bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficient spine segmentation network based on multi‐scale feature extraction and multi‐dimensional spatial attention
Authors: Xu Guohao , Wang Chuantao , Li Zhuoyuan , Zhai Jiliang , Wang Saishuo 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIn spine imaging, efficient automatic segmentation is crucial for clinical decision‐making, yet current models increase accuracy at the expense of elevated parameter counts and computational complexity, complicating integration with contemporary medical devices. Addressing identified challenges, this research introduces LE‐NeXt, a spine segmentation framework utilizing multi‐dimensional spatial attention and multi‐scale feature extraction, optimizing the architecture via convolution and MLP. It integrates lightweight convolutions and attention mechanisms within an encoder‐decoder model, enhancing stage‐specific feature extraction while ensuring efficiency. Experimental analyses on VerSe and SpineWeb datasets demonstrate that LE‐NeXt outperforms the lightweight U‐NeXt, enhancing IoU accuracy from 87.7 to 89.8 on VerSe, and exceeds the performance of established networks such as U‐Net and its variants. Significantly, on SpineWeb, LE‐NeXt not only surpasses Trans U‐Net in accuracy but also achieves a considerable reduction in both parameter count and computational complexity. These results emphasize LE‐NeXt's effectiveness in improving segmentation precision efficiently, optimally balancing computational efficiency and accuracy.
Supercell precipitation contribution to the United States hydroclimate
Authors: Zeeb Aaron W. , Ashley Walker S. , Haberlie Alex M. , Gensini Vittorio A. , Michaelis Allison C. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThis research seeks to understand simulated supercell precipitation characteristics across the conterminous United States (CONUS) using high‐resolution, convection‐permitting, dynamically downscaled simulations for three 15‐year epochs. Epochs include a historical end‐of‐20th‐century period (1990–2005) and two end‐of‐21st‐century (2085–2100) scenarios for intermediate and pessimistic greenhouse gas concentration trajectories. Simulated updraft helicity, which measures the corkscrew flow within a storm's updraft, is used as a proxy for supercells. An algorithm tracks and catalogues updraft helicity swaths that, when buffered, are used to acquire simulated precipitation from supercells. The historical epoch provides a baseline climatology of supercell precipitation for a contemporary climate, which is then compared against the two future epochs to assess how supercell precipitation may change during the 21st century. Despite their relatively small size, supercells provide critical precipitation to the Wheat and Corn Belts, large expanses of CONUS pasture and rangeland, regional aquifers and several large river basins. Many areas in the central CONUS receive upwards of 3%–6% of their annual and 5%–8% of their warm‐season precipitation from these storms. Results suggest that precipitation contribution from supercells will decrease in the future across most of the High Plains and Central and Northern Great Plains with robust increases likely across the south‐central and Southeast regions. Supercell precipitation rates are expected to increase for large portions of the CONUS by the end‐of‐the‐21st‐century, suggesting a growing threat for flash floods from these storms as they become more efficient precipitation producers. This research provides an initial perspective on the magnitude of supercell precipitation and potential changes to this important hydrologic input to assist water‐sensitive industries, private and public insurance markets, agriculture entities, as well as inform plans to mitigate and build resilience to rapid environmental and societal change.
Towards an advanced representation of precipitation over Morocco in a global climate model with resolution enhancement and empirical run‐time bias corrections
Authors: Balhane Saloua , Cheruy Frédérique , Driouech Fatima , El Rhaz Khalid , Idelkadi Abderrahmane , Sima Adriana , Vignon Étienne , Drobinski Philippe , Chehbouni Abdelghani 
Published: February 2024

AbstractMorocco, as a Mediterranean and North African country, is acknowledged as a climate change hotspot, where increased drought and related water resource shortages present a real challenge for human and natural systems. However, its geographic position and regional characteristics make the simulation of the distribution and variability of precipitation particularly challenging in the region. In this study, we propose an approach where the Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique Zoom (LMDZ) GCM is run with a stretched grid configuration developed with enhanced resolution (35 km) over the region, and we apply run‐time bias correction to deal with the atmospheric model's systematic errors on large‐scale circulation. The bias‐correction terms for wind and temperature are built using the climatological mean of the adjustment terms on tendency errors in an LMDZ simulation relaxed towards ERA5 reanalyses. The free reference run with the zoomed configuration is compared to two bias‐corrected runs. The free run exhibits noticeable improvements in mean low‐level circulation, high frequency variability and moisture transport and compares favourably to precipitation observations at the local scale. The mean simulated climate is substantially improved after bias correction w.r.t. to the uncorrected runs. At the regional scale, the bias‐correction showed improvements in moisture transport and precipitation distribution, but no noticeable effect was observed in mean precipitation amounts, interannual variability and extreme events. To address the latter, model tuning after grid refinement and developing more “scale‐aware” parameterizations are necessary. The observed improvements on the large‐scale circulation suggest that the run‐time bias correction can be used to drive regional climate models for a better representation of regional and local climate. It can also be combined with “a posteriori” bias correction methods to improve local precipitation simulation, including extreme events.
Computer simulation study of cementless cup placement for dysplastic hip osteoarthritis using subluxation percentage of Crowe classification
Authors: Otaka Keiji , Osawa Yusuke , Takegami Yasuhiko , Iida Hiroki , Ozawa Yuto , Funahashi Hiroto , Imagama Shiro 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIt is often difficult to achieve adequate bone coverage of the cup in total hip arthroplasty in cases of severe developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between subluxation percentage of Crowe classification and cup center‐edge (cup‐CE) angle to investigate whether subluxation percentage according to the Crowe classification is a useful indicator for cementless cup placement. Cementless cup placement was simulated in 77 women with DDH in 91 hips (Crowe I, 35 hips; Crowe II, 35 hips; and Crowe III, 21 hips) using computed tomography‐based computer simulation software. The cups were placed at the anatomic hip center (AHC) and 10‐mm high hip center (HHC). The relationship between the subluxation percentage and cup‐CE angle was evaluated using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. In addition, the cutoff values for the subluxation percentage that satisfied a cup‐CE angle ≥0° were determined using the receiving operating characteristic curve. The cup‐CE angle was negatively correlated with the subluxation percentage in both AHC and 10‐mm HHC (correlation coefficient ρ = −0.542 [p < 0.01] and −0.704 [p < 0.01], respectively). The cutoff values for subluxation percentage that satisfied a cup‐CE angle ≥0° were 56.1% and 73.6% for AHC and 10‐mm HHC, respectively. Cementless cup placement in AHC is difficult in cases with the subluxation percentage ≥56.1%, and HHC reconstruction or femoral structural autograft technique should be considered as an alternative. Moreover, placement at 10 mm above AHC is difficult in cases with subluxation percentage ≥73.6%.
A theoretical study on the mechanism and kinetics of the reactions between diazine isomers and OH radicals
Authors: Hashemi Seyyed Rasoul , Koopman Jeffrey , Nyman Gunnar 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe reactions of pyrazine, pyridazine, and pyrimidine with hydroxyl radicals are theoretically studied. The barrier heights obtained with different electronic structure methods indicate that the reactions can competitively proceed via either abstraction of a hydrogen atom by an OH radical or OH addition to carbon sites. However, the rate constants computed within the temperature range 200 to 1500 K suggest that tunneling play a role resulting in large branching ratios in favor of hydrogen abstraction channels at lower temperatures.
Low‐Temperature Extrusion of Waterborne Polyurethane–Polycaprolactone Composites for Multi‐Material Bioprinting of Engineered Elastic Cartilage
Authors: Wang Di , Feng Zhaoxuan , Zeng Jinshi , Wang Qian , Zheng Yudong , Liu Xia , Jiang Haiyue 
Published: February 2024

Abstract3D bioprinting of elastic cartilage tissues that are mechanically and structurally comparable to their native counterparts, while exhibiting favorable cellular behavior, is an unmet challenge. A practical solution for this problem is the multi‐material bioprinting of thermoplastic polymers and cell‐laden hydrogels using multiple nozzles. However, the processing of thermoplastic polymers requires high temperatures, which can damage hydrogel‐encapsulated cells. In this study, the authors developed waterborne polyurethane (WPU)‐polycaprolactone (PCL) composites to allow multi‐material co‐printing with cell‐laden gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogels. These composites can be extruded at low temperatures (50–60 °C) and high speeds, thereby reducing heat/shear damage to the printed hydrogel‐capsulated cells. Furthermore, their hydrophilic nature improved the cell behavior in vitro. More importantly, the bioprinted structures exhibited good stiffness and viscoelasticity compared to native elastic cartilage. In summary, this study demonstrated low‐temperature multi‐material bioprinting of WPU‐PCL‐based constructs with good mechanical properties, degradation time‐frames, and cell viability, showcasing their potential in elastic cartilage bio‐fabrication and regeneration to serve broad biomedical applications in the future.
Preemptive patenting, secondary patents, and the persistence of monopoly
Authors: Miljkovic Dragan 
Published: February 2024

AbstractWe develop a theoretical economic model that establishes the link between fragmented patenting systems in an industry already characterized as a monopoly resulting in continuous/steady monopolistic market structure. We demonstrated that preemptive patenting strategy, by using secondary patenting scheme, may lead to an increase in the number of patents without changing actual number of products on the market. Moreover, when such a strategy is employed by a monopoly, it only serves to sustain and further monopolistic and therefore socially suboptimal market structure. Institutional/legal framework must exist to promote this kind of socially suboptimal behavior and resulting outcomes.
Robust T2 estimation with balanced steady state free precession
Authors: Bieri Oliver , Weidensteiner Claudia , Ganter Carl 
Published: February 2024

AbstractPurposeTo develop a novel signal representation for balanced steady state free precession (bSSFP) displaying its T2 independence on B1 and on magnetization transfer (MT) effects.MethodsA signal model for bSSFP is developed that shows only an explicit dependence (up to a scaling factor) on E2 (and, therefore, T2) and a novel parameter c (with implicit dependence on the flip angle and E1). Moreover, it is shown that MT effects, entering the bSSFP signal via a binary spin bath model, can be captured by a redefinition of T1 and, therefore, leading to modification of E1, resulting in the same signal model. Various sets of phase‐cycled bSSFP brain scans (different flip angles, different TR, different RF pulse durations, and different number of phase cycles) were recorded at 3 T. The parameters T2 (E2) and c were estimated using a variable projection (VARPRO) method and Monte‐Carlo simulations were performed to assess T2 estimation precision.ResultsInitial experiments confirmed the expected independence of T2 on various protocol settings, such as TR, the flip angle, B1 field inhomogeneity, and the RF pulse duration. Any variation (within the explored range) appears to directly affect the estimation of the parameter c only—in agreement with theory.ConclusionBSSFP theory predicts an extraordinary feature that all MT and B1‐related variational aspects do not enter T2 estimation, making it a potentially robust methodology for T2 quantification, pending validation against existing standards.
Mechanisms of glutamate metabolic function and dysfunction in vascular dementia
Authors: Wang Jiawen , Zhang Yingmei , Tian Ning , Ya Dongshan , Yang Jiaxin , Jiang Yanlin , Li Xiaoxia , Lin Xiaohui , Yang Bin , Li Qinghua , Liao Rujia 
Published: February 2024

AbstractAs the global population ages, research on the pathogenesis and treatment options for older patients with dementia has become increasingly important. Vascular dementia (VaD), the second most frequent type of dementia, is characterized by vascular impairment caused by inadequate blood supply to the brain. VaD is a complex neurological disorder involving multiple cells and signaling pathways, and its prevention and treatment pose clinical challenges with significant behavioral implications. Glutamate, the most abundant amino acid in the brain, plays a critical role as an excitatory neurotransmitter, impacting cognitive function, learning, and memory. Abnormal glutamate metabolism has been closely linked to dementia, and reduced blood flow to the brain can lead to excessive glutamate accumulation, resulting in neuronal death. This article highlights the connection between VaD and glutamate metabolism, aiming to identify better methods for preventing and treating VaD via regulating glutamate metabolism.
Absolute neutrophil count clinical trial eligibility criteria for pediatric oncology phase I and phase I/II trials by sponsorship
Authors: Ruiz Jenny , Kelly Rebecca K. , Aplenc Richard , Laetsch Theodore W. , Seif Alix E. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractNormal absolute neutrophil count (ANC) variations, as seen with Duffy‐null associated neutrophil count (DANC), are not accounted for in trial eligibility, which may contribute to racial enrollment disparities. We describe ANC eligibility for pediatric oncology phase I/II clinical trials according to primary sponsorship from 2010 to 2023 using ClinicalTrials.gov. Out of 438 trials, 20% were industry‐sponsored. Total 17% of trials required ANC ≥1500 cells/μL for enrollment; however, industry‐sponsored trials were significantly more likely to require ANC ≥1500 cells/μL than non‐industry‐sponsored trials (odds ratio 2.53, 95% confidence interval: 1.39–4.62; p < .001). These data suggest laboratory exclusion criteria are one possible mechanism for pediatric clinical trial enrollment disparities.
Patients with advanced cancer and their spouses parenting minor children: The role of the relationship context in parenting concerns
Authors: Milbury Kathrin , Ann‐Yi Sujin , Jones Morgan , Li Yisheng , Whisenant Meagan , Yousuf Sania , Necroto Victoria , Chavez Mac Gregor Mariana , Bruera Eduardo 
Published: February 2024

AbstractObjectivePatients with advanced cancer who parent minor children report parenting concerns and increased psychological distress. This cross‐sectional study seeks to understand parenting‐related issues in patients and spousal caregivers from a relationship perspective.MethodsPatients with a metastatic solid malignancy and their spouses independently completed cross‐sectional assessments of psychological distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), parenting concerns (Parenting Concern Questionnaire) and efficacy (Cancer‐Related Parenting Self‐Efficacy Scale), and relationship measures (DAS‐7, Couples' Illness Communication Scale, and Family Relationship Index).ResultsOf the 51 patients (57% female, 49% NHW, mean age 42 years) and spouses (43% female, 43% NHW, mean age of 42 years), approximately 50% couples endorsed psychological distress and were at risk for family dysfunction. Spouses reported significantly higher levels of parenting‐related concerns (t = −2.0, p < 0.05) and anxiety (t = −2.8, p < 0.001) than patients. Parenting concerns were significantly associated with illness communication (r = −0.56, p < 0.001) and family function (r = −0.38, p < 0.001). Although the expected interactions between parenting concerns and relationship variables (i.e., illness communication, dyadic adjustment, and family function) were significant for depressive symptoms at p < 0.05, the associations were not in the expected direction. Relationship function buffered against depressive symptoms for those with low rather than high parenting concerns.ConclusionsNot only patients but also spouses report cancer‐related parenting concerns. The associations between parenting concerns and distress were stronger for spouses than patients. Dual caregiving appears to be a particularly stressful role. Because relationship function was associated with parenting concerns, we suggest that parent support programs that are couple‐based and include both parenting‐specific and relationship‐specific content may be most effective in reducing distress for this vulnerable population.
Simplified risk stratification based on cardiopulmonary exercise test: A Spanish two‐center experience
Authors: Martínez‐Meñaca Amaya , Cruz‐Utrilla Alejandro , Mora‐Cuesta Víctor Manuel , Luna‐López Raquel , Segura‐de la Cal Teresa , Flox‐Camacho Ángela , Alonso‐Lecue Pilar , Escribano‐Subias Pilar , Cifrián‐Martínez José Manuel 
Published: February 2024

AbstractA simplified 4‐strata risk stratification approach based on three variables is widespread in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) at follow‐up. This study aimed to assess the impact of replacing the 6‐min walk test (6MWT) with the peak 02 uptake evaluated by the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) on risk stratification by this scale. We included 180 prevalent patients with PAH from two reference hospitals in Spain, followed up between 2006 and 2022. Patients were included if all the variables of interest were available within a 3‐month period on the Spanish Registry of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (REHAP): functional class (FC); NT‐proBNP; 6MWT; and CPET. The original 4‐strata model (NT‐proBNP, 6MWT, FC) identified most patients at low or intermediate‐low risk (36.7% and 51.1%, respectively). Notably, the modified scale (NT‐proBNP, CPET, FC) improved the identification of patients at intermediate‐high risk up to 18.9%, and at high risk up to 1.1% in comparison with the previous 12.2% and 0.0% in the original scale. This new model increased the number of patients correctly classified into higher‐risk strata (positive NRI of 0.06), as well as classified more patients without events in lower‐risk strata (negative NRI of 0.04). The proposed score showed a slightly superior prognostic capacity compared with the original model (Harrel's C‐index 0.717 vs. 0.709). Using O2 uptake instead of distance walked in the 6MWT improves the identification of high‐risk patients using the 4‐strata scale. This change could have relevant prognostic implications and lead to changes in the specific treatment of PAH.
Analyzing future marine cold spells in the tropical Indian Ocean: Insights from a regional Earth system model
Authors: Dinesh Anand Singh , Kumar Pankaj , Mishra Alok Kumar , Pandey Lokesh Kumar , Tewari Mukul , Cabos William , Sein Dmitry V. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIn this study, a future projection of marine cold spells (MCSs) over the tropical Indian Ocean is made using a fully coupled regional Earth system model, namely ROM, under two representative concentration pathways (RCPs): RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. In both RCPs, the future MCS properties have been estimated across three distinct time intervals: the near future (NF; 2010–2039), the middle future (MF; 2040–2069), and the far future (FF; 2070–2099). The future MCS computations were examined with respect to fixed historical baseline periods and varying baseline periods. MCSs were frequent, intense, and prolonged during the historical period. ROM effectively simulated these historical MCS metrics and their trends and outperformed the forcing general circulation model as well as the multimodel ensemble mean of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 models. In the future, MCSs will cease to occur in ∼13% (4%), ∼56% (66%) and ∼69% (93%) of the area of the tropical Indian Ocean in the NF, MF, and FF respectively under the RCP4.5 (RCP8.5) scenario using a fixed historical baseline period. This departure of MCSs led to the disappearance of events, first identified over the Arabian Sea in both RCPs. The decrease in net heat flux and increase in wind speed contribute to the genesis and severity of MCS events. Further, during the El Niño regime, the MCS events dramatically decrease due to the basin‐wide warming, but during the La Niña phase, the MCS intensity and spatial range increase. This study further investigates the sensitivity of MCSs with the choice of baseline period. Adopting varying baseline periods over time does not result in the disappearance of MCSs but does produce declining trends in MCS activity, highlighting the need for careful consideration in choosing a baseline period.
Generating optimal designs with user‐specified pure replication structure
Authors: Walsh Stephen J. , Bolton Thomsen B. , Borkowski John J. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractOver recent decades, optimal experimental design has surged in popularity due to affordable computing and efficient algorithms. However, some researchers highlight that this focus has often side‐lined the importance of including pure experimental replication in designs, as many optimality criteria do not inherently suggest designs with replicates. In this study, we introduce an approach that allows the designer to input a desired replication structure into the optimal design search. We list all potential replication structures, indicate the corresponding budget for pure‐error (PE) and lack‐of‐fit (LOF) degrees‐of‐freedom, and use particle swarm optimization to search for the optimal design in each scenario. We demonstrate our approach on various unexplored ‐optimal design scenarios and several scenarios recently discussed in literature. Our findings reveal the existence of highly‐efficient ‐optimal designs with unique replication structures, offering designers informed choices on allocating a limited budget for PE and LOF degrees‐of‐freedom. This method is versatile and compatible with other optimizers, such as the coordinate exchange.
The GHP scaling limit of uniform spanning trees of dense graphs
Authors: Archer Eleanor , Shalev Matan 
Published: February 2024

AbstractWe consider dense graph sequences that converge to a connected graphon and prove that the GHP scaling limit of their uniform spanning trees (USTs) is Aldous' Brownian CRT. Furthermore, we are able to extract the precise scaling constant from the limiting graphon. As an example, we can apply this to the scaling limit of the USTs of the Erdös–Rényi sequence for any fixed , and sequences of dense expanders. A consequence of GHP convergence is that several associated quantities of the spanning trees also converge, such as the height, diameter and law of a simple random walk.