bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Metal artifact reduction in patients with total hip replacements: evaluation of clinical photon counting CT using virtual monoenergetic images
Authors: Schreck Julian , Laukamp Kai Roman , Niehoff Julius Henning , Michael Arwed Elias , Boriesosdick Jan , Wöltjen Matthias Michael , Kröger Jan Robert , Reimer Robert P. , Grunz Jan-Peter , Borggrefe Jan , Lennartz Simon 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Objectives
To investigate photon-counting CT (PCCT)–derived virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) for artifact reduction in patients with unilateral total hip replacements (THR).

Methods
Forty-two patients with THR and portal-venous phase PCCT of the abdomen and pelvis were retrospectively included. For the quantitative analysis, region of interest (ROI)–based measurements of hypodense and hyperdense artifacts, as well as of artifact-impaired bone and the urinary bladder, were conducted, and corrected attenuation and image noise were calculated as the difference of attenuation and noise between artifact-impaired and normal tissue. Two radiologists qualitatively evaluated artifact extent, bone assessment, organ assessment, and iliac vessel assessment using 5-point Likert scales.

Results
VMI110keV yielded a significant reduction of hypo- and hyperdense artifacts compared to conventional polyenergetic images (CI) and the corrected attenuation closest to 0, indicating best possible artifact reduction (hypodense artifacts: CI: 237.8 ± 71.4 HU, VMI110keV: 8.5 ± 122.5 HU; p < 0.05; hyperdense artifacts: CI: 240.6 ± 40.8 HU vs. VMI110keV: 13.0 ± 110.4 HU; p < 0.05). VMI110keV concordantly provided best artifact reduction in the bone and bladder as well as the lowest corrected image noise. In the qualitative assessment, VMI110keV received the best ratings for artifact extent (CI: 2 (1–3), VMI110keV: 3 (2–4); p < 0.05) and bone assessment (CI: 3 (1–4), VMI110keV: 4 (2–5); p < 0.05), whereas organ and iliac vessel assessments were rated highest in CI and VMI70keV.

Conclusions
PCCT-derived VMI effectively reduce artifacts from THR and thereby improve assessability of circumjacent bone tissue. VMI110keV yielded optimal artifact reduction without overcorrection, yet organ and vessel assessments at that energy level and higher were impaired by loss of contrast.

Clinical relevance statement
PCCT-enabled artifact reduction is a feasible method for improving assessability of the pelvis in patients with total hip replacements at clinical routine imaging.

Key Points
• Photon-counting CT-derived virtual monoenergetic images at 110 keV yielded best reduction of hyper- and hypodense artifacts, whereas higher energy levels resulted in artifact overcorrection.
• The qualitative artifact extent was reduced best in virtual monoenergetic images at 110 keV, facilitating an improved assessment of the circumjacent bone.
• Despite significant artifact reduction, assessment of pelvic organs as well as vessels did not profit from energy levels higher than 70 keV, due to the decline in image contrast.
Diagnostic radiology and its future: what do clinicians need and think?
Authors: Kwee Thomas C. , Almaghrabi Maan T. , Kwee Robert M. 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Objective
To investigate the view of clinicians on diagnostic radiology and its future.

Methods
Corresponding authors who published in the New England Journal of Medicine and the Lancet between 2010 and 2022 were asked to participate in a survey about diagnostic radiology and its future.

Results
The 331 participating clinicians gave a median score of 9 on a 0–10 point scale to the value of medical imaging in improving patient-relevant outcomes. 40.6%, 15.1%, 18.9%, and 9.5% of clinicians indicated to interpret more than half of radiography, ultrasonography, CT, and MRI examinations completely by themselves, without consulting a radiologist or reading the radiology report. Two hundred eighty-nine clinicians (87.3%) expected an increase in medical imaging utilization in the coming 10 years, whereas 9 clinicians (2.7%) expected a decrease. The need for diagnostic radiologists in the coming 10 years was expected to increase by 162 clinicians (48.9%), to remain stable by 85 clinicians (25.7%), and to decrease by 47 clinicians (14.2%). Two hundred clinicians (60.4%) expected that artificial intelligence (AI) will not make diagnostic radiologists redundant in the coming 10 years, whereas 54 clinicians (16.3%) thought the opposite.

Conclusion
Clinicians who published in the New England Journal of Medicine or the Lancet attribute high value to medical imaging. They generally need radiologists for cross-sectional imaging interpretation, but for a considerable proportion of radiographs, their service is not required. Most expect medical imaging utilization and the need for diagnostic radiologists to increase in the foreseeable future, and do not expect AI to make radiologists redundant.

Clinical relevance statement
The views of clinicians on radiology and its future may be used to determine how radiology should be practiced and be further developed.

Key Points
• Clinicians generally regard medical imaging as high-value care and expect to use more medical imaging in the future.
• Clinicians mainly need radiologists for cross-sectional imaging interpretation while they interpret a substantial proportion of radiographs completely by themselves.
• The majority of clinicians expects that the need for diagnostic radiologists will not decrease (half of them even expect that we need more) and does not believe that AI will replace radiologists.
Dienogest alone or dienogest combined with estrogens in the treatment of ovarian endometriomas, that is the question. A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Del Forno Simona , Orsini Benedetta , Verrelli Ludovica , Caroli Martina , Aru Anna Chiara , Lenzi Jacopo , Raimondo Diego , Arena Alessandro , Borghese Giulia , Paradisi Roberto , Meriggiola Maria Cristina , Seracchioli Renato , Casadio Paolo 
Published: July 2023

AbstractPurposeto compare the effects of Dienogest 2 mg (D) alone or combined with estrogens (D + ethinylestradiol 0.03 mg, D + EE; D + estradiol valerate 1–3 mg, D + EV) in terms of symptoms and endometriotic lesions variations.MethodsThis retrospective study included symptomatic patients in reproductive age with ultrasound diagnosis of ovarian endometriomas. Medical therapy for at least 12 months with D, D + EE or D + EV was required. Women were evaluated at baseline visit (V1) and after 6 (V2) and 12 months (V3) of therapy.Results297 patients were enrolled (156 in the D group, 58 in the D + EE group, 83 in the D + EV group). Medical treatment leaded to a significant reduction in size of endometriomas after 12 months, with no differences between the three groups. When comparing D and D + EE/D + EV groups, a significant decrease of dysmenorrhea was detected in the D group than in D + EE/D + EV group. Conversely, the reduction of dysuria was more significative in the D + EE/D + EV groups rather than in the D group. Regarding tolerability, treatment associated side effects were reported by 16.2% patients. The most frequent one was uterine bleeding/spotting, significantly higher in the D + EV group.ConclusionDienogest alone or associated with estrogens (EE/EV) seems to be equally effective in reducing endometriotic lesions mean diameter. The reduction of dysmenorrhea was more significative when D was administered alone, while dysuria seems to improve more when D is associated with estrogens.
Modulation of resting-state networks following repetitive transcranial alternating current stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
Authors: Khan Ahsan , Mosbacher Jochen A. , Vogel Stephan E. , Binder Mira , Wehovz Michael , Moshammer Arnulf , Halverscheid Stefan , Pustelnik Kolja , Nitsche Michael A. , Tong Raymond Kai-Yu , Grabner Roland H. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractTranscranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) offers a unique method to temporarily manipulate the activity of the stimulated brain region in a frequency-dependent manner. However, it is not clear if repetitive modulation of ongoing oscillatory activity with tACS over multiple days can induce changes in grey matter resting-state functional connectivity and white matter structural integrity. The current study addresses this question by applying multiple-session theta band stimulation on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (L-DLPFC) during arithmetic training. Fifty healthy participants (25 males and 25 females) were randomly assigned to the experimental and sham groups, half of the participants received individually adjusted theta band tACS, and half received sham stimulation. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance (rs-fMRI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) data were collected before and after 3 days of tACS-supported procedural learning training. Resting-state network analysis showed a significant increase in connectivity for the frontoparietal network (FPN) with the precuneus cortex. Seed-based analysis with a seed defined at the primary stimulation site showed an increase in connectivity with the precuneus cortex, posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), and lateral occipital cortex. There were no effects on the structural integrity of white matter tracts as measured by fractional anisotropy, and on behavioral measures. In conclusion, the study suggests that multi-session task-associated tACS can produce significant changes in resting-state functional connectivity; however, changes in functional connectivity do not necessarily translate to changes in white matter structure or behavioral performance.
Weak evidence of trade-offs modulated by seed mass among a guild of closely related winter annuals
Authors: da Silva Isis A. , Mayfield Margaret M. , Dwyer John M. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractPlant-plant interactions are integral to the establishment and persistence of diversity in plant communities. For annual plant species that depend on seeds to regenerate, seed characteristics that confer fitness advantages may mediate processes such as plant-plant interactions. Seed mass is known to vary widely and has been shown to associate with species’ differences in stress tolerance and competitive effects. However, understanding of how seed mass influences species’ responses to competition is less well understood. Using natural assemblages of six closely related annual plant species in Western Australia, we implemented a thinning study to assess how seed mass influences the outcomes of plant-plant interactions. We found relatively weak evidence for competition or facilitation among species. Our strongest results indicated that heavy-seeded species had lower survivorship than light-seeded species when interacting with heterospecifics. Seed mass was also negatively related to overall survival, counter to expectations. These findings indicate some evidence for trade-offs mediated by seed mass in this system. However, we acknowledge that other factors may have influenced our results, such as the use of natural assemblages (rather than using sowing experiments) and the presence of important small-scale environmental variation not captured with our choice of abiotic variables. Further research is required to clarify the role of seed mass in this diverse annual system, ideally including many focal species, and using sowing experiments.
Developing a virtual reality environment for educational and therapeutic application to investigate psychological reactivity to bullying
Authors: Badger Julia R. , Rovira Aitor , Freeman Daniel , Bowes Lucy 
Published: July 2023

AbstractUnderstanding how bullying victimisation influences cognitive and emotional processes may help to direct early intervention to prevent the development of psychopathology. In a convenience sample of 67 female adolescents, we assessed the potential of a newly developed classroom-set bullying experience in virtual reality (VR) to evoke psychological reactions. Two VR experiences were co-developed with young people, one neutral and one hostile (bullying). Participants were matched and assigned to a condition based on measures of anxiety, depression, paranoia, and previous bullying, before experiencing either the neutral or hostile scenario. Before and after the VR session, participants completed measures of negative affect and levels of distress. All participants remained immersed for the whole duration, which supports the acceptability of using these VR experiences with more vulnerable participants. Those experiencing the hostile version reported greater negative affect post-immersion compared to those experiencing the neutral version (p = .018; d = 0.61). Although non-significant, a similar outcome was found regarding distress (p = .071; d = 0.37). Whilst we did not find a significant relationship between pre-existing internalisation on negative affect and distress, our sample was limited by containing adolescents with relatively low levels of previous bullying experience. Yet we still found evidence that the VR scenario evoked bullying-related psychological reactions. Further testing with a more representative groups of adolescents, especially those with more experience of bullying, would be advised. The VR scenario could potentially be used in educational and therapeutic settings to enhance empathy towards victimised children or enhance resilience following victimisation.
Strategic orientation, strategic renewal, and the international performance of born global firms
Authors: Ahmed Farhad Uddin , Babu Mujahid Mohiuddin , Rahman Md Nafizur , Uddin Mohammad Jasim , Dey Bidit Lal 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThe international business environment is both dynamic and turbulent. Accordingly, a new venture’s strategic orientation (SO) and ability to undertake strategic renewal (SR) are of great importance to its survival, growth and international performance. Building on the dynamic capability perspective, we explore how SR capability mediates the relationship between SO and the performance of mature born global firms (BGFs). In particular, we examine the direct and indirect interplay between the SO of BGFs and their performance outcomes. We use a sample of 195 export-oriented BGFs, derived from the Bangladeshi apparel industry. We use a hierarchical regression analysis technique to test the direct effects. The mediation effect is examined using three statistical tests – Baron and Kenney’s (1986) causal steps approach, the Sobel test, and the Hayes indirect effect with bootstrapping method – to ensure the validity and reliability of our findings. The results reveal a positive association between SO and the performance of BGFs, and that this relationship is mediated by the firms’ SR capability. We contribute to a greater understanding of the drivers of mature BGFs’ international performance by demonstrating a direct link between their SO and SR capability, which in turn affects their performance outcomes.
Discerning the status of a rapidly declining naturalised bird: the Golden Pheasant in Britain
Authors: Smith William J. , Jezierski Michał T. , Balmer Dawn E. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractWhilst many introduced non-native plants and animals become naturalised or even invasive, others fail to persist. Golden Pheasants (Chrysolophus pictus) have occurred in multiple regions outside of their native China, with the largest populations establishing in the United Kingdom. Now very rare in the UK, ongoing releases make its continued ‘wild’ status dubious. The Golden Pheasant in Britain provides a case study of an introduced species that at first appeared to thrive before declining to the point where no viable wild populations remain. Here, we outline the history of Britain’s Golden Pheasants before describing their current status. To do so, we reviewed the relevant literature, engaged in personal communications with rural staff and birdwatchers, and carried out a survey of a putative remnant population. We conclude that there are 37–40 ‘wild’ Golden Pheasants left in the UK, within two regions (both populations are dependent on human management via supplementary releases, food provision, or predator control, and therefore can no longer be considered to be truly naturalised as of 2023). This represents a significant decline from a 1993 UK population of 1000–2000. There is no evidence to suggest that Golden Pheasants persist in the UK as a self-sustaining population in 2023. We use this case study to discuss the issues associated with determining whether non-native populations are viable in the long term, and situations where apparently successful colonists then decline to extinction.
Baseline angina burden predicts quality of life and functional improvement in patients with viable myocardium treated for chronic total occlusion
Authors: Kersten Johannes , Maisenbacher Vanessa , Fengel Pauline , Werner Yvonne , Hackenbroch Carsten , Beer Meinrad , Westphal Sören , Bernhardt Peter 
Published: July 2023

AbstractChronic total occlusion (CTO) is a common finding in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease and has a distinctive role in these patients’ quality of life. However, there is still a lack of evidence of correct patient selection for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). From July 2017 to August 2020, 68 patients with successful PCI of a CTO and previous evidence of viability for PCI by cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) were prospectively included in this single-centre observational study. Of these patients, 62 underwent follow-up CMR, and 56 underwent surveys using the Seattle Angina Questionnaire before PCI and 3, 12 and 24 months after PCI. The CMR results were assessed for volumetric, functional and deformation parameters. From the baseline to the follow-up, there was a significant reduction in the left ventricular volumes (all p < 0.001) and an increase in the left ventricular ejection fraction (57.6 ± 11.6% vs. 60.3 ± 9.4%, p = 0.006). Among the deformation parameters, only the left ventricular radial strain showed significant improvement. The SAQ showed an early improvement that emphasised angina stability and frequency as well as a summary score, which persisted after 24 months. A low SAQ summary score before PCI was the best predictive factor of good clinical improvement thereafter. Improvements in myocardial function and quality of life can be achieved with PCI of a CTO. Patient selection for PCI should be performed primarily among relevantly symptomatic patients when evidence of viability for PCI is present. The SAQ can help guide such patient selection.Trial registration ISRCTN, identifier: ISRCTN33203221. Retrospectively registered on 01.04.2020. https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN33203221
Carbon footprint and sustainability assessment of wood utilisation in Hungary
Authors: Polgár András 
Published: July 2023

AbstractForest management allows the sustained removal of significant amounts of carbon from the atmosphere. Within different activities in the forest, wood utilisation has the most significant man-made environmental impact which affects the carbon balance, which is important to know, to be able to accurately identify its role in climate change. This study aims to determine the carbon footprint of logging during utilisation based on scenario analysis in national default and theoretical assortment structures (11 additional scenarios for each forest stand) within the entire life cycle of raw wood products. Based on a common functional unit (100 m3 of cut wood), a comparative environmental life cycle analysis (LCA) for intermediate and final cutting was performed in shortwood forestry work systems in beech (Fagus spp.), oak (Quercus spp.), spruce (Picea spp.), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), and hybrid poplar (Populus x euramericana) stands in Hungary. After obtaining the results, the present study calculated the carbon footprint order for the utilisation life cycle phases and the entire tree utilisation life cycle. The distribution of absolute carbon footprint (ACF: considered emitted CO2 from fossil and biotic origins together) by final cutting exhibited the following order: hybrid poplar (6%)—spruce (8%)—beech (26%)—oak (27%)—black locust (33%). The ACF ranking for the whole technological life cycle (intermediate and final cutting, 400 m3 of cut wood) was hybrid poplar– spruce—oak—beech–black locust. The carbon footprint rankings of the studied stands were expanded to the national level.
Response of macroinvertebrate and epilithic diatom communities to pollution gradients in Ecuadorian Andean rivers
Authors: Castillejo Pablo , Ortiz Sofia , Jijón Gabriela , Lobo Eduardo A. , Heinrich Carla , Ballesteros Isabel , Rios-Touma Blanca 
Published: July 2023

AbstractPopulation growth and increasing production demands threaten the highly diverse Andean freshwater ecosystems. Biological indicators constitute a valuable tool for evaluating the ecological quality of freshwater ecosystems under different pressures. Diatom and macroinvertebrate assemblages are the most used bioindicators to assess water pollution, whereby these biotic groups occupy the first and second trophic levels and respond to habitat pollution. Several studies have explored the response of these communities to water pollution in other regions, but no studies have examined their performance in Andean rivers. In this context, this research aimed to evaluate the responses and relationships of both groups of bioindicators in the Upper Guayllabamba basin. We collected macroinvertebrate and diatom samples from nine sites in this basin during the dry and wet seasons, calculated trophic indices for both groups, and related them to environmental characteristics. The results indicated that both bioindicators were sensitive to changes in land use and nutrients. Epilithic diatoms were more sensitive to changes in water chemistry and macroinvertebrates to changes in fluvial habitat and land use. The index based on macroinvertebrates better-detected changes in quality classes between sites and seasons. Therefore, both indices gave complementary information, and their joint use seems suitable in Andean streams.
Two structures of extraposition in central dialects of Early New High German
Authors: Belkind Aleksandra 
Published: July 2023

AbstractExtraposition in OV Germanic languages is a complicated phenomenon, which has been analyzed in different ways—as a result of rightward movement, as base generation of extraposing items to the right, and as a result of raising of predicative elements. The most common type of item in extraposition is CP, but also PPs and heavy adjuncts are attested in extraposition in Modern German. Early New High German (ENHG) material adds complexity to this topic, since it shows much more widespread extraposition, allowed for arguments as well. In this article, I propose a twofold analysis of extraposition in ENHG. Based on DP-extraposition to the predicate, I argue that in certain cases extraposition can result from rightward movement of an extraposing XP, while in other cases it is raising of the particle to position adjoined to vP, which leaves XP in overt extraposition to the predicate.