bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exploring dermoscopic structures for melanoma lesions' classification
Authors: Malik Fiza Saeed , Yousaf Muhammad Haroon , Sial Hassan Ahmed , Viriri Serestina 
Published: March 2024

BackgroundMelanoma is one of the deadliest skin cancers that originate from melanocytes due to sun exposure, causing mutations. Early detection boosts the cure rate to 90%, but misclassification drops survival to 15–20%. Clinical variations challenge dermatologists in distinguishing benign nevi and melanomas. Current diagnostic methods, including visual analysis and dermoscopy, have limitations, emphasizing the need for Artificial Intelligence understanding in dermatology.ObjectivesIn this paper, we aim to explore dermoscopic structures for the classification of melanoma lesions. The training of AI models faces a challenge known as brittleness, where small changes in input images impact the classification. A study explored AI vulnerability in discerning melanoma from benign lesions using features of size, color, and shape. Tests with artificial and natural variations revealed a notable decline in accuracy, emphasizing the necessity for additional information, such as dermoscopic structures.MethodologyThe study utilizes datasets with clinically marked dermoscopic images examined by expert clinicians. Transformers and CNN-based models are employed to classify these images based on dermoscopic structures. Classification results are validated using feature visualization. To assess model susceptibility to image variations, classifiers are evaluated on test sets with original, duplicated, and digitally modified images. Additionally, testing is done on ISIC 2016 images. The study focuses on three dermoscopic structures crucial for melanoma detection: Blue-white veil, dots/globules, and streaks.ResultsIn evaluating model performance, adding convolutions to Vision Transformers proves highly effective for achieving up to 98% accuracy. CNN architectures like VGG-16 and DenseNet-121 reach 50–60% accuracy, performing best with features other than dermoscopic structures. Vision Transformers without convolutions exhibit reduced accuracy on diverse test sets, revealing their brittleness. OpenAI Clip, a pre-trained model, consistently performs well across various test sets. To address brittleness, a mitigation method involving extensive data augmentation during training and 23 transformed duplicates during test time, sustains accuracy.ConclusionsThis paper proposes a melanoma classification scheme utilizing three dermoscopic structures across Ph2 and Derm7pt datasets. The study addresses AI susceptibility to image variations. Despite a small dataset, future work suggests collecting more annotated datasets and automatic computation of dermoscopic structural features.
Relationship between autoimmune thyroid antibodies and anti-nuclear antibodies in general patients
Authors: Ruan Yi , Heng Xian-pei , Yang Liu-qing , He Wei-dong , Li Liang , Wang Zhi-ta , Huang Su-ping , Chen Qi-wei , Han Zhuang 
Published: March 2024

BackgroundThere is no doubt that both Hashimoto thyroiditis and Graves’ disease are autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs), but the relationship between anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) and AITDs is poorly studied. The association between thyroid autoantibody levels and ANA positivity was evaluated to assess the role of ANA in AITDs.MethodsWe conducted an analysis using data from 1,149,893 patients registered at our hospital and 53,021 patients registered in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey databases. We focused on patients with data for thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb)/ANA, TPOAb/immunoglobulin G (IgG), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor antibody (TRAb)/ANA, TRAb/IgG, TSH/ANA, or TSH/IgG.ResultsANA positivity rates were 12.88% and 21.22% in TPOAb/ANA and TSH/ANA patients, respectively. In TPOAb/IgG and TSH/IgG data, high IgG levels (≥15 g/L) were detected in 2.23% and 4.06% of patients, respectively. There were significant differences in ANA positivity rates and high IgG proportions among patients with different TPOAb and TSH levels. TPOAb level was correlated with ANA positivity rate and high IgG proportion, and TSH level was correlated with ANA positivity rate. Regression analysis showed positive correlations between TPOAb levels and ANA positivity risk or high IgG risk, TSH levels and high IgG risk, and elevated TSH and ANA positivity risk. Of patients with TRAb/ANA data, 35.99% were ANA-positive, and 13.93% had TRAb levels ≥1.75IU/L; 18.96% of patients with TRAb/IgG data had high IgG levels, and 16.51% had TRAb levels ≥1.75IU/L. ANA positivity rate and high IgG proportion were not significantly different among different TRAb levels. TRAb levels, ANA positivity risk and high IgG risk were not correlated.ConclusionANA positivity and high IgG are related to Hashimoto thyroiditis but not Graves’ disease, which implies distinct pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the AITDs.
Regulatory SVA retrotransposons and classical HLA genotyped-transcripts associated with Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Kulski Jerzy K. , Suzuki Shingo , Shiina Takashi , Pfaff Abigail L. , Kõks Sulev 
Published: March 2024

IntroductionParkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative and polygenic disorder characterised by the progressive loss of neural dopamine and onset of movement disorders. We previously described eight SINE-VNTR-Alu (SVA) retrotransposon-insertion-polymorphisms (RIPs) located and expressed within the Human Leucocyte Antigen (HLA) genomic region of chromosome 6 that modulate the differential co-expression of 71 different genes including the HLA classical class I and class II genes in a Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) cohort.Aims and methodsIn the present study, we (1) reanalysed the PPMI genomic and transcriptomic sequencing data obtained from whole blood of 1521 individuals (867 cases and 654 controls) to infer the genotypes of the transcripts expressed by eight classical HLA class I and class II genes as well as DRA and the DRB3/4/5 haplotypes, and (2) examined the statistical differences between three different PD subgroups (cases) and healthy controls (HC) for the HLA and SVA transcribed genotypes and inferred haplotypes.ResultsSignificant differences for 57 expressed HLA alleles (21 HLA class I and 36 HLA class II alleles) up to the three-field resolution and four of eight expressed SVA were detected at p&lt;0.05 by the Fisher’s exact test within one or other of three different PD subgroups (750 individuals with PD, 57 prodromes, 60 individuals who had scans without evidence of dopamine deficits [SWEDD]), when compared against a group of 654 HCs within the PPMI cohort and when not corrected by the Bonferroni test for multiple comparisons. Fourteen of 20 significant alleles were unique to the PD-HC comparison, whereas 31 of the 57 alleles overlapped between two or more different subgroup comparisons. Only the expressed HLA-DRA*01:01:01 and -DQA1*03:01:01 protective alleles (PD v HC), the -DQA1*03:03:01 risk (HC v Prodrome) or protective allele (PD v Prodrome), the -DRA*01:01:02 and -DRB4*01:03:02 risk alleles (SWEDD v HC), and the NR_SVA_381 present genotype (PD v HC) at a 5% homozygous insertion frequency near HLA-DPA1, were significant (Pc&lt;0.1) after Bonferroni corrections. The homologous NR_SVA_381 insertion significantly decreased the transcription levels of HLA-DPA1 and HLA-DPB1 in the PPMI cohort and its presence as a homozygous genotype is a risk factor (Pc=0.012) for PD. The most frequent NR_SVA_381 insertion haplotype in the PPMI cohort was NR_SVA_381/DPA1*02/DPB1*01 (3.7%). Although HLA C*07/B*07/DRB5*01/DRB1*15/DQB1*06 was the most frequent HLA 5-loci phased-haplotype (n, 76) in the PPMI cohort, the NR_SVA_381 insertion was present in only six of them (8%).ConclusionsThese data suggest that expressed SVA and HLA gene alleles in circulating white blood cells are coordinated differentially in the regulation of immune responses and the long-term onset and progression of PD, the mechanisms of which have yet to be elucidated.
Advancements in acne detection: application of the CenterNet network in smart dermatology
Authors: Zhang Daojun , Li Huanyu , Shi Jiajia , Shen Yue , Zhu Ling , Chen Nianze , Wei Zikun , Lv Junwei , Chen Yu , Hao Fei 
Published: March 2024

IntroductionAcne detection is critical in dermatology, focusing on quality control of acne imagery, precise segmentation, and grading. Traditional research has been limited, typically concentrating on singular aspects of acne detection.MethodsWe propose a multi-task acne detection method, employing a CenterNet-based training paradigm to develop an advanced detection system. This system collects acne images via smartphones and features multi-task capabilities for detecting image quality and identifying various acne types. It differentiates between noninflammatory acne, papules, pustules, nodules, and provides detailed delineation for cysts and post-acne scars.ResultsThe implementation of this multi-task learning-based framework in clinical diagnostics demonstrated an 83% accuracy in lesion categorization, surpassing ResNet18 models by 12%. Furthermore, it achieved a 76% precision in lesion stratification, outperforming dermatologists by 16%.DiscussionOur framework represents a advancement in acne detection, offering a comprehensive tool for classification, localization, counting, and precise segmentation. It not only enhances the accuracy of remote acne lesion identification by doctors but also clarifies grading logic and criteria, facilitating easier grading judgments.
Hexose/pentose ratio in rhizosphere exudates-mediated soil eutrophic/oligotrophic bacteria regulates the growth pattern of host plant in young apple–aromatic plant intercropping systems
Authors: Zhao Mengnan , Sun Yue , Dong Meilin , Zhang Kui , Zhang Jie , Qin Xiaoxiao , Yao Yuncong 
Published: March 2024

IntroductionThe positive effect of intercropping on host plant growth through plant–soil feedback has been established. However, the mechanisms through which intercropping induces interspecific competition remain unclear.MethodsIn this study, we selected young apple trees for intercropping with two companion plants: medium growth-potential Mentha haplocalyx Briq. (TM) and high growth-potential Ageratum conyzoides L. (TA) and conducted mixed intercropping treatment with both types (TMA) and a control treatment of monocropping apples (CT).ResultsOur findings revealed that TM increased the under-ground biomass of apple trees and TA and TMA decreased the above-ground biomass of apple trees, with the lowest above-ground biomass of apple trees in TA. The above- and under-ground biomass of intercrops in TA and TMA were higher than those in TM, with the highest in TA, suggesting that the interspecific competition was the most pronounced in TA. TA had a detrimental effect on the photosynthesis ability and antioxidant capacity of apple leaves, resulting in a decrease in above-ground apple biomass. Furthermore, TA led to a reduction in organic acids, alcohols, carbohydrates, and hydrocarbons in the apple rhizosphere soil (FRS) compared to those in both soil bulk (BS) and aromatic plant rhizosphere soil (ARS). Notably, TA caused an increase in pentose content and a decrease in the hexose/pentose (C6/C5) ratio in FRS, while ARS exhibited higher hexose content and a higher C6/C5 ratio. The changes in exudates induced by TA favored an increase in taxon members of Actinobacteria while reducing Proteobacteria in FRS compared to that in ARS. This led to a higher eutrophic/oligotrophic bacteria ratio relative to TM.DiscussionThis novel perspective sheds light on how interspecific competition, mediated by root exudates and microbial community feedback, influences plant growth and development.
Linguistic changes in neurodegenerative diseases relate to clinical symptoms
Authors: Gumus Melisa , Koo Morgan , Studzinski Christa M. , Bhan Aparna , Robin Jessica , Black Sandra E. 
Published: March 2024

BackgroundThe detection and characterization of speech changes may help in the identification and monitoring of neurodegenerative diseases. However, there is limited research validating the relationship between speech changes and clinical symptoms across a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases.MethodWe analyzed speech recordings from 109 patients who were diagnosed with various neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Frontotemporal Dementia, and Vascular Cognitive Impairment, in a cognitive neurology memory clinic. Speech recordings of an open-ended picture description task were processed using the Winterlight speech analysis platform which generates &gt;500 speech features, including the acoustics of speech and linguistic properties of spoken language. We investigated the relationship between the speech features and clinical assessments including the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (DRS), Western Aphasia Battery (WAB), and Boston Naming Task (BNT) in a heterogeneous patient population.ResultLinguistic features including lexical and syntactic features were significantly correlated with clinical assessments in patients, across diagnoses. Lower MMSE and DRS scores were associated with the use of shorter words and fewer prepositional phrases. Increased impairment on WAB and BNT was correlated with the use of fewer nouns but more pronouns. Patients also differed from healthy adults as their speech duration was significantly shorter with more pauses.ConclusionLinguistic changes such as the use of simpler vocabularies and syntax were detectable in patients with different neurodegenerative diseases and correlated with cognitive decline. Speech has the potential to be a sensitive measure for detecting cognitive impairments across various neurodegenerative diseases.
Image quality evaluation for a clinical organ-targeted PET camera
Authors: Baldassi Brandon , Poladyan Harutyun , Shahi Anirudh , Maa-Hacquoil Henry , Rapley Madeline , Komarov Borys , Stiles Justin , Freitas Vivianne , Waterston Michael , Aseyev Olexiy , Reznik Alla , Bubon Oleksandr 
Published: March 2024

IntroductionA newly developed clinical organ-targeted Positron Emission Tomography (PET) system (also known as Radialis PET) is tested with a set of standardized and custom tests previously used to evaluate the performance of Positron Emission Mammography (PEM) systems.MethodsImaging characteristics impacting standardized uptake value (SUV) and detectability of small lesions, namely spatial resolution, linearity, uniformity, and recovery coefficients, are evaluated.ResultsIn-plane spatial resolution was measured as 2.3 mm ± 0.1 mm, spatial accuracy was 0.1 mm, and uniformity measured with flood field and NEMA NU-4 phantom was 11.7% and 8.3% respectively. Selected clinical images are provided as reference to the imaging capabilities under different clinical conditions such as reduced activity of 2-[fluorine-18]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (18F-FDG) and time-delayed acquisitions. SUV measurements were performed for selected clinical acquisitions to demonstrate a capability for quantitative image assessment of different types of cancer including for invasive lobular carcinoma with comparatively low metabolic activity. Quantitative imaging performance assessment with phantoms demonstrates improved contrast recovery and spill-over ratio for this PET technology when compared to other commercial organ-dedicated PET systems with similar spatial resolution. Recovery coefficients were measured to be 0.21 for the 1 mm hot rod and up to 0.89 for the 5 mm hot rod of NEMA NU-4 Image Quality phantom.DiscussionDemonstrated ability to accurately reconstruct activity in tumors as small as 5 mm suggests that the Radialis PET technology may be well suited for emerging clinical applications such as image guided assessment of response to neoadjuvant systemic treatment (NST) in lesions smaller than 2 cm. Also, our results suggest that, while spatial resolution greatly influences the partial volume effect which degrades contrast recovery, optimized count rate performance and image reconstruction workflow may improve recovery coefficients for systems with comparable spatial resolution. We emphasize that recovery coefficient should be considered as a primary performance metric when a PET system is used for accurate lesion size or radiotracer uptake assessments.
Early or synchronized gestures facilitate speech recall—a study based on motion capture data
Authors: Nirme Jens , Gulz Agneta , Haake Magnus , Gullberg Marianne 
Published: March 2024

IntroductionTemporal co-ordination between speech and gestures has been thoroughly studied in natural production. In most cases gesture strokes precede or coincide with the stressed syllable in words that they are semantically associated with.MethodsTo understand whether processing of speech and gestures is attuned to such temporal coordination, we investigated the effect of delaying, preposing or eliminating individual gestures on the memory for words in an experimental study in which 83 participants watched video sequences of naturalistic 3D-animated speakers generated based on motion capture data. A target word in the sequence appeared (a) with a gesture presented in its original position synchronized with speech, (b) temporally shifted 500 ms before or (c) after the original position, or (d) with the gesture eliminated. Participants were asked to retell the videos in a free recall task. The strength of recall was operationalized as the inclusion of the target word in the free recall.ResultsBoth eliminated and delayed gesture strokes resulted in reduced recall rates compared to synchronized strokes, whereas there was no difference between advanced (preposed) and synchronized strokes. An item-level analysis also showed that the greater the interval between the onsets of delayed strokes and stressed syllables in target words, the greater the negative effect was on recall.DiscussionThese results indicate that speech-gesture synchrony affects memory for speech, and that temporal patterns that are common in production lead to the best recall. Importantly, the study also showcases a procedure for using motion capture-based 3D-animated speakers to create an experimental paradigm for the study of speech-gesture comprehension.
Testbed mimicking intracellular environment for optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy
Authors: Nishimae Daisuke , Ishii Takuro , Ogasawara Kouetsu , Saijo Yoshifumi 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) represents an innovative method that utilizes optics for transmission and acoustic for sensing. Within the realm of PAI modalities, optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy (OR-PAM) stands out for its ability to achieve high-resolution cellular and intracellular imaging. However, an optical testbed setup emulating the intracellular environment and accelerating the development of cellular-level OR-PAM systems has not been established. In this study, we present a testbed setup designed to mimic intracellular conditions. Assessment of this testbed setup efficacy involved embedding photoacoustic contrasts and imaging them using an OR-PAM system. The imaging results show that our testbed setup can provide instrumental in accurately measuring photoacoustic signals within an intracellular aqueous environment, avoiding risks of the contamination and degradation of the acoustic transducer.
Optical analysis of III-nitride micro-light-emitting diodes with different sidewall treatments at low current density operation
Authors: Wong Matthew S. , Gee Stephen , Tak Tanay , Gandrothula Srinivas , Rebollo Steve , Cha NamGoo , Speck James S. , DenBaars Steven P. 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
In this work, the optical efficiency of III-nitride blue micro-LEDs (μLEDs) ranged from 5 × 5 to 60 × 60 μm2 with different sidewall treatments at low current density range was investigated. The results showed dielectric sidewall passivation using atomic layer deposition (ALD) has superior optical enhancement compared to conventional RF sputtering, where most of the enhancement occurred at low current density range. Additionally, the use of ALD sidewall passivation and chemical treatment offered significant efficiency improvement for different sizes of μLEDs at operating less than 1 A cm−2 and the devices without sidewall treatments did not emit light. The effect of sidewall treatments to the effective Shockley–Read–Hall (SRH) nonradiative recombination coefficient, or the effective A coefficient from the ABC model, was estimated. The effective SRH nonradiative recombination coefficient was suppressed by two orders of magnitude for devices with sidewall treatments compared to devices without sidewall passivation.
TECHNOLOGICAL AND TACTICAL SUBSYSTEMS OF THE INTELLIGENT MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (ON THE EXAMPLE OF AN OIL AND GAS CORPORATION)
Authors: Krasnyuk Maxim , Kulynych Yurii , Hrashchenko Iryna , Krasniuk Svitlana , Goncharenko Svitlana , Denysenko Vitalina 
Published: March 2024

Providing Ukraine with its own oil and natural gas is one of the main tasks of the national economy. The possibility of development of the oil and gas industry is primarily determined by the volume of explored and mined resources. Since the existing explored reserves will not ensure the growth of oil and gas production, it is necessary to increase the amount of investments in the exploration and development of new deposits and hydrocarbon deposits with the aim of increasing their reserves and further growth of production, which requires the adoption of management decisions, which are characterized by increased technological and economic risk, uncertainty.
Taking into account the main reasons for the decline in oil and gas production in Ukraine, the specifics of the industry and the requirements for information systems in the oil and gas industry, it can be argued that the use of intelligent technologies not only at the strategic, but also at the tactical and technological levels of management - is one of the keys to success in creating/reengineering, implementation and effective use of management decision support systems.
The scientific and practical results presented in the article regarding the innovative configurations of architecture and design, proposed intellectual methodology for tactical and technological subsystems of the corporation management information systems. The above-proposed solutions - should be taken into account when reengineering corporate information systems not only in the oil and gas industry in Ukraine [1-3].
Moreover, the obtained results are relevant and applicable not only for local companies, but also for international corporations on emerging markets in the context of global and regional macroeconomic and military crisis phenomena.
ФОРМУВАННЯ ЗДОРОВОГО СПОСОБУ ЖИТТЯ СПЕЦІАЛІСТІВ ЗАЛІЗНИЧНОГО ТРАНСПОРТУ В СУЧАСНИХ УМОВАХ НАВЧАННЯ НА ПРИКЛАДІ ЗАГАРТУВАННЯ
Authors: Шепеленко Тетяна , Дорофєєва Тетяна , Гринько Віталій , Сапегіна Ірина , Довженко Світлана 
Published: March 2024

Для професійної підготовки студентів фізична культура має велике значення. Відомо, що здорова, фізично підготовлена людина, яка має великий арсенал різноманітних вмінь та навичок, зможе швидше адаптуватися до майбутньої професійної діяльності та умов виробництва, більш ефективно працювати. Незважаючи на збільшення частки розумової праці в сучасному виробництві, фізична підготовленість працівників не втрачає своєї актуальності, так як сприяє підвищенню не тільки фізичної, але й розумової працездатності, допомагає більш ефективно боротися з наслідками втоми та нервово-психічної напруги. В своїй основі фізична культура має доцільну рухову діяльність в формі фізичних вправ, завдяки чому відбувається формування важливих вмінь та навичок, фізичних здібностей, підвищення рівня здоров’я і працездатності.