shortened Survival
Authors: Sprenger Thilo , Rödel Franz , Beissbarth Tim , Conradi Lena-Christin , Rothe Hilka , Homayounfar Kia , Wolff Hendrik A. , Ghadimi B. Michael , Yildirim Müjdat , Becker Heinz , Rödel Claus , Liersch Torsten 
Published: December 2010

Abstract
Purpose: Valid molecular markers need to be implemented in clinical trials to fulfill the demand of a risk-adapted and more individualized multimodal therapy of locally advanced primary rectal cancer. In this study, the expression of the inhibitor-of-apoptosis (IAP) protein survivin was evaluated in pretreatment biopsies and corresponding posttreatment resection specimens, and was correlated to histo-pathological tumor characteristics and clinical follow-up.
Patients and Methods: One hundred sixteen patients with stage II/III rectal cancer treated with 5-FU–based neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (RCT) at a single university medical centre within the German Rectal Cancer Trials were investigated. Survivin expression in pretreatment biopsies and surgical resection specimens were determined by immunohistochemistry by two independent institutions and correlated with histopathologic parameters, tumor recurrences, disease-free (DFS), and overall cancer-specific survival (CSS).
Results: In pretreatment biopsies, a higher survivin expression correlated with advanced ypT (P = 0.026) and ypUICC (P = 0.05) stage as well as DFS (P = 0.038) after preoperative RCT. High posttreatment survivin levels were associated with advanced ypT stage (P = 0.03) and residual lymph node metastases (P = 0.04). Moreover, neoadjuvant RCT resulted in a significant downregulation of survivin expression (P &lt; 0.0001). A failure of RCT-induced downregulation was associated with development of distant metastases (P = 0.0056) and cancer-related death (P = 0.026), and correlated significantly with DFS (P = 0.011*/0.02**) and CSS (P = 0.0017*/0.01**) in uni-* and multivariate** analyses.
Conclusions: Survivin expression displays a marker with prognostic utility in rectal cancers. These results underline the potential of survivin to monitor individual response to RCT and encourage anti-survivin strategies in multimodal rectal cancer therapy within future randomized clinical trials. Clin Cancer Res; 17(6); 1623–31. ©2010 AACR.
Fill in the Gaps: EU Sanctioning Requirements to Improve Member State Enforcement of EU Environmental Law
Authors: Meeus Roel 
Published: December 2010

AbstractThe enforcement deficit in EU environmental law would stem from bad Member State governance of the autonomy they traditionally enjoy regarding the enforcement of EU law. Both the EU legislator and the European Court of Justice take steps to 'fill in the gaps' and develop sanctioning requirements to improve Member State enforcement of EU (environmental) law. These requirements are discussed in this article. The Eco Crime Directive 2008/99/EC and the Ship Source Pollution Directive 2005/35/EC, the latter as recently amended, deserve some particular attention. Also the novelties of the Lisbon Treaty are considered.
Deadlocks of International Climate Policy—An Assessment of the Copenhagen Climate Summit
Authors: Rudolph Frederic , Watanabe Rie , Arens Christof , Kiyar Dagmar , Wang-Helmreich Hanna , Borbonus Sylvia , Mersmann Florian , Sterk Wolfgang , Eichhorst Urda 
Published: December 2010

AbstractThis article analyses the negotiations on the future of the international climate regime at the United Nations Climate Summit in Copenhagen. It also discusses key issues in the ongoing business of implementing the Climate Convention and the Kyoto Protocol. The article lays out the main issues at stake in the negotiations, contrasts divergences in interests amongst negotiating parties, and summarises the results achieved in Copenhagen. The report discusses these results in detail and concludes with an outlook on how the challenges ahead could be overcome.
Blockade of osteopontin reduces alloreactive CD8+ T cell–mediated graft-versus-host disease
Authors: Zhao Fang , Zhang Yi , Wang Hao , Jin Min , He Shan , Shi Yufang , Guo Yajun , Zhang Yanyun 
Published: December 2010

Abstract
Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a life-threatening complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, is caused by alloreactive donor T cells that trigger host tissue damage. The inflammatory environment inside recipients is critical for GVHD pathogenesis, but the underpinning mechanisms remain elusive. Using mouse model of human GVHD, we demonstrate osteopontin (OPN), a potent proinflammatory cytokine, plays an important role in regulating activation, migration, and survival of alloreactive T cells during GVHD. OPN was significantly elevated after irradiation and persisted throughout the course of GVHD. Blockade of OPN attenuated GVHD with reduced accumulation of donor T cells in recipient organs. Amelioration was the result of migration and survival suppression caused by anti-OPN treatment on donor-derived T cells for 2 reasons. First, OPN promoted the migration and infiltration of naive and alloreactive CD8+ T cells into host organs. Second, it also facilitated activation and viability of donor-derived CD8+ T cells via synergizing with T-cell receptor/CD3 signaling. Finally, anti-OPN treatment retained graft-versus-leukemia effect of alloreactive CD8+ T cells. This study demonstrates, to our knowledge for the first time, the critical effect of OPN in the initiation and persistence of CD8+ T cell-mediated GVHD and validates OPN as a potential target in GVHD prevention.