bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development of a universal cutting guide for raising deep circumflex iliac artery flaps
Authors: Peters Florian , Raith Stefan , Bock Anna , Kniha Kristian , Möhlhenrich Stephan Christian , Heitzer Marius , Hölzle Frank , Modabber Ali 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Purpose
The deep circumflex iliac crest flap (DCIA) is used for the reconstruction of the jaw. For fitting of the transplant by computer-aided planning (CAD), a computerized tomography (CT) of the jaw and the pelvis is necessary. Ready-made cutting guides save a pelvic CT and healthcare resources while maintaining the advantages of the CAD planning.

Methods
A total of 2000 CTs of the pelvis were divided into groups of 500 by sex and age (≤ 45 and > 45 years). Three-dimensional (3D) pelvis models were aligned and averaged. Cutting guides were designed on the averaged pelvis for each group and an overall averaged pelvis. The cutting guides and 50 randomly selected iliac crests (10 from each group and 10 from the whole collective) were 3D printed. The appropriate cutting guide was mounted to the iliac crest and a cone beam CT was performed. The thickness of the space between the iliac crest and the cutting guide was evaluated.

Results
Overall the mean thickness of the space was 2.137 mm and the mean volume of the space was 4513 mm3. The measured values were significantly different between the different groups. The overall averaged group had not the greatest volume, maximum thickness and mean thickness of the space.

Conclusion
Ready-made cutting guides for the DCIA flap fit to the iliac crest and make quick and accurate flap raising possible while radiation dose and resources can be saved. The cutting guides fit sufficient to the iliac crest and should keep the advantages of a standard CAD planning.
One model to use them all: training a segmentation model with complementary datasets
Authors: Jenke Alexander C. , Bodenstedt Sebastian , Kolbinger Fiona R. , Distler Marius , Weitz Jürgen , Speidel Stefanie 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Understanding surgical scenes is crucial for computer-assisted surgery systems to provide intelligent assistance functionality. One way of achieving this is via scene segmentation using machine learning (ML). However, such ML models require large amounts of annotated training data, containing examples of all relevant object classes, which are rarely available. In this work, we propose a method to combine multiple partially annotated datasets, providing complementary annotations, into one model, enabling better scene segmentation and the use of multiple readily available datasets.

Methods
Our method aims to combine available data with complementary labels by leveraging mutual exclusive properties to maximize information. Specifically, we propose to use positive annotations of other classes as negative samples and to exclude background pixels of these binary annotations, as we cannot tell if a positive prediction by the model is correct.

Results
We evaluate our method by training a DeepLabV3 model on the publicly available Dresden Surgical Anatomy Dataset, which provides multiple subsets of binary segmented anatomical structures. Our approach successfully combines 6 classes into one model, significantly increasing the overall Dice Score by 4.4% compared to an ensemble of models trained on the classes individually. By including information on multiple classes, we were able to reduce the confusion between classes, e.g. a 24% drop for stomach and colon.

Conclusion
By leveraging multiple datasets and applying mutual exclusion constraints, we developed a method that improves surgical scene segmentation performance without the need for fully annotated datasets. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of training a model on multiple complementary datasets. This paves the way for future work further alleviating the need for one specialized large, fully segmented dataset but instead the use of already existing datasets.
Site and duration of abdominal pain discriminate symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease from previous diverticulitis patients
Authors: Carabotti Marilia , Marasco Giovanni , Sbarigia Caterina , Cuomo Rosario , Barbara Giovanni , Pace Fabio , Sarnelli Giovanni , Annibale Bruno ,   at behalf of REMAD group, Andrealli Alida , Ardizzone Sandro , Astegiano Marco , Bachetti Francesco , Bartolozzi Simona , Bargiggia Stefano , Bassotti Gabrio , Bianco Maria Antonia , Biscaglia Giuseppe , Bosani Matteo , Bottiglieri Maria Erminia , Cargiolli Martina , Ciacci Carolina , Colecchia Antonio , Di Ciaula Agostino , Dell’Era Alessandra , De Matthaeis Marina , Di Ruscio Mirko , Dinelli Marco , Festa Virginia , Galliani Ermenegildo , Germanà Bastianello , Grassini Mario , Guido Ennio , Iafrate Franco , Iovino Paola , Iuliano Donato , Laghi Andrea , Latella Giovanni , Manes Gianpiero , Marabotto Elisa , Moscatelli Alessandro , Nascimbeni Riccardo , Occhipinti Pietro , Parravicini Marco , Pennazio Marco , Peralta Sergio , Portincasa Piero , Radaelli Franco , Reati Raffaella , Redaelli Alessandro , Rossi Marco , Salerno Raffale , Segato Sergio , Severi Carola , Scaccianoce Giuseppe , Valle Valentina , Virgilio Clara , Viscido Angelo 
Published: April 2024

AbstractAbdominal pain in patients with diverticular disease (DD) can be challenging in clinical practice. Patients with symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD) and patients with a previous acute diverticulitis (PD) may share a similar clinical pattern, difficult to differentiate from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We used standardized questionnaires for DD (short and long lasting abdominal pain) and IBS (following Rome III Criteria) to assess clinical features of abdominal pain, in terms of presence, severity and length, in SUDD and PD patients. One hundred and forty-eight SUDD and 118 PD patients completed all questionnaires. Short-lasting pain was more frequent in SUDD than PD patients (p = 0.007). Number of long-lasting pain episodes was higher in SUDD (6.6 ± 11.9) compared to PD patients (3.4 ± 6.9) (p < 0.001). PD patients reported long-lasting pain more frequently in the lower left abdomen (p < 0.001), while in SUDD it was more frequently diffuse (p = 0.002) or localized in the lower right quadrant (p = 0.009). Features associated with long-lasting pain (fever, confinement to bed, consultations, antibiotic therapy, hospitalization) were more often reported in PD patients. IBS criteria were reported in 28.2% of patients and were more frequent in SUDD than PD patients (37.2% vs 17.1%, p < 0.001). SUDD and PD patients presented different pattern of abdominal pain (length, number of long lasting episodes, site and associated features), with a third reporting overlap with IBS. Further observational studies are needed to better characterize abdominal symptoms in DD patients, especially in those not fulfilling IBS criteria.Trial registration: The REMAD Registry is registered as an observational study in ClinicalTrial.gov (ID: NCT03325829).
Sparse reconstruction in spin systems. I: iid spins
Authors: Galicza Pál , Pete Gábor 
Published: April 2024

AbstractFor a sequence of Boolean functions $${f_n}:{\{ - 1,1\} ^{{V_n}}} \to \{ - 1,1\} $$

f
n

:

{
−
1
,
1

}

V
n

→
{
−
1
,
1
}
, defined on increasing configuration spaces of random inputs, we say that there is sparse reconstruction if there is a sequence of subsets Un ⊆ Vn of the coordinates satisfying ∣Un∣ = o(∣Vn∣) such that knowing the coordinates in Un gives us a non-vanishing amount of information about the value of fn.We first show that, if the underlying measure is a product measure, then no sparse reconstruction is possible for any sequence of transitive functions. We discuss the question in different frameworks, measuring information content in L2 and with entropy. We also highlight some interesting connections with cooperative game theory. Beyond transitive functions, we show that the left-right crossing event for critical planar percolation on the square lattice does not admit sparse reconstruction either. Some of these results answer questions posed by Itai Benjamini.
Distributivity and minimality in perfect tree forcings for singular cardinals
Authors: Levine Maxwell , Mildenberger Heike 
Published: April 2024

AbstractDobrinen, Hathaway and Prikry studied a forcing ℙκ consisting of perfect trees of height λ and width κ where κ is a singular λ-strong limit of cofinality λ. They showed that if κ is singular of countable cofinality, then ℙκ is minimal for ω-sequences assuming that κ is a supremum of a sequence of measurable cardinals. We obtain this result without the measurability assumption.Prikry proved that ℙκ is (ω, ν)-distributive for all ν < κ given a singular ω-strong limit cardinal κ of countable cofinality, and Dobrinen et al. asked whether this result generalizes if κ has uncountable cofinality. We answer their question in the negative by showing that ℙκ is not (λ, 2)-distributive if κ is a λ-strong limit of uncountable cofinality λ and we obtain the same result for a range of similar forcings, including one that Dobrinen et al. consider that consists of pre-perfect trees. We also show that ℙκ in particular is not (ω, ·, λ+)-distributive under these assumptions.While developing these ideas, we address natural questions regarding minimality and collapses of cardinals.
Precision Cardio-oncology: Update on Omics-Based Diagnostic Methods
Authors: Kuang Ziyu , Kong Miao , Yan Ningzhe , Ma Xinyi , Wu Min , Li Jie 
Published: April 2024

Opinion statementCardio-oncology is an emerging interdisciplinary field dedicated to the early detection and treatment of adverse cardiovascular events associated with anticancer treatment, and current clinical management of anticancer-treatment-related cardiovascular toxicity (CTR-CVT) remains limited by a lack of detailed phenotypic data. However, the promise of diagnosing CTR-CVT using deep phenotyping has emerged with the development of precision medicine, particularly the use of omics-based methodologies to discover sensitive biomarkers of the disease. In the future, combining information produced by a variety of omics methodologies could expand the clinical practice of cardio-oncology. In this review, we demonstrate how omics approaches can improve our comprehension of CTR-CVT deep phenotyping, discuss the positive and negative aspects of available omics approaches for CTR-CVT diagnosis, and outline how to integrate multiple sets of omics data into individualized monitoring and treatment. This will offer a reliable technical route for lowering cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in cancer patients and survivors.
Chronic Exposure to Arsenic and Fluoride Starting at Gestation Alters Liver Mitochondrial Protein Expression and Induces Early Onset of Liver Fibrosis in Male Mouse Offspring
Authors: González-Alfonso Wendy L. , Petrosyan Pavel , Del Razo Luz M. , Sánchez-Peña Luz C. , Tapia-Rodríguez Miguel , Hernández-Muñoz Rolando , Gonsebatt María E. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
The presence of arsenic (As) and fluoride (F−) in drinking water is of concern due to the enormous number of individuals exposed to this condition worldwide. Studies in cultured cells and animal models have shown that As- or F-induced hepatotoxicity is primarily associated with redox disturbance and altered mitochondrial homeostasis. To explore the hepatotoxic effects of chronic combined exposure to As and F− in drinking water, pregnant CD-1 mice were exposed to 2 mg/L As (sodium arsenite) and/or 25 mg/L F− (sodium fluoride). The male offspring continued the exposure treatment up to 30 (P30) or 90 (P90) postnatal days. GSH levels, cysteine synthesis enzyme activities, and cysteine transporter levels were investigated in liver homogenates, as well as the expression of biomarkers of ferroptosis and mitochondrial biogenesis-related proteins. Serum transaminase levels and Hematoxylin–Eosin and Masson trichrome-stained liver tissue slices were examined. Combined exposure at P30 significantly reduced GSH levels and the mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) expression while increasing lipid peroxidation, free Fe 2+, p53 expression, and serum ALT activity. At P90, the upregulation of cysteine uptake and synthesis was associated with a recovery of GSH levels. Nevertheless, the downregulation of TFAM continued and was now associated with a downstream inhibition of the expression of MT-CO2 and reduced levels of mtDNA and fibrotic liver damage. Our experimental approach using human-relevant doses gives evidence of the increased risk for early liver damage associated with elevated levels of As and F− in the diet during intrauterine and postnatal period.
A new computational framework for log-concave density estimation
Authors: Chen Wenyu , Mazumder Rahul , Samworth Richard J. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIn statistics, log-concave density estimation is a central problem within the field of nonparametric inference under shape constraints. Despite great progress in recent years on the statistical theory of the canonical estimator, namely the log-concave maximum likelihood estimator, adoption of this method has been hampered by the complexities of the non-smooth convex optimization problem that underpins its computation. We provide enhanced understanding of the structural properties of this optimization problem, which motivates the proposal of new algorithms, based on both randomized and Nesterov smoothing, combined with an appropriate integral discretization of increasing accuracy. We prove that these methods enjoy, both with high probability and in expectation, a convergence rate of order 1/T up to logarithmic factors on the objective function scale, where T denotes the number of iterations. The benefits of our new computational framework are demonstrated on both synthetic and real data, and our implementation is available in a github repository (Log-Concave Computation).
Disparate occurrences of a chalicotheriine and a schizotheriine chalicothere (Mammalia, Chalicotheriidae) at the Late Miocene hominid locality Hammerschmiede (Germany)
Authors: Kampouridis Panagiotis , Hartung Josephina , Lechner Thomas S. , Kargopoulos Nikolaos , Böhme Madelaine 
Published: April 2024

AbstractChalicotheres are enigmatic perissodactyls that had large claws instead of hooves. The present study concerns the material of Chalicotheriidae from the Late Miocene hominid locality of Hammerschmiede in Germany. The HAM 5 fossil site (11.62 Ma) consists of six isolated dental and postcranial chalicothere elements. Based on the morphology and dimensions of the dentition, the material can be assigned to the chalicotheriine Anisodon sp. This genus is the most common representative of Chalicotheriidae in Central Europe during the Middle Miocene but becomes much rarer during the Late Miocene. The HAM 4 fossil site (11.44 Ma) has yielded a patella belonging to a schizotheriine and a skull fragment that could possibly also belong to a schizotheriine. Thus, the schizotheriine and the chalicotheriine occur in different horizons in Hammerschmiede. Both taxa probably had a rather similar diet but different locomotion, and their disparate occurrences are most plausibly associated with environmental differences among the two fossiliferous levels.
Bacillus thuringiensis promotes systemic immunity in tomato, controlling pests and pathogens and promoting yield
Authors: Gupta Rupali , Keppanan Ravindran , Leibman-Markus Meirav , Matveev Sabina , Rav-David Dalia , Shulhani Ran , Elad Yigal , Ment Dana , Bar Maya 
Published: April 2024

AbstractPlant pathogens and pests pose an increasing threat to worldwide food security. To improve and strengthen food security under increasingly difficult environmental, economic, and geopolitical conditions, the prospect of using microbial biocontrol agents becomes increasingly desirable. One of the most studied, and commercially used, biopesticide microorganisms is the entomopathogenic, gram-positive, soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). While Bt has been known for many years as an insecticidal microorganism and used extensively in agriculture, its possible anti-phytopathogen and plant growth-promoting activities have received comparatively limited attention thus far. Here, we examine the ability of Bt to promote systemic immunity in tomato plants. We investigate how Bt influences plant immunity and disease resistance against several fungal and bacterial plant pathogens, as well as several arthropod pests. In order to determine which component of Bt (i.e., Bt spores or pure crystals) is responsible for the observed effects on pathogens or pests, we dissected the different fractions present in a commercial preparation and assessed their effects on pest and pathogen control. As previously reported in the Bt literature, our results indicate that proteins produced by Bt are likely the primary acting components against pests. In the case of pathogens, however, it appears that both the Bt spores and proteins directly act against pathogens such as the fungus Botrytis cinerea. Bt Spores and produced proteins also both induce plant immunity. Understanding the different Bt mode of action mechanisms will help in developing cost-effective and safe plant protection strategies for enhancing food security. Taken together, our findings suggest that Bt could be used in broad-spectrum pest and disease management strategies. Pending validation in agricultural settings, Bt products on the market could have additional uses in sustainable pest management and plant growth promotion.
On wavefront patterns in a fractional reaction–diffusion model for predator–prey system with anti-predator behavior
Authors: Mansour Mahmoud B. A. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractIn recent studies, much attention has been paid to reaction–diffusion systems with anomalous diffusion. In this paper, we investigate the formation of wavefront patterns in a predator–prey model with anti-predator behavior under the influence of anomalous subdiffusion. We use methods of traveling wave analysis and numerical integration to establish the existence of traveling wavefront solutions. Further, obtained traveling wavefront solutions are validated through direct computer simulations of time-dependent solutions for fractional partial differential equation system. It is found that wavefronts exist in a range of system parameters, which travel faster in the subdiffusive system than in the normal diffusive one.
Assessing the Immediate Effects of Detached Mindfulness on Repetitive Negative Thinking and Affect in Daily Life: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Bolzenkötter Teresa , Bürkner Paul-Christian , Zetsche Ulrike , Schulze Lars 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Objectives
Repetitive negative thinking (RNT) is a problematic thinking style that is related to multiple mental disorders. Detached mindfulness is a technique of metacognitive therapy that aims to reduce RNT. Our study set out to investigate the immediate effects of detached mindfulness in daily life.

Methods
Participants with elevated trait RNT (n = 50) were prompted to engage in detached mindfulness exercises three times a day for 5 consecutive days. Immediate effects on RNT and affect were assessed 15 and 30 min after each exercise using experience sampling methodology. We compared the effects of this exercise phase to (1) a 5-day non-exercise baseline phase and (2) a different group of participants that engaged in an active control exercise (n = 50).

Results
Results of Bayesian multilevel models showed that, across groups, improvements in RNT, negative affect, and positive affect were stronger during the exercise phase than during the non-exercise baseline phase (RNT after 15 min: b = -0.26, 95% CI = [-0.38, -0.14]). However, the two exercise groups did not differ in these improvements (RNT after 15 min: b = 0.02, 95% CI = [-0.22, 0.27]). Thus, the detached mindfulness and the active control exercises resulted in similar effects on RNT and affect in daily life.

Conclusions
Results of this study imply that there was no additional benefit of having participants observe their thoughts detached and non-judgmentally, compared to excluding these assumed mechanisms of action as done for the active control group. We discuss possible reasons for the non-difference between the groups.

Preregistration
This study was preregistered at https://osf.io/rze64.
Evolution of egg deposition strategies, exaptations of exuvia, and thanatochresis in tardigrades
Authors: Guidetti Roberto 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe cuticle is the tardigrade exoskeleton that, limiting animal growth, needs to be periodically shed. New cuticles must be formed (within the old ones) before getting rid of the obsolete exoskeletons at the end of moulting process. After ecdysis (the release of the old cuticle), the exuvia has different destinies according to tardigrade evolutionary lines. In the marine tardigrades (Heterotardigrada), the exuvia is lost and useless, while in the other taxa, it acquires interesting uses to be considered exaptations, since the cuticle previously shaped by natural selection for a function (i.e. as exoskeleton) is coopted for new adaptive scopes. These are related to egg deposition, parental care, mating, and diapause. Egg deposition within the exuvia is one of the three different egg deposition strategies developed by tardigrades: smooth eggs can be laid freely or within the exuvia, while ornamented eggs are laid freely. A new scenario for the evolution of such egg deposition strategies is characterised by five schematic steps: smooth eggs laid freely (ancestral state), synchronization of egg maturation with moulting (developed in tardigrade ancestor in sea), use of the exuvia for oviposition (for enhanced mechanical and physiological egg protection), acquisition of egg ornamentation, and ornamented eggs laid freely (related to a risk-spreading strategy). An interesting thanatochresis case related to the release of free eggs in crustaceans exuviae, convergently developed in two distant taxa of eu- and heterotardigrades, is presented and discussed.
Enhancing Demodulation Performance of DCM Algorithm in φ-OTDR System Through Temporal Spline Interpolation
Authors: Wang Tingyu , Zhang Jianzhong , Ma Zhe , He Xiang , Li Weizhe , Yang Binyuan , Zhang Mingjiang 
Published: April 2024

AbstractFor expanding the amplitude-frequency response range of the differential cross-phase multiply (DCM) algorithm in the φ-OTDR system, a temporal spline interpolation (TSI) method is proposed to pre-process Rayleigh backscattering (RBS) signals. Through the TSI method, the discrete temporal signals characterizing RBS traces are subjected to interpolation, facilitating a reduction in differential approximation errors. This, in turn, establishes a heightened level of precision in phase demodulation, especially relevant across extensive sensing distances. By comparing the recovered time-domain waveforms and the corresponding power spectral densities without and with the TSI, the above improvement effect has been experimentally validated by utilizing the TSI. The results show that, with the TSI, the amplitude-frequency response range of the DCM algorithm is enlarged by 2.78 times, and the new relationship among fpulse, f, and D under the root mean square error (RMSE) tolerance less than 0.1 can be expressed as 1.9(D+1)f ≤ fpulse. This contribution underscores a substantial advancement in the capabilities of the DCM algorithm, holding promise for refined performance in optical fiber sensing applications.