bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exploring the ability of stroke survivors in using the contralesional hemisphere to control a brain–computer interface
Authors: Mansour Salem , Giles Joshua , Ang Kai Keng , Nair Krishnan P. S. , Phua Kok Soon , Arvaneh Mahnaz 
Published: September 2022

AbstractBrain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have recently been shown to be clinically effective as a novel method of stroke rehabilitation. In many BCI-based studies, the activation of the ipsilesional hemisphere was considered a key factor required for motor recovery after stroke. However, emerging evidence suggests that the contralesional hemisphere also plays a role in motor function rehabilitation. The objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of the BCI in detecting motor imagery of the affected hand from contralesional hemisphere. We analyzed a large EEG dataset from 136 stroke patients who performed motor imagery of their stroke-impaired hand. BCI features were extracted from channels covering either the ipsilesional, contralesional or bilateral hemisphere, and the offline BCI accuracy was computed using 10$$\times $$×10-fold cross-validations. Our results showed that most stroke patients can operate the BCI using either their contralesional or ipsilesional hemisphere. Those with the ipsilesional BCI accuracy of less than 60% had significantly higher motor impairments than those with the ipsilesional BCI accuracy above 80%. Interestingly, those with the ipsilesional BCI accuracy of less than 60% achieved a significantly higher contralesional BCI accuracy, whereas those with the ipsilesional BCI accuracy more than 80% had significantly poorer contralesional BCI accuracy. This study suggests that contralesional BCI may be a useful approach for those with a high motor impairment who cannot accurately generate signals from ipsilesional hemisphere to effectively operate BCI.
[68Ga]FAPI-PET/CT for radiation therapy planning in biliary tract, pancreatic ductal adeno-, and adenoidcystic carcinomas
Authors: Guberina Nika , Kessler Lukas , Pöttgen Christoph , Guberina Maja , Metzenmacher Martin , Herrmann Ken , Mucha Maja , Rischpler Christoph , Indenkämpen Frank , Siveke Jens T. , Treckmann Jürgen , Umutlu Lale , Kasper Stefan , Fendler Wolfgang P. , Stuschke Martin 
Published: September 2022

AbstractBiliary-tract-carcinomas (BTC), pancreatic-ductal-adenocarcinomas (PDAC) and adenoidcystic-carcinomas (AC) have in common that they are traditionally treated with large clinical-target-volumes (CTV). The aim of this study is to examine the impact of pretreatment-[68Ga]FAPI-PET/CT on target-volume-definition and posttreatment-[68Ga]FAPI-PET/CT-response-assessment for BTC-, PDAC- and AC-patients referred to radiation-therapy. All consecutive BTC-, PDAC-, and AC-patients who received pretreatment-[68Ga]FAPI-PET/CT±[18F]FDG-PET/CT were included from 01.01.2020 to 01.03.2022. MTV and SUVmax were separately generated based on [68Ga]FAPI- and [18F]FDG-PET/CT-images. A [68Ga]FAPI- and [18F]FDG-based-CTV was defined. Treatment-plans were compared. Treatment-response was reassessed by a second [68Ga]FAPI-PET/CT and [18F]FDG-PET/CT after treatment-completion. Intermodality comparison of lesion-to-background-ratios [SUVmax_lesion/SUVmean_background] for individual timepoints t1 and t2 revealed significant higher values for [68Ga]FAPI compared to [18F]FDG (t1, p = 0.008; t2, p = 0.005). Intermodality comparison of radiation-therapy-plans showed that [68Ga]FAPI-based planning resulted in D100% = 97.2% and V95% = 98.8% for the [18F]FDG-MTV. [18F]FDG-based-planning resulted in D100% = 35.9% and V95% = 78.1% for [68Ga]FAPI-MTV. [18F]FDG-based-planning resulted only in 2 patients in V95% > 95% for [68Ga]FAPI-MTV, and in 1 patient in D100% > 97% for [68Ga]FAPI-MTV. GTV-coverage in terms of V95% was 76.4% by [18F]FDG-based-planning and 99.5% by [68Ga]FAPI-based-planning. Pretreatment [68Ga]FAPI-PET/CT enhances radiation-treatment-planning in this particular group of patients. While perilesional and tumoral follow-up [18F]FDG-uptake behaved uniformly, perilesional and tumoral reaction may differ in follow-up [68Ga]FAPI-imaging. Complementary [68Ga]FAPI- and [18F]FDG-imaging enhance treatment-response-assessment.
Significance of nanoparticles aggregation on the dynamics of rotating nanofluid subject to gyrotactic microorganisms, and Lorentz force
Authors: Ali Bagh , Siddique Imran , Ali Rifaqat , Awrejcewicze Jan , Jarad Fahd , Khalifa Hamiden Abd El-Wahed 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThe significance of nanoparticle aggregation, Lorentz and Coriolis forces on the dynamics of spinning silver nanofluid flow past a continuously stretched surface is prime significance in modern technology, material sciences, electronics, and heat exchangers. To improve nanoparticles stability, the gyrotactic microorganisms is consider to maintain the stability and avoid possible sedimentation. The goal of this report is to propose a model of nanoparticles aggregation characteristics, which is responsible to effectively state the nanofluid viscosity and thermal conductivity. The implementation of the similarity transforQ1m to a mathematical model relying on normal conservation principles yields a related set of partial differential equations. A well-known computational scheme the FEM is employed to resolve the partial equations implemented in MATLAB. It is seen that when the effect of nanoparticles aggregation is considered, the temperature distribution is enhanced because of aggregation, but the magnitude of velocities is lower. Thus, showing the significance impact of aggregates as well as demonstrating themselves as helpful theoretical tool in future bioengineering and industrial applications.
Involvement of endothelins in neuroprotection of valosin-containing protein modulators against retinal ganglion cell damage
Authors: Kusaka Mami , Hasegawa Tomoko , Ikeda Hanako Ohashi , Inoue Yumi , Iwai Sachiko , Iida Kei , Tsujikawa Akitaka 
Published: September 2022

AbstractWe have previously shown that Kyoto University Substances (KUSs), valosin-containing protein (VCP) modulators, suppress cell death in retinal ganglion cells of glaucoma mouse models through alterations of various genes expressions. In this study, among the genes whose expression in retinal ganglion cells was altered by KUS treatment in the N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA) injury model, we focused on two genes, endothelin-1 (Edn1) and endothelin receptor type B (Ednrb), whose expression was up-regulated by NMDA and down-regulated by KUS treatment. First, we confirmed that the expression of Edn1 and Ednrb was upregulated by NMDA and suppressed by KUS administration in mice retinae. Next, to clarify the influence of KUSs on cell viability in relation to the endothelin signaling, cell viability was examined with or without antagonists or agonists of endothelin and with or without KUS in 661W retinal cells under stress conditions. KUS showed a significant protective effect under glucose-free conditions and tunicamycin-induced stress. This protective effect was partially attenuated in the presence of an endothelin antagonist or agonist under glucose-free conditions. These results suggest that KUSs protect cells partially by suppressing the upregulated endothelin signaling under stress conditions.
Assessment of small in-frame indels and C-terminal nonsense variants of BRCA1 using a validated functional assay
Authors: Nepomuceno Thales C. , dos Santos Ana P. P. , Fernandes Vanessa C. , Elias Anna B. R. , Gomes Thiago T. , Suarez-Kurtz Guilherme , Iversen Edwin S. , Couch Fergus J. , Monteiro Alvaro N. A. , Carvalho Marcelo A. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractBRCA1 (Breast Cancer 1, early onset) is linked to breast and ovarian cancer predisposition. Still, the risks conferred by a significant portion of BRCA1 variants identified in the population remains unknown. Most of these variants of uncertain significance are missense alterations. However, the functional implications of small in-frame deletions and/or insertions (indels) are also difficult to predict. Our group has previously evaluated the functional impact of 347 missense variants using an extensively validated transcriptional activity assay. Here we show a systematic assessment of 30 naturally occurring in-frame indels located at the C-terminal region of BRCA1. We identified positions sensitive and tolerant to alterations, expanding the knowledge of structural determinants of BRCA1 function. We further designed and assessed the impact of four single codon deletions in the tBRCT linker region and six nonsense variants at the C-terminus end of BRCA1. Amino acid substitutions, deletions or insertions in the disordered region do not significantly impact activity and are not likely to constitute pathogenic alleles. On the other hand, a sizeable fraction of in-frame indels at the BRCT domain significantly impact function. We then use a Bayesian integrative statistical model to derive the probability of pathogenicity for each variant. Our data highlights the importance of assessing the impact of small in-frame indels in BRCA1 to improve risk assessment and clinical decisions for carriers.
Experimental study on uniaxial creep characteristics of sandstone with pre-peak unloading damage
Authors: Liang Zhonghao , Ji Peizhi , Zhang Yifan , Qin Nan , Huang Qiming , Yu Zhuoqun 
Published: September 2022

AbstractDeep resource extraction has been affected by the complex geological environment of "three highs and one disturbance" for a long time. The surrounding rocks experience strong unloading stress disturbance during the underground resource extraction. The creep characteristics of the perimeter rocks are of great theoretical and practical value. Firstly, the triaxial pre-peak loading and unloading tests on the prepared samples are conducted on the intact rock samples using the TAW-200 rock mechanics test system. Then the rock samples with different degrees of pre-peak unloading damage were prepared under the condition of pre-peak yield. Finally, the uniaxial creep tests were carried out to study the uniaxial creep mechanical properties. The results show that the wave velocities of the damaged rock samples are reduced to different degrees compared with those of the intact rock samples, the creep of the pre-peak unloading damaged rock has a time-dependent damage effect, and the study results are similar to those of the conventional uniaxial creep test of the white sandstone. The instantaneous strain at all stress levels of the damaged rock samples increased gradually with the stress level, which is consistent with the non-linear functional relationship; Based on the time-dependent damage effect, the two-parameter Weibull distribution function was introduced into the West Plains viscoelasticity model, and a creep damage model for white sandstone was proposed. The improved Nishihara model can simulate the uniaxial creep characteristics of each damaged rock sample at various stress levels.
Genetic structure and geneflow of Malus across the Korean Peninsula using genotyping-by-sequencing
Authors: Ha Young-Ho , Gil Hee-Young , Kim Sang-Chul , Choi Kyung , Kim Joo-Hwan 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThis study was to understand the genetic structure and diversity of the KoreanMalusspecies. We used genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) technology to analyze samples of 112 individuals belonging to 18 populations of wildMalusspp. Using GBS, we identified thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the species analyzed.M. baccataandM. toringo, two dominant mainland species of the Korean Peninsula, were distinguishable based on their genetic structure. However,M. toringocollected from Jeju Island exhibited a different genetic profile than that from the mainland. We identifiedM.cf.micromalusas a hybrid resulting from the Jeju IslandM. toringo(pollen donor) and the mainlandM. baccata, (pollen recipient). PutativeM. mandshuricadistributed on the Korean Peninsula showed a high structural and genetic similarity withM. baccata, indicating that it might be an ecotype. Overall, this study contributes to the understanding of the population history and genetic structure ofMalusin the Korean Peninsula.
Association between carbon monoxide poisoning and adrenal insufficiency: a nationwide cohort study
Authors: Huang Chien-Cheng , Ho Chung-Han , Chen Yi-Chen , Hsu Chien-Chin , Lin Hung-Jung , Wang Jhi-Joung , Su Shih-Bin , Guo How-Ran 
Published: September 2022

AbstractCarbon monoxide poisoning may damage the brain and adrenal glands, but it is unclear whether it is associated with adrenal insufficiency. We identified all COP patients diagnosed between 1999 and 2012 in Taiwan using the Nationwide Poisoning Database and selected a reference cohort (participants without COP) from the same database by exact matching of age and index date at a 1:2 ratio. Participants with a history of adrenal insufficiency or steroid use of more than 14 days were excluded. We followed up participants until 2013 and compared the risk of developing adrenal insufficiency between the two cohorts. The 21,842 COP patients had a higher risk for adrenal insufficiency than the 43,684 reference participants (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] = 2.5; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.8–3.5) after adjustment for sex and underlying comorbidities (liver disease, thyroid disease, mental disorder). The risk continued to elevate even after 1 year (AHR = 2.1; 95% CI: 1.4–3.4). The COP patients who had acute respiratory failure had an even higher risk for adrenal insufficiency than those without acute respiratory failure, which may indicate a dose–response relationship. Stratified analyses showed that female patients had an elevated risk (AHR = 3.5; 95% CI: 2.1–6.0), but not male patients. Younger patients (< 50 years) had higher risks, and the AHR reached statistical significance in the age groups 20–34 (AHR = 5.5; 95% CI: 1.5–20.6) and 35–49 (AHR = 4.9; 95% CI: 2.3–10.6) years old. The risk for developing adrenal insufficiency elevated after COP, especially in female and younger patients. Carbon monoxide is the most common gaseous agent causing acute intoxication worldwide. Results of the current study call for monitoring adrenal function of patients with COP.
Alzheimer's disease diagnosis by blood plasma molecular fluorescence spectroscopy (EEM)
Authors: dos Santos Ricardo Fernandes , Paraskevaidi Maria , Mann David M. A. , Allsop David , Santos Marfran C. D. , Morais Camilo L. M. , Lima Kássio M. G. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractDespite tremendous research advances in detecting Alzheimer's disease (AD), traditional diagnostic tests remain expensive, time-consuming or invasive. The search for a low-cost, rapid, and minimally invasive test has marked a new era of research and technological developments toward establishing blood-based AD biomarkers. The current study has employed excitation-emission matrices (EEM) of fluorescence spectroscopy combined with machine learning to diagnose AD using blood plasma samples from 230 individuals (83 AD patients from 147 healthy controls). To evaluate the performance of the classification algorithms, we calculated the commonly used figures of merit (accuracy, sensitivity and specificity) and figures of merit that take into account the samples unbalance and the discrimination power of the models, as F2-score (F2), Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) and test effectiveness ($$\delta$$
δ
). The classification models achieved satisfactory results: Parallel Factor Analysis with Quadratic Discriminant Analysis (PARAFAC-QDA) with 83.33% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 86.21% F2; and Tucker3-QDA with 91.67% sensitivity, 95.45% specificity and 91.67% F2. In addition, the classifiers show high overall performance with 94.12% accuracy and 0.87 MCC. Regarding the discrimination power between healthy and AD patients, the classification algorithms showed high effectiveness with the mean scores separated by three or more standard deviations. The PARAFAC's spectral profiles and the wavelength values from both models loading profiles can be used in future research to relate this information to plasma AD biomarkers. Our results point to a rapid, low-cost and minimally invasive blood-based method for AD diagnosis.
Decomposition stages as a clue for estimating the post-mortem interval in carcasses and providing accurate bird collision rates
Authors: Moraleda Virginia , Gómez-Catasús Julia , Schuster Claudia , Carrascal Luis M. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThe estimation of the post-mortem interval is crucial to accurately provide bird collision rates against manmade infrastructures. Standard methodologies recommend initially clearing all carcasses to ensure that subsequent collisions can be attributed to known time intervals. In this study, we propose a more cost-efficient approach aiming to link the decomposition stages as unequivocally as possible to the most likely time elapsed since death. Factors influencing the decomposition stages of bird carcasses were evaluated by means of two experiments. Firstly, we examined carcasses of large birds in three seasons differing in temperature, sun radiation and humidity: summer, autumn and spring. Secondly, we tested the influence of body mass in the same season (spring) using small, medium-sized and large bird carcasses. Results showed that the decomposition score increased monotonically with time, attaining the highest magnitude effect. A carcass with a decomposition score ≥ 4 (skeletal reduction) was in the field for ≥ 15 days, whereas a carcass with a score < 3 (fresh or emphysematous) was exposed < 3 days. Decomposition scores were higher in summer and did not differ among carcass sizes. This study provides an alternative protocol to estimate the post-mortem interval in wild birds in studies in search of bird fatalities.
A voting-based ensemble feature network for semiconductor wafer defect classification
Authors: Misra Sampa , Kim Donggyu , Kim Jongbeom , Shin Woncheol , Kim Chulhong 
Published: September 2022

AbstractSemiconductor wafer defects severely affect product development. In order to reduce the occurrence of defects, it is necessary to identify why they occur, and it can be inferred by analyzing the patterns of defects. Automatic defect classification (ADC) is used to analyze large amounts of samples. ADC can reduce human resource requirements for defect inspection and improve inspection quality. Although several ADC systems have been developed to identify and classify wafer surfaces, the conventional ML-based ADC methods use numerous image recognition features for defect classification and tend to be costly, inefficient, and time-consuming. Here, an ADC technique based on a deep ensemble feature framework (DEFF) is proposed that classifies different kinds of wafer surface damage automatically. DEFF has an ensemble feature network and the final decision network layer. The feature network learns features using multiple pre-trained convolutional neural network (CNN) models representing wafer defects and the ensemble features are computed by concatenating these features. The decision network layer decides the classification labels using the ensemble features. The classification performance is further enhanced by using a voting-based ensemble learning strategy in combination with the deep ensemble features. We show the efficacy of the proposed strategy using the real-world data from SK Hynix.
Clinical association between tacrolimus intra-patient variability and liver transplantation outcomes in patients with and without hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Kim Hyun Jeong , Lee Juhan , Lee Jae Geun , Joo Dong Jin , Kim Myoung Soo 
Published: September 2022

AbstractTacrolimus is the mainstay of immunosuppression in liver transplantation to prevent rejection. However, the clinical use of tacrolimus is complicated by its narrow therapeutic window and significant intra-patient variability (IPV). High tacrolimus IPV is associated with overexposure and adverse effects, including malignancy. The effects of tacrolimus IPV in liver transplant recipients with and without hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are unknown. We investigated the association between tacrolimus IPV and transplant outcomes in 636 liver transplant patients. Tacrolimus IPV was determined by calculating the coefficient of variance (CV) of outpatient tacrolimus trough levels from 3 to 12 months after transplantation. High tacrolimus IPV was defined as CV > 30%. Patients were grouped according to tacrolimus IPV and HCC status. Among 636 liver transplant patients, 349 had HCC and 287 had no HCC. Overall survival in HCC patients was significantly reduced with high tacrolimus IPV (P < 0.001), whereas survival of non-HCC patients was not associated with tacrolimus IPV. Multivariable analysis confirmed the independent association between high tacrolimus IPV and overall mortality in HCC patients (HR, 3.010; 95% CI, 1.084–4.918). HCC recurred in 59 patients (16.9%) post-transplantation. After adjusting for donor/recipient factors, immunosuppression, and tumor characteristics, high tacrolimus IPV was independently associated with an increased risk of HCC recurrence (HR, 2.196; 95% CI, 1.272–3.791). High tacrolimus IPV was associated with significantly increased risks of overall mortality and HCC recurrence in liver transplant recipients with HCC.
Examination of risk exposure models during COVID-19 in relation to youth life satisfaction and internalizing symptoms
Authors: Snetselaar Romy S. , Liber Juliëtte M. , Geurts Suzanne M. , Koning Ina M. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThis study examined mediation of a negative COVID-impact on the relationship between risk exposure, and life satisfaction and internalizing symptoms in youth (aged 9–18). Four operationalizations of risk exposure were applied; an Additive versus a Cumulative Risk Model (ARM and CRM), risk clusters and the most salient risk factors. Results showed that a stronger negative COVID-impact is related to lower life satisfaction, more internalizing symptoms and higher additive and cumulative risk. ARM and CRM’s effect on lower life satisfaction is mediated through negative COVID-impact, though not for internalizing symptoms. Clusters of risk factors and risk factors within clusters significantly related to a stronger negative COVID-impact are the clusters ‘Individual factors’ (low self-control), ‘Parenting’ (negative mother–child interaction and low parental responsiveness), ‘Maternal mental health’ and ‘Demographic factors’ (low SES and high paternal education). From all significant risk factors, low self-control, low parental responsiveness, negative mother–child interaction and low SES were most salient.
Improvement of CZTSSe film quality and superstrate solar cell performance through optimized post-deposition annealing
Authors: Pakštas V. , Grincienė G. , Selskis A. , Balakauskas S. , Talaikis M. , Bruc L. , Curmei N. , Niaura G. , Franckevičius M. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractImproving the performance of kesterite solar cells requires high-quality, defect-free CZTS(Se) films with a reduced number of secondary phases and impurities. Post-annealing of the CZTS films at high temperatures in a sulfur or selenium atmosphere is commonly used to improve the quality of the absorbing material. However, annealing at high-temperatures can promote material decomposition, mainly due to the loss of volatile elements such as tin or sulfur. In this work, we investigate how the additional step of sulfurization at reduced temperatures affects the quality and performance of CZTSSe based solar cells. A comprehensive structural analysis using conventional and high resolution XRD as well as Raman spectroscopy revealed that the highest CZTSSe material quality with the lowest structural disorder and defect densities was obtained from the CZTS films pre-sulfurized at 420 °C. Furthermore, we demonstrate the possibility of using Sb2Se3as a buffer layer in the superstrate configuration of CZTSSe solar cells, which is possible alternative to replace commonly employed toxic CdS as a buffer layer. We show that the additional low-temperature selenization process and the successful use of Sb2Se3as a buffer layer could improve the performance of CZTSSe-based solar cells by up to 3.48%, with an average efficiency of 3.1%.