bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Endoscopic ultrasound diagnosis system based on deep learning in images capture and segmentation training of solid pancreatic masses
Authors: Tang Anliu , Gong Pan , Fang Ning , Ye Mingmei , Hu Shan , Liu Jinzhu , Wang Wujun , Gao Kui , Wang Xiaoyan , Tian Li 
Published: March 2023

AbstractBackgroundEarly detection of solid pancreatic masses through contrast‐enhanced harmonic endoscopic ultrasound (CH‐EUS) is important. But CH‐EUS is difficult to learn.PurposeTo design a deep learning‐based CH‐EUS diagnosis system (CH‐EUS MASTER) for real‐time capture and segmentation of solid pancreatic masses and to verify its value in the training of pancreatic mass identification under endoscopic ultrasound (EUS).MethodsWe designed a real‐time capture and segmentation model for solid pancreatic masses and then collected 4530 EUS images of pancreatic masses retrospectively, used for training and testing of this model at a ratio of 8:2. The model is loaded into the EUS host computer to establish the CH‐EUS MASTER system. A crossover trial was then conducted to evaluate the model's value in EUS trainee training by successfully conducting two groups of EUS trainees in model learning and trainer‐guided training. The intersection over union (IoU) and the time to find the lesion were used to evaluate the model performance metrics, and the Mann–Whitney test was used to compare the IoU and the time to find the lesion in different groups of subjects. Paired t‐test was used to compare the effects before and after training. When α ≤ 0.05, it is considered to have a significant statistical difference.ResultsThe model test showed that the model successfully captured and segmented the pancreatic solid mass region in 906 EUS images. The real‐time capture and segmentation model had a Dice coefficient of 0.763, a recall rate of 0.941, a precision rate of 0.642, and an accuracy of 0.842 (when the threshold is set to 0.5), and the median IoU of all cases was 0.731. For the AI training effect, the average IoU of eight trainees improved from 0.80 to 0.87 (95% CI, 0.032–0.096; p = 0.002). The average time for identifying lesions in the pancreatic body and tail improved from 22.75 to 17.98 s (95% CI, 3.664–5.886; p < 0.01). The average time for identifying lesions in the pancreatic head and uncinate process improved from 34.21 to 25.92 s (95% CI, 7.661–8.913; p < 0.01).ConclusionCH‐EUS MASTER can provide an effect equivalent to trainer guidance in training pancreatic solid mass identification and segmentation under EUS.
Drawdown, Habitat, and Kokanee Populations in a Western U.S. Reservoir
Authors: McLaren John S. , Van Kirk Robert W. , Mabaka Arthur J. , Brothers Soren , Budy Phaedra 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Greater drought frequency and severity due to climate change will result in greater drawdown of water storage reservoirs. However, changes to oxythermal regimes due to drawdown are reservoir specific and interface with fish species-specific habitat requirements, producing varying effects on coldwater fish populations. We examined the effect of drawdown on the oxythermal habitat and relative abundance of kokanee Oncorhynchus nerka, a coldwater salmonid, in Island Park Reservoir on the Henrys Fork of the Snake River, Idaho. A measure of relative kokanee abundance was negatively, exponentially related to drawdown. Oxythermal patterns measured in the reservoir during 2021, a severe drought year, revealed that drawdown reduced kokanee habitat by increasing water temperatures and decreasing dissolved oxygen concentrations. Oxythermal refugia for kokanee appeared to relate to inflow from the spring-fed Henrys Fork and other groundwater inflows. However, we did not quantify groundwater flow or connections, and we did not study kokanee population demographics or mortality. Reducing these sources of uncertainty is a priority for future study. Still, our study highlights a potential mechanism connecting reservoir drawdown to fish populations and the unique yet predictable mechanisms by which reservoir drawdown interacts with reservoir morphometry to affect fish habitat availability.
Expert Consensus Statement: Management of Dysphagia in Head and Neck Cancer Patients
Authors: Kuhn Maggie A. , Gillespie M. Boyd , Ishman Stacey L. , Ishii Lisa E. , Brody Rebecca , Cohen Ezra , Dhar Shumon I. , Hutcheson Kate , Jefferson Gina , Johnson Felicia , Rameau Anais , Sher David , Starmer Heather , Strohl Madeleine , Ulmer Karen , Vaitaitis Vilija , Begum Sultana , Batjargal Misheelt , Dhepyasuwan Nui 
Published: March 2023

AbstractObjectiveTo develop an expert consensus statement (ECS) on the management of dysphagia in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients to address controversies and offer opportunities for quality improvement. Dysphagia in HNC was defined as swallowing impairment in patients with cancers of the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, nasopharynx, oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, or hypopharynx.MethodsDevelopment group members with expertise in dysphagia followed established guidelines for developing ECS. A professional search strategist systematically reviewed the literature, and the best available evidence was used to compose consensus statements targeted at providers managing dysphagia in adult HNC populations. The development group prioritized topics where there was significant practice variation and topics that would improve the quality of HNC patient care if consensus were possible.ResultsThe development group identified 60 candidate consensus statements, based on 75 initial proposed topics and questions, that focused on addressing the following high yield topics: (1) risk factors, (2) screening, (3) evaluation, (4) prevention, (5) interventions, and (6) surveillance. After 2 iterations of the Delphi survey and the removal of duplicative statements, 48 statements met the standardized definition for consensus; 12 statements were designated as no consensus.ConclusionExpert consensus was achieved for 48 statements pertaining to risk factors, screening, evaluation, prevention, intervention, and surveillance for dysphagia in HNC patients. Clinicians can use these statements to improve quality of care, inform policy and protocols, and appreciate areas where there is no consensus. Future research, ideally randomized controlled trials, is warranted to address additional controversies related to dysphagia in HNC patients.
Engineering and slow‐release properties of lignin‐based double‐layer coated fertilizer
Authors: Li Hui , Wang Ning , Zhang Li , Wei Yuanyuan , Zhang Long , Ma Yingxia , Ruso Juan M. , Liu Zhen 
Published: March 2023

AbstractChemical fertilizer has become a necessary condition for increasing the production and income of agricultural products in modern agriculture. However, excessive fertilization and fertilizer leakage could cause environmental pollution. To improve the utilization rate of agricultural fertilizers and reduce environmental pollution, the degradability of slow‐release fertilizers (SRFs) has become a research hotspot. In this work, a double‐layer coating material of slow‐release fertilizer was fabricated using low‐cost polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and methylcellulose (MC) as the inner coating materials, and attapulgite was doped into super absorbent polymer poly acrylic acid (PAA) and polyacrylamide (PAM) grafted natural biodegradable lignin as the outer coating materials. We investigated the chemical structures, mechanical properties, hydrophilic properties, and water retention properties of the double‐layer coating material coated on the surface of urea particles, and optimized the synthesis parameters to obtain the best water absorption properties of the outer layer water absorbent. Simultaneously, urea release was evaluated in dissolution experiments. The results show that at the PVA concentration of 5 wt% and the MC addition amount of 2.0 g, the performance indicators of the inner coating liquid were better than other contents. At the same time, more urea molecules (>30 days) were released in the single‐layer and double‐coated fertilizers, and the cumulative release rates of urea molecules were 92.36% and 85.10%, respectively. Therefore, this work provides research ideas for the preparation of double‐coated slow‐release fertilizers, which can improve soil water retention and fertilizer utilization.
Gene modification therapies for hereditary diseases in the fetus
Authors: Mattar Citra N. Z. , Chan Jerry K. Y. , Choolani Mahesh 
Published: March 2023

AbstractProof‐of‐principle disease models have demonstrated the feasibility of an intrauterine gene modification therapy (in utero gene therapy (IUGT)) approach to hereditary diseases as diverse as coagulation disorders, haemoglobinopathies, neurogenetic disorders, congenital metabolic, and pulmonary diseases. Gene addition, which requires the delivery of an integrating or episomal transgene to the target cell nucleus to be transcribed, and gene editing, where the mutation is corrected within the gene of origin, have both been used successfully to increase normal protein production in a bid to reverse or arrest pathology in utero. While most experimental models have employed lentiviral, adenoviral, and adeno‐associated viral vectors engineered to efficiently enter target cells, newer models have also demonstrated the applicability of non‐viral lipid nanoparticles. Amelioration of pathology is dependent primarily on achieving sustained therapeutic transgene expression, silencing of transgene expression, production of neutralising antibodies, the dilutional effect of the recipient's growth on the mass of transduced cells, and the degree of pre‐existing cellular damage. Safety assessment of any IUGT strategy will require long‐term postnatal surveillance of both the fetal recipient and the maternal bystander for cell and genome toxicity, oncogenic potential, immune‐responsiveness, and germline mutation. In this review, we discuss advances in the field and the push toward clinical translation of IUGT.
Pragmatic considerations for negative control outcome studies to guide non‐randomized comparative analyses: A narrative review
Authors: Levintow Sara N. , Nielson Carrie M. , Hernandez Rohini K. , Breskin Alexander , Pritchard David , Lash Timothy L. , Rothman Kenneth J. , Gilbertson David , Muntner Paul , Critchlow Cathy , Brookhart M. Alan , Bradbury Brian D. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractPurposeThis narrative review describes the application of negative control outcome (NCO) methods to assess potential bias due to unmeasured or mismeasured confounders in non‐randomized comparisons of drug effectiveness and safety. An NCO is assumed to have no causal relationship with a treatment under study while subject to the same confounding structure as the treatment and outcome of interest; an association between treatment and NCO then reflects the potential for uncontrolled confounding between treatment and outcome.MethodsWe focus on two recently completed NCO studies that assessed the comparability of outcome risk for patients initiating different osteoporosis medications and lipid‐lowering therapies, illustrating several ways in which confounding may result. In these studies, NCO methods were implemented in claims‐based data sources, with the results used to guide the decision to proceed with comparative effectiveness or safety analyses.ResultsBased on this research, we provide recommendations for future NCO studies, including considerations for the identification of confounding mechanisms in the target patient population, the selection of NCOs expected to satisfy required assumptions, the interpretation of NCO effect estimates, and the mitigation of uncontrolled confounding detected in NCO analyses. We propose the use of NCO studies prior to initiating comparative effectiveness or safety research, providing information on the potential presence of uncontrolled confounding in those comparative analyses.ConclusionsGiven the increasing use of non‐randomized designs for regulatory decision‐making, the application of NCO methods will strengthen study design, analysis, and interpretation of real‐world data and the credibility of the resulting real‐world evidence.
Sustainable, processable and cytocompatible bioelastomers based on polycaprolactone and biobased polyester elastomer via dynamic vulcanization
Authors: Kang Hailan , Wu Shaowei , Wang Haoyu , Liang Yufeng , Li Long , Zhang Qinan , Zhang Liqun 
Published: March 2023

AbstractBioelastomers (bio‐thermoplastic vulcanizate, bio‐TPV) with tunable elasticity, high strength and satisfactory cytocompatibility were fabricated via an in situ dynamic vulcanizing strategy, i.e. melt blending of biobased polyester elastomer (BPE) and polycaprolactone (PCL) in the presence of crosslinker with the occurrence of phase inversion. A large amount of the BPE, which provides flexibility and elasticity, was quickly crosslinked and finely dispersed in the PCL matrix, which provides strength and processability. Bio‐TPV with a BPE/PCL weight ratio of 70/30 exhibited good tensile properties, such as a tensile strength of 11.2 MPa and elongation at break of 414%. Additionally, the bio‐TPV demonstrated satisfactory processability and reprocessability. Moreover, the as‐prepared bio‐TPV promotes MC3T3 cell adhesion and proliferation. The combination of improved sustainability, processability, cytocompatibility and mechanical performance makes these bio‐TPVs potential candidates for both biomedical and engineering materials. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry.
Dual dynamic crosslinking of rubber for enhanced mechanical properties and reconfigurable shape memory behavior
Authors: Tang Zhenghai , Chen Yi , Zhang Chengfeng , Wu Siwu , Guo Baochun , Zhang Liqun 
Published: March 2023

AbstractConstructing dynamic covalent bonds (DCBs) in rubbers provides a promising avenue to resolve the trade‐offs between chemical crosslinking and recyclability. The reinforcement of dynamic covalent networks by nanofilling is widely adopted, which, however, inevitably hinders the exchange reaction of DCBs and network rearrangement due to the restrictions on chain mobility imposed by fillers. To date, the reinforcement of dynamic covalent networks without affecting the dynamic properties remains challenging. In this work, we report a dual dynamic crosslinking strategy by engineering reversible noncovalent bonds into dynamic covalent rubbers to improve mechanical performance and simultaneously maintain desirable malleability and reprocessability. Specifically, dynamic boronic ester‐crosslinked styrene–butadiene rubber is firstly prepared and then modified through triazolinedione (TAD) click reaction. The grafted urazole groups can form hydrogen bond interactions that further aggregate to form clusters and phase‐separation structure in the networks. Due to the reversible nature of hydrogen bonds, they can act in a sacrificial manner to dissipate mechanical energy, leading to a combination of improved strength, modulus and toughness of the networks. More importantly, the hydrogen‐bonded clusters are dissociated at elevated temperatures, enabling the network dynamic properties to be largely preserved. In addition, the dynamic features of the dual crosslinks (hydrogen bonds and boronic esters) endow the TAD‐modified networks with reconfigurable shape memory effect. © 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry.
Crystalline silicon solar cells with thin poly‐SiOx carrier‐selective passivating contacts for perovskite/c‐Si tandem applications
Authors: Singh Manvika , Datta Kunal , Amarnath Aswathy , Wagner Fabian , Zhao Yifeng , Yang Guangtao , Bracesco Andrea , Phung Nga , Zhang Dong , Zardetto Valerio , Najafi Mehrdad , Veenstra Sjoerd C. , Coletti Gianluca , Mazzarella Luana , Creatore Mariadriana , Wienk Martijn M. , Janssen René A. J. , Weeber Arthur W. , Zeman Miro , Isabella Olindo 
Published: March 2023

AbstractSingle junction crystalline silicon (c‐Si) solar cells are reaching their practical efficiency limit whereas perovskite/c‐Si tandem solar cells have achieved efficiencies above the theoretical limit of single junction c‐Si solar cells. Next to low‐thermal budget silicon heterojunction architecture, high‐thermal budget carrier‐selective passivating contacts (CSPCs) based on polycrystalline‐SiOx (poly‐SiOx) also constitute a promising architecture for high efficiency perovskite/c‐Si tandem solar cells. In this work, we present the development of c‐Si bottom cells based on high temperature poly‐SiOx CSPCs and demonstrate novel high efficiency four‐terminal (4T) and two‐terminal (2T) perovskite/c‐Si tandem solar cells. First, we tuned the ultra‐thin, thermally grown SiOx. Then we optimized the passivation properties of p‐type and n‐type doped poly‐SiOx CSPCs. Here, we have optimized the p‐type doped poly‐SiOx CSPC on textured interfaces via a two‐step annealing process. Finally, we integrated such bottom solar cells in both 4T and 2T tandems, achieving 28.1% and 23.2% conversion efficiency, respectively.
Definitive chemoradiotherapy in elderly patients with esophageal cancer: Safety and outcome
Authors: Kiladze Ivane , Chkhaidze Lika , Iovashvili Aleksandre , Natelauri Eteri , Sokurashvili Besik , Mariamidze Elene , Kacheishvili Nikoloz , Jeremic Branislav 
Published: March 2023

AbstractObjective: The efficacy and safety of definitive chemoradiotherapy (dCRT) for elderly patients with unresectable esophageal cancer (EC) are not yet fully understood. We conducted this study to evaluate the outcome and toxicity in elder patients (65 years and over) of unresectable EC treated with dCRT.Methods: From four Georgian cancer centers with a radiation oncology department, we identified 44 elderly patients with EC suitable according to the study criteria. Overall survival (OS) was estimated from the beginning of treatment and toxicity scored using CTCAE 5.0 criteria.Results: The median age of patients was 70.0 years (range 65–83 years), with male predominance (77.3%) and 59% of patients were with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 1. Because of significant dysphagia (grade 3–4) nine patients underwent intervention (stenting or gastrostomy) before dCRT. More than two‐thirds of patients were squamous cell histological type (77.3%). Localization of tumors was equally distributed between the middle and lower parts of the esophagus (38.6%) and in 26 patients (59.1%) tumor length was more than 5 cm. The majority of patients had stage III disease (61.4%).Median survival was 16.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 0–35.9). OS at 12 and 24 months was 53.7% and 43.6%, respectively. Fifteen patients (34%) were alive from 2.1 to 5.4 years after treatment. A statistically significant difference (p = 0.011) in median OS was found between patients who received full (not reached) versus overall survival (OS) was 9.0 months in patients who received nonfull dose of radiotherapy (RT) (95% CI 2.79–15.2). Additional analysis between age subgroups revealed that elder subgroup patients (>75 years) had the highest OS, compared to younger (65–70 years) and intermediate groups (71–75 years) (p = 0.001). The most common adverse events were grade 3–4 leukopenia (43.2%), anemia (29.5%), and esophagitis (27.3%).Conclusion: The results of our study support the feasibility and efficacy of dCRT for unresectable EC in carefully selected elderly patients. Survival was correlated to complete dose of RT and therefore accurate selection of patients is crucial for better long‐term survival. Our study showed that chronological age alone does not reflect a patient's ability to tolerate dCRT. Toxicity of dCRT is always a very important issue and patient selection must be very cautious in geriatric patients, although dCRT might benefit highly selected patients.
RNA interference of PHB1 enhances virulence of Vip3Aa to Sf9 cells and Spodoptera frugiperda larvae
Authors: An Baoju , Zhang Yizhuo , Yan Bing , Cai Jun 
Published: March 2023

AbstractBACKGROUNDIn our previous work, we demonstrated that prohibitin 2 (PHB2) on the membrane of Sf9 cells was a receptor for Vip3Aa, and PHB2 in mitochondria contributed to the mitochondrial stability to reduce Vip3Aa toxicity. Prohibitin 1 (PHB1), another prohibitin family member, forms heterodimers with PHB2 to maintain the structure and stability of mitochondria. To explore whether PHB1 impacts the action process of Vip3Aa, we examined the correlation between PHB1 and Vip3Aa virulence.RESULTSWe revealed that PHB1 did not colocalize with Vip3Aa in Sf9 cells. The pulldown and CoIP experiments confirmed that PHB1 interacted with neither Vip3Aa nor scavenger receptor‐C (another Vip3Aa receptor). Downregulating phb1 expression in Sf9 cells did not affect the internalization of Vip3Aa but increased Vip3Aa toxicity. Further exploration revealed that the decrease of phb1 expression affected mitochondrial function, leading to increased ROS levels and mitochondrial membrane permeability and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. The increase of mitochondrial cytochrome c release, caspase‐3 activity and genomic DNA fragmentation implied that the apoptotic process was also affected. Finally, we applied RNAi to inhibit phb1 expression in Spodoptera frugiperda larvae. As a result, it significantly increased Vip3Aa virulence.CONCLUSIONWe found that PHB1 was not a receptor for Vip3Aa but played an essential role in mitochondria. The downregulation of phb1 expression in Sf9 cells caused instability of mitochondria, and the cells were more prone to apoptosis when challenged with Vip3Aa. The combined use of Vip3Aa and phb1 RNAi showed a synergistic effect against S. frugiperda larvae. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Towards a new generation of artificial‐intelligence‐based infrared atmospheric sounding interferometer retrievals of surface temperature: Part I – Methodology
Authors: Boucher Eulalie , Aires Filipe , Pellet Victor 
Published: March 2023

AbstractMultilayer perceptrons have been popular in the remote‐sensing community for the last 30 years, in particular for the infrared atmospheric sounding interferometer instrument. However, for coarse‐resolution infrared instruments such as the infrared atmospheric sounding interferometer, these algorithms are currently used at the pixel level and are trained at a global scale. This can result in regional biases that not only affect the quality of the retrieval but can potentially also propagate into model forecasts if these results were to be assimilated. To help reduce these biases, we try to help the neural network (NN) adjusting its behaviour to local conditions; we call this “localization”. We investigate how to localize traditional multilayer perceptrons applied at the pixel scale and compare this with novel artificial intelligence image‐processing techniques, more particularly convolutional NNs and so‐called “localized convolutional NNs”. These approaches are tested for the retrieval of surface temperature over a fixed domain. Different techniques are proposed to localize both approaches. Further evaluation of the retrieval methods will be covered in a part II companion paper.