bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Car make and model recognition system using rear-lamp features and convolutional neural networks
Authors: Bularz Michał , Przystalski Karol , Ogorzałek Maciej 
Published: May 2023

AbstractRecognizing cars based on their features is a difficult task. We propose a solution that uses a convolutional neural network (CNN) and image binarization method for car make and model classification. Unlike many previous works in this area, we use a feature extraction method combined with a binarization method. In the first stage of the pre-processing part we normalize and change the size of an image. The image is then used to recognize where the rear-lamps are placed on the image. We extract the region and use the image binarization method. The binarized image is used as input to the CNN network that finds the features of a specific car model. We have tested the combinations of three different neural network architectures and eight binarization methods. The convolutional neural network with parameters of the highest quality metrics value is used to find the characteristics of the rear lamps on the binary image. The convolutional network is tested with four different gradient algorithms. We have tested the method on two data sets which differ in the way the images were taken. Each data set consists of three subsets of the same car, but is scaled to different image dimensions. Compared to related works that are based on CNN, we use rear view images in different position and light exposure. The proposed method gives better results compared to most available methods. It is also less complex, and faster to train compared to other methods. The proposed approach achieves an average accuracy of 93,9% on the first data set and 84,5% on the second set.
The use of purple carrot powder in the diet of laying quails improved some egg quality characteristics, including antioxidant capacity
Authors: Sarmiento-Garcia Ainhoa , Olgun Osman , Kilinç Gözde , Sevim Behlül , Gökmen Seyit Ahmet 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
The goal of the current experiment was to investigate the effect of dietary concentrations of purple carrot powder (PCP) on performance, egg production, egg quality, and the antioxidant capacity of the yolk in laying quails. A total of one hundred and fifty 22-week-old Japanese laying quails were allotted to 5 dietary treatments each with 6 replicates of 5 quails. Quails were allocated to five dietary treatments (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4%) with PCP addition at an increasing level from 0 to 4000 mg/kg diet respectively, which were fed ad-libitum throughout the duration of the experiment. No differences were detected between dietary treatments for any of the performance parameters or egg production. Eggshell weight and eggshell thickness (P < 0.05) were linearly affected by PCP dietary, reaching maximum levels at 0.4% of PCP supplementation, while the percentage of damaged egg and egg-breaking strength remained similar for all experimental groups (P < 0.05). Quails receiving PCP diets showed a yellowness (b*) (P < 0.05) egg yolk color than those fed the control diet, without affecting the rest of the color parameters and egg internal quality. Increasing PCP levels in diets reduced linearly yolk TBARS (P < 0.01) and increased linearly DPPH (P < 0.01). The addition of PCP, a safe and readily available agricultural by-product, as a component of the diet of laying quail was effective without adversely affecting quail production. Moreover, the inclusion of PCP in the diet might benefit laying quails’ eggs by improving some quality traits and enhancing the yolk’s antioxidant capacity, which could improve their shelf-life and acceptability.
Prospective validation of 18F-Fluoroethylcholine as a tracer in PET/MRI for the evaluation of breast lesions and prediction of lymph node status
Authors: Clauser Paola , Rasul Sazan , Kapetas Panagiotis , Fueger Barbara J. , Milos Ruxandra-Iulia , Balber Theresa , Berroterán-Infante Neydher , Hacker Marcus , Helbich Thomas Hans , Baltzer Pascal Andreas Thomas 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Purpose
To assess 18F-Fluoroethylcholine (18F-FEC) as a PET/MRI tracer in the evaluation of breast lesions, breast cancer aggressiveness, and prediction of lymph node status.

Materials and methods
This prospective, monocentric study was approved by the ethics committee and patients gave written, informed consent. This clinical trial was registered in the EudraCT database (Number 2017-003089-29). Women who presented with suspicious breast lesions were included. Histopathology was used as reference standard. Simultaneous 18F-FEC PET/MRI of the breast was performed in a prone position with a dedicated breast coil. MRI was performed using a standard protocol before and after contrast agent administration. A simultaneous read by nuclear medicine physicians and radiologists collected the imaging data of MRI-detected lesions, including the maximum standardized 18F-FEC-uptake value of breast lesions (SUVmaxT) and axillary lymph nodes (SUVmaxLN). Differences in SUVmax were evaluated with the Mann–Whitney U test. To calculate diagnostic performance, the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC) was used.

Results
There were 101 patients (mean age 52.3 years, standard deviation 12.0) with 117 breast lesions included (30 benign, 7 ductal carcinomas in situ, 80 invasive carcinomas). 18F-FEC was well tolerated by all patients. The ROC to distinguish benign from malignant breast lesions was 0.846. SUVmaxT was higher if lesions were malignant (p < 0.001), had a higher proliferation rate (p = 0.011), and were HER2-positive (p = 0.041). SUVmaxLN was higher in metastatic lymph nodes, with an ROC of 0.761 for SUVmaxT and of 0.793 for SUVmaxLN.

Conclusion
Simultaneous 18F-FEC PET/MRI is safe and has the potential to be used for the evaluation of breast cancer aggressiveness, and prediction of lymph node status.
A radiomics nomogram prediction for survival of patients with “driver gene-negative” lung adenocarcinomas (LUAD)
Authors: Guo Qi-Kun , Yang Hao-Shuai , Shan Shi-Chao , Chang Dan-Dan , Qiu Li-Jie , Luo Hong-He , Li He-Ping , Ke Zun-Fu , Zhu Ying 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background
To study the role of computed tomography (CT)-derived radiomics features and clinical characteristics on the prognosis of “driver gene-negative” lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and to explore the potential molecular biological which may be helpful for patients’ individual postoperative care.

Methods
A total of 180 patients with stage I-III “driver gene-negative” LUAD in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from September 2003 to June 2015 were retrospectively collected. The Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) Cox regression model was used to screen radiomics features and calculated the Rad-score. The prediction performance of the nomogram model based on radiomics features and clinical characteristics was validated and then assessed with respect to calibration. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to explore the relevant biological pathways.

Results
The radiomics and the clinicopathological characteristics were combined to construct a nomogram resulted in better performance for the estimation of OS (C-index: 0.815; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.756–0.874) than the clinicopathological nomogram (C-index: 0.765; 95% CI: 0.692–0.837). Decision curve analysis demonstrated that in terms of clinical usefulness, the radiomics nomogram outperformed the traditional staging system and the clinicopathological nomogram. The clinical prognostic risk score of each patient was calculated based on the radiomics nomogram and divided by X-tile into high-risk (> 65.28) and low-risk (≤ 65.28) groups. GSEA results showed that the low-risk score group was directly related to amino acid metabolism, and the high-risk score group was related to immune and metabolism pathways.

Conclusions
The radiomics nomogram was promising to predict the prognosis of patients with “driver gene-negative” LUAD. The metabolism and immune-related pathways may provide new treatment orientation for this genetically unique subset of patients, which may serve as a potential tool to guide individual postoperative care for those patients.
New onset of hypomegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia with the potential for progression to aplastic anemia after BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccination
Authors: Kobayashi Mirei , Mori Akio , Oda Yoshitaka , Yokoyama Emi , Kanaya Minoru , Izumiyama Koh , Saito Makoto , Tanaka Shinya , Morioka Masanobu , Kondo Takeshi 
Published: May 2023

AbstractVaccination with a coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccine is an effective public health measure for reducing the risk of infection and severe complications from COVID-19. However, serious hematological complications after COVID-19 vaccination have been reported. Here, we report a case of new-onset hypomegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia (HMT) with the potential for progression to aplastic anemia (AA) that developed in a 46-year-old man 4 days after the fourth mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. Platelet count rapidly decreased after vaccination and white blood cell count declined subsequently. Bone marrow examination immediately after disease onset showed severely hypocellular marrow (cellularity of almost 0%) in the absence of fibrosis, findings that were consistent with AA. Since the severity of pancytopenia did not meet the diagnostic criteria for AA, the patient was diagnosed with HMT that could progress to AA. Treatment with eltrombopag and cyclosporine was started immediately after diagnosis and cytopenia improved. Although it is difficult to determine whether the post-vaccination cytopenia was vaccine induced or accidental because the association was chronological, vaccination with an mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine may be associated with development of HMT/AA. Therefore, physicians should be aware of this rare, but serious adverse event and promptly provide appropriate treatment.
Natural Protected Areas effect on the cover change rate of mangrove forests in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Authors: Osorio-Olvera Laura , Rioja-Nieto Rodolfo , Torres-Irineo Edgar , Guerra-Martínez Francisco 
Published: May 2023

AbstractMangrove forests provide important ecosystem services that support the maintenance of coastal socio-ecological systems. Strategies such as the establishment of Natural Protected Areas (NPAs) have been encouraged worldwide to promote their conservation. However, mangroves are still being lost as a consequence of anthropogenic disturbance and environmental variation. In here, we determine the change rate in mangrove cover, between 2005–2015, in eight coastal NPAs and the corresponding four km adjacent transition area in the Yucatan Peninsula (YP), and assess the relationship with location (inside or outside the protected area), their time since establishment and distance to roads. In general, we observed higher positive rates of change in mangrove cover inside the protected areas than in the adjacent transition zones (p < 0.05). Change was related to both the distance to roads and the time since establishment of the NPAs (p < 0.05). Higher (positive and negative) mangrove rates of change were observed in areas closer to roads, and more stable areas were detected as the distance to the roads increased. The positive rate of change also increased with the age of the protected area. These patterns were more evident inside the NPAs. The continuous monitoring of mangrove change dynamics in protected areas in this important region and their drivers, is necessary to establish effective management strategies considering the spatial and temporal variability of environmental and anthropogenic disturbances.
A structure-based gamma evaluation method for identifying clinically relevant dose differences in organs at risk
Authors: Yu Liting , Baker Anthony , Kairn Tanya , Livingstone Alexander , Trapp Jamie , Crowe Scott B 
Published: May 2023

AbstractGamma evaluation is currently the most widely used dose comparison method for patient specific quality assurance (PSQA). However, existing methods for normalising the dose difference, using either the dose at the global maximum dose point or at each local point, can respectively lead to under- and over-sensitivity to dose differences in organ-at-risk structures. This may be of concern for plan evaluation from clinical perspectives. This study has explored and proposed a new method called structural gamma, which takes structural dose tolerances into consideration while performing gamma analysis for PSQA. As a demonstration of the structural gamma method, a total of 78 retrospective plans on four treatment sites were re-calculated on an in-house Monte Carlo system and compared with doses calculated from the treatment planning system. Structural gamma evaluations were performed using both QUANTEC dose tolerances and radiation oncologist specified dose tolerances, then compared with conventional global and local gamma evaluations. Results demonstrated that structural gamma evaluation is especially sensitive to errors in structures with restrictive dose constraints. The structural gamma map provides both geometric and dosimetric information on PSQA results, allowing straightforward clinical interpretation. The proposed structure-based gamma method accounts for dose tolerances for specific anatomical structures. This method can provide a clinically useful method to assess and communicate PSQA results, offering radiation oncologists a more intuitive way of examining agreement in surrounding critical normal structures.
Exploring farmers’ perspectives on agrobiodiversity management: future options for quinoa smallholder organizations in the Peruvian high Andes
Authors: Andreotti Federico , Neher Charlotte M. , Speelman Erika N. , Bazile Didier 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThe intensification of crop production is widely recognized to negatively affect the agrobiodiversity in smallholder systems. This trend can also be observed in Quinoa production systems, where few varieties are commercialized while maintaining traditional varieties of quinoa remains a key agricultural activity in the high-Andes landscape. In recent decades, the “boom” of quinoa production has given rise to national projects intended to ensure that farmers benefit from their agricultural heritage, including the development of a collective trademark. However, little is known about the opinions of smallholder farmers regarding quinoa varieties cultivation, farming practices, market choices, or the development of a collective trademark as a tool to safeguard a position in the booming international quinoa market. To address these questions, we developed our research in three villages in the Puno region of Peru, quinoa’s center of origin. We applied a novel combination of participatory methods: the Q methodology to interpret the perceptions of smallholder quinoa farmers concerning the activities that are important on their farms, and the Four-Square Analysis workshops to explore quinoa biodiversity management. The results of our Q-analysis revealed three types of opinions emerging among farmers: (Type 1) Conservationist, (Type 2) Intensification sustainer, and (Type 3) Collaboration seeker. Type 1 assigns importance to maintaining and promoting quinoa biodiversity through collective practices and markets. Type 2 focuses on developing export-oriented production based on certified and improved varieties, combined with efficient ways of storing quinoa. Type 3 appears to value the collective aspects of organizations and cooperation among stakeholders. According to the results of the Four-Square Analysis, most landraces of quinoa are threatened by genetic erosion, as they are cultivated in situ in small plots and on few farms. Our results are an important baseline for further project development for biodiversity conservation in situ and market inclusion engaging local communities.
“They Don’t Really Consider Us Essential, But We Are”: a Qualitative Investigation of Vaccine Acceptance and Perceived Workplace Safety Among Black Transit Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Ameen Khadijah , St Jean Denise T. , Woko Chioma 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBlack Americans face a higher risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) morbidity and mortality due to adverse social determinants of health, including their overrepresentation in the frontline workforce. Despite these inequities, increasing vaccine acceptance among this subpopulation has been challenging. We conducted semi-structured qualitative focus groups with Black public transit workers living in the USA to explore behavioral intentions regarding COVID-19 vaccine uptake, occupational health challenges, and the perceived impact of racism on workplace health and safety during the pandemic. A thematic analysis approach was used to analyze the final transcripts. We completed three focus groups (n=10 participants) in October and November of 2021. Enabling factors for vaccination included opportunities for vaccination in the workplace, flexible hours of operation, and walk-in vaccine clinics. Disabling factors included excessive wait times. Some participants also cited lack of cleanliness, inconsistent enforcement of COVID-19 safety protocols, and unclear workplace policies regarding sick and hazard pay as major safety barriers. Perceptions regarding the role of racism in their experiences with COVID-19 as transit workers were mixed. Though occupational health and safety concerns were high, there are opportunities for transit agencies and government officials to improve both vaccine uptake and working conditions for Black transit workers.
Moral imagination as an instrument for ethics education for biomedical researchers
Authors: Gerrits Elianne M. , Assen Lars S. , Noordegraaf-Eelens Liesbeth , Bredenoord Annelien L. , van Mil Marc H. W. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractMoral sensitivity and moral reasoning are essential competencies biomedical researchers have to develop to make ethical decisions in their daily practices. Previous research has shown that these competencies can be developed through ethics education. However, it is unclear which underlying mechanisms best support the development of these competencies. In this article we argue that the development of moral sensitivity and moral reasoning can be fostered through teaching strategies that tap into students’ moral imagination. We describe how moral imagination can stimulate the development of these competencies through three different merits of moral imagination. Moral imagination can help students to 1) transfer and apply abstract moral concepts to concrete situations and contexts, 2) explore the perspective of others, 3) explore and foresee the moral consequences of different decisions and actions. We explain these three merits of moral imagination in the context of biomedical research and present a theoretical model for how these merits can be used to stimulate the development of moral sensitivity and moral reasoning. Furthermore, we describe multiple teaching strategies for biomedical curricula that tap into the three merits of moral imagination. These teaching strategies can inspire teachers to design ethics education that activates students’ moral imagination for the development of moral sensitivity and moral reasoning.
Experimental investigation on water/gas resistance and strength properties of clinoptilolite/Na-PAA amended compacted clay cover
Authors: Sun Xin-Po , Ding Ze-Hao , Bi Yu-Zhang , Pu Shao-yun 
Published: May 2023

AbstractCompacted clay is an effective and economical engineering barrier for seepage prevention and gas blocking in landfills (including tailings pond, landfill, etc.). In addition to the lack of durability such as desiccation cracks of compacted clay modified by clinoptilolite and sodium polyacrylate, it is also necessary to consider the changes of engineering properties such as water holding capacity, water and gas resistance, and strength of compacted clay. Therefore, through oven evaporation test, flexible wall permeability test and unconfined compressive strength test, this paper studies the water retention, permeability and strength characteristics of compacted clay with different amounts of clinoptilolite and sodium polyacrylate. Orthogonal experiment L16(45) was used to optimize the amount of clinoptilolite and sodium polyacrylate and the compaction conditions, and further combined with the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), the factors affecting the water retention, permeability and strength of the compacted clay before and after the modification of clinoptilolite and sodium polyacrylate were discussed simply and quickly, and the applicability of the orthogonal experiment traditional analysis method and the analytic hierarchy process in the modified compacted clay of clinoptilolite and sodium polyacrylate was studied.
Microstructure formation in micron-scale thin-walled Hastelloy X samples fabricated with laser powder bed fusion
Authors: Wróbel R. , Scheel P. , Maeder X. , Hosseini E. , Leinenbach C. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractLaser powder bed fusion (LPBF) has great potential for the fabricating complex geometries with improved functionality. In combination with nickel alloys such as Hastelloy X, parts produced with this technology find usage in high-temperature applications. Many studies have focused on the microstructure of Hastelloy X fabricated via LPBF technology, but most have been performed on simple cubic geometries. Considering the aforementioned applications, the parts are often characterized by fine features, like very thin-walled structured, often in the sub-1 mm range. However, little is known about the LPBF fabrication of such structures. The study presented in this paper shows that wall thickness plays an important role in microstructure formation. In situ temperature measurements and thermal simulations showed a difference in thermal history. Local heat accumulation in the vicinity of the scanned tracks was observed for the sample consisting of multiple tracks. Moreover, this effect was enhanced with the number of tracks, leading to different melt pool morphologies. Significantly, coarser solidification cells were found near the sample edges. In addition, larger grains oriented parallel to the build direction were observed for the samples consisting of 3 and more tracks, while for the thinner samples, a very fine microstructure with random orientation was found.
Examining Nineteenth-Century British Colonial-Built Ships HMS Buffalo and Edwin Fox: Two Case Studies from New Zealand
Authors: Bennett Kurt 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThis article examines the archaeological timber remains from HMS Buffalo (built 1813), held in the Mercury Bay Museum, New Zealand, and the preserved hull of Edwin Fox (built 1853), sitting in dry dock in Picton, New Zealand. Both ships were constructed near Calcutta (Kolkata), India. Archaeological recording methodologies included detailed timber recording, dendrochronology, archaeometallurgy, organic resinous analyses, and wood-species and fiber identification. The results are then presented to highlight differences and similarities in resource choices and technological development pertaining to ship-construction elements. This contributes to understanding how shipwrights were adapting to new environments while maintaining their learned knowledge in a 19th-century colonial context.