bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diffusion MRI of the facial-vestibulocochlear nerve complex: a prospective clinical validation study
Authors: Shapey Jonathan , Vos Sjoerd B. , Mancini Laura , Sanders Brett , Thornton John S. , Tournier Jacques-Donald , Saeed Shakeel R. , Kitchen Neil , Khalil Sherif , Grover Patrick , Bradford Robert , Dorent Reuben , Sparks Rachel , Vercauteren Tom , Yousry Tarek , Bisdas Sotirios , Ourselin Sebastien 
Published: June 2023

Abstract
Objectives
Surgical planning of vestibular schwannoma surgery would benefit greatly from a robust method of delineating the facial-vestibulocochlear nerve complex with respect to the tumour. This study aimed to optimise a multi-shell readout-segmented diffusion-weighted imaging (rs-DWI) protocol and develop a novel post-processing pipeline to delineate the facial-vestibulocochlear complex within the skull base region, evaluating its accuracy intraoperatively using neuronavigation and tracked electrophysiological recordings.

Methods
In a prospective study of five healthy volunteers and five patients who underwent vestibular schwannoma surgery, rs-DWI was performed and colour tissue maps (CTM) and probabilistic tractography of the cranial nerves were generated. In patients, the average symmetric surface distance (ASSD) and 95% Hausdorff distance (HD-95) were calculated with reference to the neuroradiologist-approved facial nerve segmentation. The accuracy of patient results was assessed intraoperatively using neuronavigation and tracked electrophysiological recordings.

Results
Using CTM alone, the facial-vestibulocochlear complex of healthy volunteer subjects was visualised on 9/10 sides. CTM were generated in all 5 patients with vestibular schwannoma enabling the facial nerve to be accurately identified preoperatively. The mean ASSD between the annotators’ two segmentations was 1.11 mm (SD 0.40) and the mean HD-95 was 4.62 mm (SD 1.78). The median distance from the nerve segmentation to a positive stimulation point was 1.21 mm (IQR 0.81–3.27 mm) and 2.03 mm (IQR 0.99–3.84 mm) for the two annotators, respectively.

Conclusions
rs-DWI may be used to acquire dMRI data of the cranial nerves within the posterior fossa.

Clinical relevance statement
Readout-segmented diffusion-weighted imaging and colour tissue mapping provide 1–2 mm spatially accurate imaging of the facial-vestibulocochlear nerve complex, enabling accurate preoperative localisation of the facial nerve. This study evaluated the technique in 5 healthy volunteers and 5 patients with vestibular schwannoma.

Key Points
• Readout-segmented diffusion-weighted imaging (rs-DWI) with colour tissue mapping (CTM) visualised the facial-vestibulocochlear nerve complex on 9/10 sides in 5 healthy volunteer subjects.
• Using rs-DWI and CTM, the facial nerve was visualised in all 5 patients with vestibular schwannoma and within 1.21–2.03 mm of the nerve’s true intraoperative location.
• Reproducible results were obtained on different scanners.
Drosophila ezoana uses morning and evening oscillators to adjust its rhythmic activity to different daylengths but only the morning oscillator to measure night length for photoperiodic responses
Authors: Vaze Koustubh M. , Manoli Giulia , Helfrich-Förster Charlotte 
Published: June 2023

AbstractAnimals living at high latitudes are exposed to prominent seasonal changes to which they need to adapt to survive. By applying Zeitgeber cycles of different periods and photoperiods we show here that high-latitude D. ezoana flies possess evening oscillators and highly damped morning oscillators that help them adapting their activity rhythms to long photoperiods. In addition, the damped morning oscillators are involved in timing diapause. The flies measure night length and use external coincidence for timing diapause. We discuss the clock protein TIMELESS (d-TIM) as the molecular correlate and the small ventrolateral clock neurons (s-LNvs) as the anatomical correlates of the components measuring night length.
Thermal–mechanical metamaterial analysis and optimization using an Abaqus plugin
Authors: Fong Ewan , Koponen Kimmo , Omairey Sadik , Dunning Peter 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThis paper demonstrates how commercial finite-element software and optimization algorithms can be combined to fully explore the design space of thermal–mechanical metamaterials to reveal trends and new insight. This is achieved by developing an Abaqus plugin (EasyPBC) that automates the application of periodic boundary conditions and computes effective elastic and thermal expansion properties for 2D and 3D problems. Abaqus is then linked to an optimizer to fully explore the design space and optimal trade-off between thermal and mechanical properties for two example metamaterials. The first example is a auxetic 2D star-shaped metamaterial, where the proposed approach is used to create a design envelope for Poisson’s ratio and thermal expansion coefficient by solving a series of constrained optimization problems. The second example is a 3D metamaterial based on an octet truss, with additional members to expand the design space. A multi-objective optimization problem is solved to find the optimal trade-off between Young’s modulus and thermal expansion coefficient in a prescribed direction. The results of both examples expand our knowledge about the range of properties for these metamaterials, and designs for optimal trade-off between thermal and mechanical properties.
Magnetic resonance neurography and diffusion tensor imaging of the sciatic nerve in hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis polyneuropathy
Authors: Gasparotti Roberto , Salvalaggio Alessandro , Corbo Daniele , Agazzi Giorgio , Cacciavillani Mario , Lozza Alessandro , Fenu Silvia , De Vigili Grazia , Tagliapietra Matteo , Fabrizi Gian Maria , Pareyson Davide , Obici Laura , Briani Chiara 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThe therapeutic advance in hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv amyloidosis) requires quantitative biomarkers of nerve involvement in order to foster early diagnosis and monitor therapy response. We aimed at quantitatively assessing Magnetic Resonance Neurography (MRN) and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) properties of the sciatic nerve in subjects with ATTRv-amyloidosis-polyneuropathy (ATTRv-PN) and pre-symptomatic carriers (ATTRv-C). Twenty subjects with pathogenic variants of the TTR gene (mean age 62.20 ± 12.04 years), 13 ATTRv-PN, and 7 ATTRv-C were evaluated and compared with 20 healthy subjects (mean age 60.1 ± 8.27 years). MRN and DTI sequences were performed at the right thigh from the gluteal region to the popliteal fossa. Cross-sectional-area (CSA), normalized signal intensity (NSI), and DTI metrics, including fractional anisotropy (FA), mean (MD), axial (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD) of the right sciatic nerve were measured. Increased CSA, NSI, RD, and reduced FA of sciatic nerve differentiated ATTRv-PN from ATTRv-C and healthy subjects at all levels (p < 0.01). NSI differentiated ATTRv-C from controls at all levels (p < 0.05), RD at proximal and mid-thigh (1.04 ± 0.1 vs 0.86 ± 0.11 p < 0.01), FA at mid-thigh (0.51 ± 0.02 vs 0.58 ± 0.04 p < 0.01). According to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, cutoff values differentiating ATTRv-C from controls (and therefore identifying subclinical sciatic involvement) were defined for FA, RD, and NSI. Significant correlations between MRI measures, clinical involvement and neurophysiology were found. In conclusion, the combination of quantitative MRN and DTI of the sciatic nerve can reliably differentiate ATTRv-PN, ATTRv-C, and healthy controls. More important, MRN and DTI were able to non-invasively identify early subclinical microstructural changes in pre-symptomatic carriers, thus representing a potential tool for early diagnosis and disease monitoring.
Therapeutic communication improves patient comfort during venipuncture in children: a single-blinded intervention study
Authors: Aarts Lonneke A. M. , van Geffen Geert-Jan , Smedema Eva A. L. , Smits Rosanne M. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThe aim of this study was to examine whether therapeutic communication improves children’s comfort during venipuncture compared to standard communication. This study was registered in the Dutch trial register (NL8221), December 10, 2019. This single-blinded interventional study was carried out in an outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital. Inclusion criteria were age between 5 and 18 years, use of topical anesthesia (EMLA) and sufficient understanding of the Dutch language. 105 children were included, 51 assigned to the standard communication group (SC group) and 54 patients to the therapeutic communication group (TC group). The primary outcome measure was self-reported pain based on the Faces Pain Scale Revised (FPS-R). Secondary outcome measures were observed pain (numeric rating scale (NRS)), self-reported/observed anxiety in child and parent (NRS), self-reported satisfaction in child, parent and medical personnel (NRS), and procedural time. No difference was found for self-reported pain. Self-reported and observed anxiety (by parents and medical personnel) was lower in the TC group (p-values ranged from p = 0.005 to p = 0.048). Procedural time was lower in the TC group (p = 0.011). Satisfaction level of medical personnel was higher in the TC group (p = 0.014). Conclusion: TC during venipuncture did not result in lower self-reported pain. However, secondary outcomes (observed pain, anxiety and procedural time) were significantly improved in the TC group.

What is Known:• Medical procedures, especially needle related procedures, cause anxiety and fear in children and adults.• In adults communication techniques based on hypnosis are effective in reducing pain and anxiety during medical procedures.

What is New:• Our study found that with a small change in communication technique (called therapeutic communication or TC), the comfort of children during venipuncture improves.• This improved comfort was mainly reflected by reduced anxiety scores and shorter procedural time. This makes TC suitable for the outpatient setting.
Derivation of third order Runge–Kutta methods (ELDIRK) by embedding of lower order implicit time integration schemes for local and global error estimation
Authors: Mahnken Rolf 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThree prominent low order implicit time integration schemes are the first order implicit Euler-method, the second order trapezoidal rule and the second order Ellsiepen method. Its advantages are stability and comparatively low computational cost, however, they require the solution of a nonlinear system of equations. This paper presents a general approach for the construction of third order Runge–Kutta methods by embedding the above mentioned implicit schemes into the class of ELDIRK-methods. These will be defined to have an Explicit Last stage in the general Butcher array of Diagonal Implicit Runge–Kutta (DIRK) methods, with the consequence, that no additional system of equations must be solved. The main results—valid also for non-linear ordinary differential equations—are as follows: Two extra function calculations are required in order to embed the implicit Euler-method and one extra function calculation is required for the trapezoidal-rule and the Ellsiepen method, in order to obtain the third order properties, respectively. Two numerical examples are concerned with a parachute with viscous damping and a two-dimensional laser beam simulation. Here, we verify the higher order convergence behaviours of the proposed new ELDIRK-methods, and its successful performances for asymptotically exact global error estimation of so-called reversed embedded RK-method are shown.
Multidimensional rank-one convexification of incremental damage models at finite strains
Authors: Balzani D. , Köhler M. , Neumeier T. , Peter M. A. , Peterseim D. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThis paper presents computationally feasible rank-one relaxation algorithms for the efficient simulation of a time-incremental damage model with nonconvex incremental stress potentials in multiple spatial dimensions. While the standard model suffers from numerical issues due to the lack of convexity, our experiments showed that the relaxation by rank-one convexification delivering an approximation to the quasiconvex envelope prevents mesh dependence of the solutions of finite element discretizations. By the combination, modification and parallelization of the underlying convexification algorithms, the novel approach becomes computationally feasible. A descent method and a Newton scheme enhanced by step-size control prevent stability issues related to local minima in the energy landscape and the computation of derivatives. Numerical techniques for the construction of continuous derivatives of the approximated rank-one convex envelope are discussed. A series of numerical experiments demonstrates the ability of the computationally relaxed model to capture softening effects and the mesh independence of the computed approximations. An interpretation in terms of microstructural damage evolution is given, based on the rank-one lamination process.
Long-term social and professional outcomes in adults after pediatric kidney failure
Authors: Laube Guido F. , Heinzelmann Marc-Andrea , Roser Katharina , Kuehni Claudia E. , Mader Luzius ,   on behalf of the Swiss Pediatric Renal Registry (SPRR) group
Published: June 2023

Abstract
Background
Little is known about the long-term social and professional outcomes in adults after pediatric kidney replacement therapy (KRT). In this study, we described social and professional outcomes of adults after kidney failure during childhood and compared these outcomes with the general population.

Methods
We sent a questionnaire to 143 individuals registered in the Swiss Pediatric Renal Registry (SPRR) with KRT starting before the age of 18 years. In the questionnaire, we assessed social (partner relationship, living situation, having children) and professional (education, employment) outcomes. Logistic regression models adjusted for age at study and sex were used to compare outcomes with a representative sample of the Swiss general population and to identify socio-demographic and clinical characteristics associated with adverse outcomes.

Results
Our study included 80 patients (response rate 56%) with a mean age of 39 years (range 19–63). Compared to the general population, study participants were more likely to not have a partner (OR = 3.7, 95%CI 2.3–5.9), live alone (OR = 2.5, 95%CI 1.5–4.1), not have children (OR = 6.8, 95%CI 3.3–14.0), and be unemployed (OR = 3.9, 95%CI 1.8–8.6). No differences were found for educational achievement (p = 0.876). Participants on dialysis at time of study were more often unemployed compared to transplanted participants (OR = 5.0, 95%CI 1.2–21.4) and participants with > 1 kidney transplantation more often had a lower education (OR = 3.2, 95%CI 1.0–10.2).

Conclusions
Adults after pediatric kidney failure are at risk to experience adverse social and professional outcomes. Increased awareness among healthcare professionals and additional psycho-social support could contribute to mitigate those risks.

Graphical abstract
Massive open online course recommendation system based on a reinforcement learning algorithm
Authors: Tzeng Jian-Wei , Huang Nen-Fu , Chuang An-Chi , Huang Ting-Wei , Chang Hong-Yi 
Published: June 2023

AbstractMassive open online courses (MOOCs) are open online courses designed on the basis of the teaching progress. Videos and learning exercises are used as learning materials in these courses, which are open to numerous users. However, determining the prerequisite knowledge and learning progress of learners is difficult. On the basis of learners’ online learning trajectory, we designed a set of practice questions for a recommendation system for MOOCs, provided suitable practice questions to students through the LINE chatbot (a type of social media software), and used mobile devices to encourage participation in MOOCs. Reinforcement learning, which involves reward function design and iterative solution improvement, was used to set task goals, including those related to course learning and practice question difficulty. The proposed system encouraged certain learning behaviors among students. Students who used the system exhibited an exercise completion rate of 89.97%, which was higher than that of students who did not use the system (47.23%). The system also increased the students’ overall learning effectiveness. Students who used and did not use the proposed system exhibited average midterm scores of 64.73 and 58.21, respectively. We also collected 227 online questionnaires from students. The results of the questionnaires indicated that 90% of the students were satisfied with the system and hoped to continue using it.
Improved Arabic image captioning model using feature concatenation with pre-trained word embedding
Authors: Elbedwehy Samar , Medhat T. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractAutomatic captioning of images contributes to identifying features of multimedia content and helps in the detection of interesting patterns, trends, and occurrences. English image captioning has recently made incredible progress; however, Arabic image captioning is still lagging. In the field of machine learning, Arabic image-caption generation is generally a very difficult problem. This paper presents a more accurate model for Arabic image captioning by using transformer models in both the encoder and decoder phases as feature extractors from images in the encoder phase and a pre-trained word embedding model in the decoder phase. The models are demonstrated, and all of them are implemented, trained, and tested on Arabic Flickr8k datasets. For the image feature extraction subsystem, we compared using three different individual vision models (SWIN, XCIT, and ConvNexT) with concatenation to get among them the most expressive extracted feature vector of the image, and for the caption generation lingual subsystem, which is tested by four different pre-trained language embedding models: (ARABERT, ARAELECTRA, MARBERTv2, and CamelBERT), to select from them the most accurate pre-trained language embedding model. Our experiments showed that building an Arabic image captioning system that uses a concatenation of the three transformer-based models ConvNexT combined with SWIN and XCIT as an image feature extractor, combined with the CamelBERT language embedding model produces the best results among the other combinations, having scores of 0.5980 with BLEU-1 and with ConvNexT combined with SWIN the araelectra language embedding model having a score of 0.1664 with BLEU-4 which are higher than the previously reported values of 0.443 and 0.157.
Standard versus delayed initiation of S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery for pancreatic cancer: a secondary analysis of a nationwide cohort by the Japan Pancreas Society
Authors: Tomimaru Yoshito , Eguchi Hidetoshi , Shimomura Yoshimitsu , Kitamura Tetsuhisa , Inoue Yosuke , Nagakawa Yuichi , Ohba Akihiro , Onoe Shunsuke , Unno Michiaki , Hashimoto Daisuke , Kawakatsu Shoji , Hayashi Tsuyoshi , Higuchi Ryota , Kitagawa Hirohisa , Uemura Kenichiro , Kimura Yasutoshi , Satoi Sohei , Takeyama Yoshifumi ,   the Committee of Clinical Research, Japan Pancreas Society
Published: June 2023

Abstract
Background
Based on the Japan Adjuvant Study Group of Pancreatic Cancer-01 results, S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy has been the standard in resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients in Japan and elsewhere, initiated within 10 weeks after surgery. To assess the clinical impact of this timing, we conducted a secondary analysis of a nationwide survey by the Japan Pancreas Society.

Methods
A total of 3361 patients were divided into two groups: 2681 (79.8%) initiating the therapy within 10 weeks after surgery (standard) and 680 (20.2%) after 10 weeks (delayed). We compared recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) using the log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards model with conditional landmark analysis between the groups. Results were verified by adjustment with inverse-probability-of-treatment weighting (IPTW) analysis.

Results
The median timing of S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy initiation was 50 days (interquartile range: 38–66). In the standard group, 5-year RFS and OS rates were 32.3–48.7%, respectively, compared with 25.0–38.7% in the delayed group. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals were 0.84 (0.76–0.93) for RFS (p < 0.001) and 0.77 (0.69–0.87) for OS (p < 0.001). The IPTW analysis yielded 5-year RFS rates of 32.1% and 25.3% in the standard versus delayed group, respectively [HR = 0.86 (0.77–0.96), p < 0.001] and 5-year OS rates of 48.3% and 39.8%, respectively [HR = 0.81 (0.71–0.92), p < 0.001].

Conclusions
Initiation of S-1 adjuvant chemotherapy in resected PDAC patients within 10 weeks after surgery may offer survival benefit over later initiation.
Characterization of cannabis strain-plant-derived extracellular vesicles as potential biomarkers
Authors: Ipinmoroti Ayodeji O. , Turner Ja’kayla , Bellenger Elizabeth J. , Crenshaw Brennetta J. , Xu Junhuan , Reeves Caitlin , Ajayi Olufemi , Li Ting , Matthews Qiana L. 
Published: June 2023

Abstract
The scientific interest in cannabis plants’ beneficial properties has recently sparked certain interest in the possible functional characterization of plant-derived extracellular vesicles (PDEVs). Establishing the most appropriate and efficient isolation procedure for PDEVs remains a challenge due to vast differences in the physio-structural characteristics of different plants within the same genera and species. In this study, we employed a crude but standard isolation procedure for the extraction of apoplastic wash fluid (AWF) which is known to contain the PDEVs. This method includes a detailed stepwise process of PDEV extraction from five (5) cultivars of cannabis plants, namely: Citrus (C), Henola (HA), Bialobrezenski (BZ), Southern-Sunset (SS), and Cat-Daddy (CAD). Approximately, 150 leaves were collected from each plant strain. In order to collect PDEV pellets, apoplastic wash fluid (AWF) was extracted from plants via negative pressure permeabilization and infiltration followed by high-speed differential ultracentrifugation. Particle tracking analysis of PDEVs revealed particle size distribution in the range of 20 to 200 nm from all plant strains, while PDEV total protein concentration from HA was higher than that of SS. Although HA-PDEVs’ total protein was higher than SS-PDEVs, SS-PDEVs’ RNA yield was higher than that of HA-PDEVs. Our result suggests that the cannabis plant strains contain EVs, and PDEV concentration from the cannabis plant could be age or strain dependent. Overall, the results provide a guide for the selection and optimization of PDEV isolation methods for future studies.