bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An image quality assessment method based on edge extraction and singular value for blurriness
Authors: Zhou Lei , Liu Chuanlin , Yadav Amit , Azam Sami , Karim Asif 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe automatic assessment of perceived image quality is crucial in the field of image processing. To achieve this idea, we propose an image quality assessment (IQA) method for blurriness. The features of gradient and singular value were extracted in this method instead of the single feature in the traditional IQA algorithms. According to the insufficient size of existing public image quality assessment datasets to support deep learning, machine learning was introduced to fuse the features of multiple domains, and a new no-reference (NR) IQA method for blurriness denoted Feature fusion IQA(Ffu-IQA) was proposed. The Ffu-IQA uses a probabilistic model to estimate the probability of each edge detection blur in the image, and then uses machine learning to aggregate the probability information to obtain the edge quality score. After that uses the singular value obtained by singular value decomposition of the image matrix to calculate the singular value score. Finally, machine learning pooling is used to obtain the true quality score. Ffu-IQA achieves PLCC scores of 0.9570 and 0.9616 on CSIQ and TID2013, respectively, and SROCC scores of 0.9380 and 0.9531, which are better than most traditional image quality assessment methods for blurriness.
Corrosion characteristics of high-entropy alloys prepared by spark plasma sintering
Authors: Ujah Chika Oliver , Kallon Daramy V. V. , Aigbodion Victor Sunday 
Published: March 2024

AbstractHigh-entropy alloys (HEAs) are special type of alloy suitably developed for use in petroleum exploration, energy storage devices, medical implants, etc. This is because they possess excellent corrosion, thermal, and mechanical properties. Corrosion characteristic of HEAs prepared via spark plasma sintering is a top notch as the technique generates corrosion resistant phases and homogenous microstructure. This study was aimed at reviewing recent publications on corrosion characteristics of HEAs processed by SPS in order to develop ways of improving their anti-corrosion properties. The resource materials were obtained from Scopus-indexed journals and Google Scholar websites of peer-reviewed articles published within the last 5 years. From the study, it was revealed that incorporation of some elements (Al, Cr, Ti) into HEAs can improve their corrosion resistance, while addition of some others can reduce their brittleness and enhance their stability and formability. It was recommended that optimization of SPS parameters was one of the strategies of generating better corrosion characteristics in HEAs.
Indirect estimation of the monthly transport turnover indicator in Italy
Authors: Guardabascio Barbara , Moauro Filippo , Mosley Luke 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe paper discusses the results of a selection of a set of monthly indicators to be used as predictors of the quarterly index of Italian service turnover. A mixed frequency approach based on sparse temporal disaggregation is used, which outperforms the classical methods of the Chow and Lin family, allowing both a high number of regressors by the LASSO method and stable estimates. The application refers to the turnover in transport, a sector strongly affected in 2020 by the dramatic movements due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resurgence of inflation at the end of 2021. The monthly indicators are selected from 143 time series: 56 series of business surveys in transport about both the climate and frequency of the answers; 18 series from Assaeroporti about both passengers and cargo flights split by national and international routes; 69 series of monthly turnover in industry split by both sector of economic activity and reference market. The sample spans the months from January 2010 to December 2021 for both seasonally adjusted and unadjusted data. Several aspects of the estimation are considered: the stability of selected indicators over the quarters 2017–2021; their forecasting performance; the reliability of the estimates in terms of their monthly pattern.
Bi-Lipschitz embeddings of the space of unordered $$m$$-tuples with a partial transportation metric
Authors: Bate David , Garcia Pulido Ana Lucía 
Published: March 2024

AbstractLet $$\Omega \subset {\mathbb {R}}^n$$

Ω
⊂

R

n

be non-empty, open and proper. This paper is concerned with $$Wb_p(\Omega )$$

W

b
p

(
Ω
)

, the space of p-integrable Borel measures on $$\Omega $$
Ω
equipped with the partial transportation metric introduced by Figalli and Gigli that allows the creation and destruction of mass on $$\partial \Omega $$

∂
Ω

. Alternatively, we show that $$Wb_p(\Omega )$$

W

b
p

(
Ω
)

is isometric to a subset of Borel measures with the ordinary Wasserstein distance, on the one point completion of $$\Omega $$
Ω
equipped with the shortcut metric $$\begin{aligned} \delta (x,y)= \min \{\Vert x-y\Vert , {\text {dist}}(x,\partial \Omega )+{\text {dist}}(y,\partial \Omega )\}. \end{aligned}$$

δ
(
x
,
y
)
=
min
{
‖
x
-
y
‖
,
dist
(
x
,
∂
Ω
)
+
dist
(
y
,
∂
Ω
)
}
.

In this article we construct bi-Lipschitz embeddings of the set of unordered m-tuples in $$Wb_p(\Omega )$$

W

b
p

(
Ω
)

into Hilbert space. This generalises Almgren’s bi-Lipschitz embedding theorem to the setting of optimal partial transport.
Imaging features of intra-abdominal and intra-pelvic causes of hirsutism
Authors: Li Arleen , Bloomgarden Noah , Friedman Shari , Flusberg Milana , Chernyak Victoria , Berkenblit Robert 
Published: March 2024

AbstractHirsutism is a relatively common disorder which affects approximately 5% to 15% of women. It is defined by excessive growth of terminal hair in women, which primarily affects areas dependent on androgens, such as the face, abdomen, buttocks, and thighs. Hirsutism can be caused by a variety of etiologies, which are most often not lifethreatening. However, in some cases, hirsutism can be an indicator of more serious underlying pathology, such as a neoplasm, which may require further elucidation with imaging. Within the abdomen and pelvis, adrenal and ovarian pathologies are the primary consideration. The goal of this manuscript is to review the etiologies and imaging features of various intra-abdominal and intra-pelvic causes of hirsutism.
Novel magnetic poly(allyl methacrylate-co-glycidyl methacrylate) Fe3O4 nanoparticles: synthesis and evaluation as adsorbents for heavy metals
Authors: Erduran Nuran , Işılar Özer 
Published: March 2024

AbstractMagnetic nanoparticles have gained significant attention as versatile adsorbents in various studies due to their easy application, simple synthesis, cost-effectiveness, and reusability. In this study, we synthesized magnetic poly(AMA-co-GMA) nanoparticles (MAG) and modified them using allyl methacrylate (AMA) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA). The epoxy groups on the nanoparticles were opened to introduce –OH, –NH2, and –SH functional groups. The structural properties of the synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by FTIR, their morphology by SEM–EDS, TEM, BET, and XRD, their magnetic properties by VSM, and the thermal properties by the TGA analysis. MAG and the modified nanoparticles (MAG-OH, MAG-NH2, and MAG-SH) were then employed in batch adsorption experiments for heavy metal ions, including Cd2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, Pb2+, and Hg2+. The effect of pH, contact time, ion concentration, and temperature on adsorption was investigated, and kinetic, isotherm, and thermodynamic parameters were determined. Pb2+ and Hg2+ exhibited higher adsorption capacities among the tested heavy metal ions, prompting further investigation with MAG and MAG-SH nanoparticles. The experimental data suggested that the adsorption followed the second order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models. Overall, the results highlight the excellent potential of the synthesized magnetic nanoparticles for effectively removing heavy metal ions from wastewater.
A hitchhiker’s guide: estimates of microbial biomass and microbial gene abundance in soil
Authors: Joergensen Rainer Georg , Hemkemeyer Michael , Beule Lukas , Iskakova Janyl , Oskonbaeva Zhyldyz , Rummel Pauline Sophie , Schwalb Sanja Annabell , Wichern Florian 
Published: March 2024

AbstractInformation on microbial biomass carbon (MBC) is crucial to assess their stocks and role for plant nutrient release in soil. Next to fumigation-extraction, molecular methods are routinely used to estimate the contribution of fungi, bacteria, and archaea to the soil microbial community. However, more information on the links between these different indices would deepen the understanding of microbial processes. The current study is based on 11 datasets, which contain MBC and MBN data obtained by fumigation-extraction and information on bacterial, archaeal, and fungal gene abundance, totalling 765 data points from agricultural, forest, and rangeland soils. Some of these datasets additionally provide information on double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (dsDNA) and fungal ergosterol. MBC varied around the median of 206 µg g−1 soil. MBN followed with a median MB-C/N ratio of 4.1. Median microbial gene abundance declined from bacteria (96 × 108) to archaea (4.4 × 108) to fungi (1.8 × 108). The median ratio of MBC/dsDNA was 15.8 and that of bacteria/dsDNA was 5.8 × 108 µg−1. The relationships between MBC and dsDNA as well as between bacterial gene abundance and dsDNA were both negatively affected by soil pH and positively by clay content. The median ergosterol/MBC and fungi/ergosterol ratios were 0.20% and 4.7 (n × 108 µg−1), respectively. The relationship between fungal gene abundance and ergosterol was negatively affected by soil pH and clay content. Our study suggests that combining fumigation-extraction with molecular tools allows more precise insights on the physiological interactions of soil microorganisms with their surrounding environment.
Pediatric kidney transplantation: is it safe to perform during night-time or day-off?
Authors: Ghidini Filippo , Andreetta Marina , De Corti Federica , Benetti Elisa , Vidal Enrico , Gamba Piergiorgio , Fascetti Leon Francesco 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Purpose
To investigate the impact of after-hours surgery on the outcomes of pediatric kidney transplantation (KT).

Methods
Medical records of pediatric KTs performed at a single institution between 2013 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. The population was split into three groups according to the incision time and calendar: ordinary day (8.00 AM – 6.30 PM), day-off, and night-time (6.30 PM – 8.00 AM). The following endpoints were compared: ischemia times, length of surgery, complications, delayed graft function (DGF), primary graft non-function (PGNF), and eGFR at three-month follow-up.

Results
Ninety-six non-living donor KTs were performed, median age 11 (IQR 4.3–14) years and median body weight 26 (IQR 13–50) kg. Forty-one (43%) were performed during night-time and 28 (29%) during day-off. Ischemia times were similar (p = 0.769, p = 0.536). Day-off KTs presented an extended length of surgery (p = 0.011). Thirty-two complications were reported in 31 KTs. No difference in the overall rate of complications, DGF, PNGF, and three-month eGFR was found (p = 0.669, p = 0.383, p = 0.949, p = 0.093). Post-operative bleedings were more common in days-off (p = 0.003).

Conclusion
The number of pediatric KTs performed during after-hours was considerable. Even though similar outcomes were reported, more caution should be focused on the KTs performed in days-off to avoid severe complications.
Post-COVID breathlessness: a mathematical model of respiratory processing in the brain
Authors: von Werder Dina , Regnath Franziska , Schäfer Daniel , Jörres Rudolf , Lehnen Nadine , Glasauer Stefan 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBreathlessness is among the most common post-COVID symptoms. In a considerable number of patients, severe breathlessness cannot be explained by peripheral organ impairment. Recent concepts have described how such persistent breathlessness could arise from dysfunctional processing of respiratory information in the brain. In this paper, we present a first quantitative and testable mathematical model of how processing of respiratory-related signals could lead to breathlessness perception. The model is based on recent theories that the brain holds an adaptive and dynamic internal representation of a respiratory state that is based on previous experiences and comprises gas exchange between environment, lung and tissue cells. Perceived breathlessness reflects the brain’s estimate of this respiratory state signaling a potentially hazardous disequilibrium in gas exchange. The internal respiratory state evolves from the respiratory state of the last breath, is updated by a sensory measurement of CO2 concentration, and is dependent on the current activity context. To evaluate our model and thus test the assumed mechanism, we used data from an ongoing rebreathing experiment investigating breathlessness in patients with post-COVID without peripheral organ dysfunction (N = 5) and healthy control participants without complaints after COVID-19 (N = 5). Although the observed breathlessness patterns varied extensively between individual participants in the rebreathing experiment, our model shows good performance in replicating these individual, heterogeneous time courses. The model assumes the same underlying processes in the central nervous system in all individuals, i.e., also between patients and healthy control participants, and we hypothesize that differences in breathlessness are explained by different weighting and thus influence of these processes on the final percept. Our model could thus be applied in future studies to provide insight into where in the processing cascade of respiratory signals a deficit is located that leads to (post-COVID) breathlessness. A potential clinical application could be, e.g., the monitoring of effects of pulmonary rehabilitation on respiratory processing in the brain to improve the therapeutic strategies.
Breast tissue imaging atlas using ultra-fast confocal microscopy to identify cancer lesions
Authors: Mathieu Marie-Christine , Ragazzi Moira , Ferchiou Malek , van Diest Paul J. , Casiraghi Odile , Lakhdar Aicha Ben , Labaied Nizar , Conversano Angelica , Abbaci Muriel 
Published: March 2024

AbstractNew generation ultra-fast fluorescence confocal microscopy (UFCM) allows to image histological architecture of fresh breast tissue and may be used for ex vivo intraoperative analysis for margin status. The criteria to identify breast tumoral and non-tumoral tissues in UFCM images are still objects of investigation. The objective of the study was to create an atlas of ex vivo UFCM images of breast tissues and breast carcinomas based on the first extensive collection of large field-of-view UFCM breast images. One hundred sixty patients who underwent conserving surgery for breast cancer were included. Their fresh surgical specimens were sliced, stained with acridine orange, and imaged at high resolution with large-field-of-view UFCM. The resulting images were digitally false colored to resemble frozen sections. Each UFCM image was correlated with the corresponding definitive histology. Representative images of normal tissue, inflammation, benign lesions, invasive carcinoma (IC), and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) were collected. A total of 320 large-field images were recorded from 58 IC of no special type, 44 invasive lobular carcinomas, 1 invasive mucinous carcinoma, 47 DCIS, 2 lobular carcinomas in situ, and 8 specimens without cancer. Representative images of the main components of the normal breast and the main types of ICs and DCIS were annotated to establish an UFCM atlas. UFCM enables the imaging of the fresh breast tissue sections. Main morphological criteria defined in traditional histopathology such as tissue architecture and cell features can be applied to describe UFCM images content. The generated atlas of the main normal or tumoral tissue features will support the adoption of this optical technology for the intraoperative examination of breast specimens in clinical practice as it can be used to train physicians on UFCM images and develop artificial intelligence algorithms. Further studies are needed to document rare breast lesions.
Aspiration removal of orbitofrontal cortex disrupts cholinergic fibers of passage to anterior cingulate cortex in rhesus macaques
Authors: Eldridge M. A. G. , Mohanty A. , Hines B. E. , Kaskan P. M. , Murray E. A. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe study of anthropoid nonhuman primates has provided valuable insights into frontal cortex function in humans, as these primates share similar frontal anatomical subdivisions (Murray et al. 2011). Causal manipulation studies have been instrumental in advancing our understanding of this area. One puzzling finding is that macaques with bilateral aspiration removals of orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) are impaired on tests of cognitive flexibility and emotion regulation, whereas those with bilateral excitotoxic lesions of OFC are not (Rudebeck et al. 2013). This discrepancy is attributed to the inadvertent disruption of fibers of passage by aspiration lesions but not by excitotoxic lesions. Which fibers of passage are responsible for the impairments observed? One candidate is cholinergic fibers originating in the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM) and passing nearby or through OFC on their way to other frontal cortex regions (Kitt et al. 1987). To investigate this possibility, we performed unilateral aspiration lesions of OFC in three macaques, and then compared cholinergic innervation of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) between hemispheres. Histological assessment revealed diminished cholinergic innervation in the ACC of hemispheres with OFC lesions relative to intact hemispheres. This finding indicates that aspiration lesions of the OFC disrupt cholinergic fibers of passage, and suggests the possibility that loss of cholinergic inputs to ACC contributes to the impairments in cognitive flexibility and emotion regulation observed after aspiration but not excitotoxic lesions of OFC.
Piloting a language translation device for Mandarin-speaking patients presenting for radiotherapy treatment—assessing patient and radiation therapist perspectives
Authors: Hunter Darren , Anderson Nigel , Oates Richard , Kok David , Sapkaroski Daniel , Treffry Nicola , Wright Caroline 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) cancer patients report unmet informational and emotional needs when receiving radiotherapy (RT). This feasibility study aimed to evaluate the clinical use of an instant translation device (ITD) to facilitate communication between Mandarin-speaking patients and radiation therapists (RTTs) within the Australian public RT setting. The primary aim was to assess the ability to convey information relating to daily patient care and build rapport using the device.

Methods
A single-arm prospective interventional trial was employed with patient and RTT participants. Eligible patient participants were aged 18 years or older, diagnosed with cancer, referred for RT with self-reported Mandarin as the primary language spoken at home. Patients who had previously received RT were excluded. Consenting patient participants completed a baseline assessment of health literacy (REALM-SF) and English proficiency (LexTALE). Surveys were administered to patients and consenting RTTs at the cessation of treatment, forming two distinct participant groups. Descriptive statistics were used to compare participant groups.

Results
Eleven patients and 36 RTTs were recruited to the study. Descriptive statistics demonstrated participant group agreement in conveying treatment instructions, though differing experiences were reported against general conversation. Although the reporting of technical difficulties was inconsistent, both groups recommended the application of the ITD within the RT domain.

Conclusion
This feasibility study demonstrated encouraging accounts of patients and RTTs with regard to ITD use in the context of RT treatment. Expanded, multi-institutional recruitment is required to yield statistical significance, inform the impact of the device, and determine requisite training requirements.

Trial registration
HREC reference number: LNR/18/PMCC/115 (18/100L). HREC approval date: 10 July 2018.
Identification of the ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerves during open inguinal hernia repair: a nationwide register-based study
Authors: Moseholm V. B. , Baker J. J. , Rosenberg J. 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
Chronic pain remains prevalent after open inguinal hernia repair and nerve-handling strategies are debated. Some guidelines suggest sparing nerves that are encountered; however, the nerve identification rates are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the nerve identification rates in a register-based nationwide cohort.

Methods
This study was reported according to the RECORD guideline and used prospective, routinely collected data from the Danish Hernia Database, which was linked with the National Patient Registry. We included patients ≥ 18 years old, undergoing Lichtenstein hernia repair with information on nerve handling of the iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal nerves.

Results
We included 30,911 open hernia repairs performed between 2012 and 2022. The ilioinguinal nerve was identified in 73% of the repairs and the iliohypogastric nerve in 66% of repairs. Both nerves were spared in more than 94% of cases where they were identified. Female patient sex, emergency and recurrence surgery, general anesthesia, medial and saddle hernias, and large defect size all result in lower nerve identification rates for both nerves.

Conclusion
The Ilioinguinal nerve was recognized in 73% of cases, while the iliohypogastric nerve was recognized in 66% with almost all identified nerves being spared during surgery. Several pre- and intraoperative factors influenced identification rates of the ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve.
Exchanging information in cooperative software validation
Authors: Haltermann Jan , Wehrheim Heike 
Published: March 2024

AbstractCooperative software validation aims at having verification and/or testing tools cooperate on the task of correctness checking. Cooperation involves the exchange of information about currently achieved results in the form of (verification) artifacts. These artifacts are typically specialized to the type of analysis performed by the tool, e.g., bounded model checking, abstract interpretation or symbolic execution, and hence require the definition of a new artifact for every new cooperation to be built. In this article, we introduce a unified artifact (called Generalized Information Exchange Automaton, short GIA) supporting the cooperation of over-approximating with under-approximating analyses. It provides information gathered by an analysis to its partner in a cooperation, independent of the type of analysis and usage context within software validation. We provide a formal definition of this artifact in the form of an automaton together with two operators on GIAs. The first operation reduces a program by excluding these parts, where the information that they are already processed is encoded in the GIA. The second operation combines partial results from two GIAs into a single on. We show that computed analysis results are never lost when connecting tools via these operations. To experimentally demonstrate the feasibility, we have implemented two such cooperation: one for verification and one for testing. The obtained results show the feasibility of our novel artifact in different contexts of cooperative software validation, in particular how the new artifact is able to overcome some drawbacks of existing artifacts.