bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Practical Quality Assurance Procedure for Data Acquisitions in Preclinical Simultaneous PET/MR Systems
Authors: Courteau Alan , McGrath John , Walker Paul Michael , Presles Benoît , Garipov Ruslan , Cochet Alexandre , Brunotte François , Vrigneaud Jean-Marc 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThe availability of preclinical simultaneous PET/MR imaging systems has been increasing in recent years. Therefore, this technique is progressively moving from the hands of pure physicists towards those of scientists more involved in pharmacology and biology. Unfortunately, these combined scanners can be prone to artefacts and deviation of their characteristics under the influence of external factors or mutual interference between subsystems. This may compromise the image quality as well as the quantitative aspects of PET and MR data. Hence, quality assurance is crucial to avoid loss of animals and experiments. A possible risk to the acceptance of quality control by preclinical teams is that the complexity and duration of this quality control are increased by the addition of MR and PET tests. To avoid this issue, we have selected over the past 5 years, simple tests that can be easily and quickly performed each day before starting an animal PET/MR acquisition. These tests can be performed by the person in charge of the experiment even if this person has a limited expertise in instrumentation and performance evaluation. In addition to these daily tests, other tests are suggested for an advanced system follow-up at a lower frequency. In the present paper, the proposed tests are sorted by periodicity from daily to annual. Besides, we have selected test materials that are available at moderate cost either commercially or through 3D printing.
Seizure onset zone identification using phase-amplitude coupling and multiple machine learning approaches for interictal electrocorticogram
Authors: Miao Yao , Iimura Yasushi , Sugano Hidenori , Fukumori Kosuke , Tanaka Toshihisa 
Published: December 2022

AbstractAutomatic seizure onset zone (SOZ) localization using interictal electrocorticogram (ECoG) improves the diagnosis and treatment of patients with medically refractory epilepsy. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) extracted from interictal ECoG and the feasibility of PAC serving as a promising biomarker for SOZ identification. We employed the mean vector length modulation index approach on the 20-s ECoG window to calculate PAC features between low-frequency rhythms (0.5–24 Hz) and high frequency oscillations (HFOs) (80–560 Hz). We used statistical measures to test the significant difference in PAC between the SOZ and non-seizure onset zone (NSOZ). To overcome the drawback of handcraft feature engineering, we established novel machine learning models to learn automatically the characteristics of the obtained PAC features and classify them to identify the SOZ. Besides, to handle imbalanced dataset classification, we introduced novel feature-wise/class-wise re-weighting strategies in conjunction with classifiers. In addition, we proposed a time-series nest cross-validation to provide more accurate and unbiased evaluations for this model. Seven patients with focal cortical dysplasia were included in this study. The experiment results not only showed that a significant coupling at band pairs of slow waves and HFOs exists in the SOZ when compared with the NSOZ, but also indicated the effectiveness of the PAC features and the proposed models in achieving better classification performance .
Practical initialization of the Nelder–Mead method for computationally expensive optimization problems
Authors: Takenaga Shintaro , Ozaki Yoshihiko , Onishi Masaki 
Published: December 2022

AbstractBlack-box optimization (BBO) algorithms are widely employed by practitioners to address computationally expensive real-world problems such as automatic tuning of machine learning models and evacuation route planning. The Nelder–Mead (NM) method is a well-known local search heuristic for BBO that has been applied to solve many real-world problems from way back because of its promising performance. However, this method has a strong dependence on initialization due to its local search tendency. Nevertheless, a discussion on the proper initialization of the NM method is limited to the recent study by Wessing (Optim Lett 13(4):847–856, 2019), which is solely based on an analysis using the simple sphere function. In this study, we take a further step to improve Wessing’s result by massively investigating how the initialization affects the search performance in views of the initial simplex size and shape and a constraint handling method that is employed on 24 BBO benchmarking problems. Based on the numerical results, we present the empirical best practice for the initialization of the NM method for cases involving a limited evaluation budget.
New low-cost, flow-through carbon electrodes characterized in brackish water
Authors: Molaei Arman , Ahmed Fareed , Ail Ujwala , Crispin Xavier 
Published: December 2022

AbstractWe propose a simple and low-cost flow-through electrode for electrochemical cells used for instance in capacitive desalination. We have coated macro-porous carbon fiber papers with various loads of carbon microporous particles to combine both a high surface area and an open structure for good fluid dynamics. In this first study, we restrict our investigation to the charging/discharging behavior, the identification of side reactions, and the effect of geometry on the diffusion of ions. The electrochemical performance was first investigated by cyclic voltammetry and galvanic charge–discharge techniques. The specific capacitance increases by three orders of magnitude upon adding the carbon particles. Then, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy revealed the presence of charge transfer phenomena and modification in the mass transport by the diffusion process for the coated electrode.
Graphical abstract
SEM image of the surface morphology of the cross section of CP/CFP/CP structure of the flow-through electrode.
Geomagnetic Field Polarity Changes
Authors: Korte Monika 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
The Earth’s magnetic field, or geomagnetic field, forms the magnetosphere around Earth, which shields our habitat from cosmic radiation and solar wind. It is generated by dynamic processes in Earth’s fluid outer core and changes constantly. These changes are slow on human timescales, but can be drastic on geological scales: over Earth’s history, the geomagnetic field has changed its polarity multiple times. While the occurrence of such events is firmly established, the underlying processes in Earth’s core and potential consequences for our habitat are not well understood.
Value-addition, by Extraction of Critical Minerals - Cu, Co, Ni, Mo and REEs - from the Albitite Type U-deposits in Rohil and Adjoining Areas, Rajasthan, India
Authors: Raju R. Dhana 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
The albitite type of U-deposits have been established through detailed exploration and resource-evaluation by AMD in Rohil and adjoining areas of Rajasthan. Of these, 1,086.46 hectares in the Sikar district of Rajasthan has been recently issued a letter of interest (LOI), by the State Govt. of Rajasthan to start mining by the Uranium Corporation of India Ltd. (UCIL). Salient attributes of the deposits are given, with their U-ore containing many sulphide/ oxide ore minerals from which critical minerals (CMs), viz., Cu, Co, Ni, Mo and REEs are recoverable. It is suggested in this communication that (i) these CMs, besides U, may be extracted from the ore under value-addition in an integrated cost-effective project with high returns of investment and (ii) simultaneous laboratory/pilot-plant scale mineral processing of bulk ore from the proposed Rohil exploratory mine along with mine construction/ development of these deposits is preferable, as it saves some time in establishing a processing plant for the U-ore to recover its main product (U) and by-products (CMs).
Variation in Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility with Depth in the Upper 1 km of the Earth’s Crust in Singhbhum Region (India) – First Results
Authors: Chakraborty Ritwik , Mamtani Manish A. , Tripathi S. , Singh Arun , Rakesh S. , Chakrabarti Kalyan , Sinha D.K. 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
In this paper the first results of anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) studies carried out on 10 schist samples taken from different depths of a borehole in the vicinity of Singhbhum Shear Zone (SSZ) are presented. A cube of 8 cm3 volume was extracted from each borehole sample and its AMS was measured; the shallowest sample is from 112 m depth, while the deepest is from 850 m depth. In the depth vs. mean magnetic susceptibility (Km) plot, a sharp decrease in the Km values is noted in samples from 547 m and 588 m depths. Microstructural investigation of the different samples reveals presence of thick quartz veins in samples from the above mentioned depths vis-à-vis other samples. Petrographic studies also reveal presence of the mineral “allanite” in sample from 547 m depth, which contained a thick quartz vein. It is thus suggested that studies involving AMS investigation of borehole samples from the top 1 km depth of the region hold promise in mineral exploration studies.
Tertiary Himalayan Coal-bearing Sequences of India: A Reappraisal of their Evolutionary Consequences
Authors: Singh Prakash K. , Singh B. P. , Singh Alok K. , Singh G. P. 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
This paper presents a comprehensive account on the evolution of the Tertiary Himalaya coals of India and their various attributes. The coal bearing sequences in Himalaya have formed in two different geotectonic settings, first under foreland basin (Oligocene coals of Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh of northeastern India) and second under Platform basin (Eocene coals of Meghalaya of north-eastern India) conditions. The Jammu coals of northwest India developed in the late Paleocene in the western Himalayan foreland basin. A sea transgression inundated the Jammu area which gave rise to forest swamp and Jammu coals eventually formed under tropical humid climatic conditions in the tropical climatic belt of northern hemisphere. In northeastern India, the Oligocene coals have shown more maturity than the Eocene coals and have relatively high carbon content and they also have developed caking characters in many coalfields. This may be because the Eocene coal developed in the tropical climatic belt when the northern part of the northeast India was still in the southern hemisphere and the Oligocene coal evolved when the northern part of the northeast India was in the northern hemisphere and the collision during the Oligocene in this part improved the maturity of Oligocene coal due to Himalayan orogeny. The Himalayan coals are exceedingly rich in vitrinite with variable quantities of liptinite and inertinite macerals. Dominance of typical Tertiary angiospermic floral assemblage in the Himalayan coals is well indicated by the occurrence of single, double and triple celled telutospores.
Stability Assessment of Siwalik Rock Slopes – A Case Study from Dehradun Area, Uttarakhand, India
Authors: Ghosh Sayantan , Kumar Saurabh , Khare Sunil Kumar , Pandey Hemant Kumar 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
This study presents a slope stability assessment of Siwalik rocks formations along an old, unpaved road connecting Dehradun to Thangaon village via Dunga village located in the Himalayan foothills. This road is a part of the proposed major road connecting Dehradun-Mussoorie. Hard rocks in the study area are medium-grained, massive sandstones composed of ~100% quartz and less prone to weathering, while soft rocks are quartz-rich with ~10% micaceous/argillaceous minerals, fine-grained, relatively laminated sandstones that are more prone to weathering. Joints are prominent in the hard and massive sandstones. Joint openings range from 0.5-1 mm to 2-3 cm. Rock mass rating and slope mass rating criteria along with kinematic analysis reveal that bedding, natural joint, and excavation faces are oriented such that ~50% of locations have chances of wedge failure. Roads oriented in the NNW-SSE directions with ridges to the left are the most vulnerable to rock slides as evidenced by slope assessment. Natural joint orientations with respect to bedding strikes are unpredictable, as bed strike-parallel, strike-perpendicular, and strike-oblique joints are present at various locations. Most rock fall incidents happening during the monsoon implies extra water from the rains acts as failure catalyst. Based on the field observations, select remedial measures were suggested.
A Simple Model for Quantifying Fluoride in Shallow Groundwater from Fertilizer Leaching
Authors: Sukanya Acharyya , Das Anirban 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Fluoride (F–) like nitrate (NO3–) is a common anionic groundwater contaminant. In areas dominated by long-term agricultural practices, leaching from phosphate fertilizers and other agrochemicals (through the vadose zone) is believed to be a F–source in groundwater. Despite studies attribute fertilizer as important source of groundwater F– however its quantification, unlike NO3–, does not exist. This is perhaps because of limitation in applying stable isotopic tool for tracing and quantifying sources of F–, as it has one stable isotope (19F), unlike NO3– which has two stable isotopes (15N and 14N).
In this study, a simple box model is proposed with steady-state assumptions to estimate the concentrations of groundwater F– derived from fertilizer leaching. The model parameters include fertilizer application rate, F concentrations in fertilizer and its leaching coefficient, groundwater recharge rate and the evapotranspiration factor. Model application to a specific study area with a few reasonably well constrained parameters shows that F– from fertilizer leaching can contribute up to ~0.2 mg L–1 in groundwater. The sensitivity analysis shows that groundwater recharge rate and the evapotranspiration factor are the two most sensitive parameters. It is believed that this study may lead to the foundation for more extensive, rigorous and more accurate models which can constrain the entwined input parameters more accurately.
Partition-based SIMD Processing and its Application to Columnar Database Systems
Authors: Hildebrandt Juliana , Pietrzyk Johannes , Krause Alexander , Habich Dirk , Lehner Wolfgang 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThe Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) paradigm became a core principle for optimizing query processing in columnar database systems. Until now, only the instructions are considered to be efficient enough to achieve the expected speedups, while avoiding is considered almost imperative. However, the instruction offers a very flexible way to populate SIMD registers with data elements coming from non-consecutive memory locations. As we will discuss within this article, the instruction can achieve the same performance as the instruction, if applied properly. To enable the proper usage, we outline a novel access pattern allowing fine-grained, partition-based SIMD implementations. Then, we apply this partition-based SIMD processing to two representative examples from columnar database systems to experimentally demonstrate the applicability and efficiency of our new access pattern.
Curating a Case Catalog: Development and Implementation of a Process for Revising Small Group Teaching Cases for Pre-clerkship Medical Education
Authors: Bruner Lia Pierson , Szymik Brett , House Ellen , Chappell M. Tresa , Teshager Dina , Baldwin Amy 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Small group, case-based learning (CBL) is an integral component of many pre-clerkship undergraduate medical education (UME) curricula. We report here an institutional process for curating a catalog of CBL cases utilized in a pre-clerkship curriculum, providing a practical guide for faculty. We describe the structured revision process conducted by a team of foundational and clinical science faculty, which incorporates student and faculty feedback. Revisions take into account core attributes of a case catalog, producing a collection of cases that are more relevant and instructional, realistic, challenging, consistent, current, diverse and inclusive, patient-centered, and mission-centered. Measurable outcomes after implementation of this process include increased focus on primary care as well as humanization and diversification of the case patients.
Scaffolding in Health Sciences Education Programmes: An Integrative Review
Authors: Masava Beloved , Nyoni Champion N. , Botma Yvonne 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThe complexity of health sciences programmes justifies scaffolding to support students in becoming competent health professionals. This article reports on an integrative review that aimed to describe the application of scaffolding in health sciences programmes. Twenty-nine sources, inclusive of theoretical and empirical studies, were reviewed. The sequencing of educational activities, the application of scaffolding tools or resources, frameworks for applying scaffolding, modelling, and fading represented the application of scaffolding in health sciences programmes. Awareness of the application of scaffolding in health sciences programmes could contribute to enhancing competence development among students when applied across all learning platforms.
Novel configurations of type I-E CRISPR-Cas system in Corynebacterium striatum clinical isolates
Authors: Ramos Juliana Nunes , Baio Paulo Victor Pereira , Veras João Flávio Carneiro , Vieira Érica Miranda Damásio , Mattos-Guaraldi Ana Luiza , Vieira Verônica Viana 
Published: December 2022

AbstractClustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) are a prokaryotic adaptive immune system that, through Cas proteins, promote the degradation of foreign nucleic acids such as phages and plasmids. We analyzed 10 genomes of Corynebacterium striatum clinical isolates from a public hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the most emergent multidrug-resistant Corynebacterium species. All isolates were submitted to antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The occurrence and diversity of the CRISPR system were investigated by bioinformatics tools. Our analysis revealed that the isolates exhibited type I-E gene arrangements, and 3 more multidrug-resistant isolates, alternative type I-E gene arrangements, showing a divergent gene arrangement within the cas operon. Phylogenetic analysis of the cas1 gene of this type I-E CRISPR-Cas system alternative arrangement, termed here type I-E’, showed a cluster in a distinct clade of the type I-E CRISPR-Cas system. The systems’ guanine-cytosine (GC) content is lower than the genomic DNA’s GC content, and mobile genetic elements were found in some isolates near the CRISPR-Cas system. Most CRISPR spacers are unknown indicating that there is a reservoir of unexplored corynebacteriophages and plasmids. Some spacers showed perfect homologies with phage and plasmid sequences. Intact phage regions were found in 3 of our isolates, ranging from 9.1 to 43.8 kb, with regions showing similarity to Rhodococcus and Corynebacterium phages. Our results may contribute to research about the CRISPR-Cas system diversity in C. striatum, where there are no published data to date.
Impact of Endocrine Disorders on IVF Outcomes: Results from a Large, Single-Centre, Prospective Study
Authors: Herman Tunde , Csehely Szilvia , Orosz Monika , Bhattoa Harjit Pal , Deli Tamas , Torok Peter , Lagana Antonio Simone , Chiantera Vito , Jakab Atilla 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Endocrine disorders negatively influence the ovarian function, and increasing incidence of endocrine diseases with age may have further negative effects on pregnancy rate. Prospective cohort study of 231 consecutively enrolled patients underwent IVF treatment. In patients with known endocrine disorders, the laboratory parameters were corrected before IVF treatment. One hundred sixty one patients (69.7%) had at least one known and treated endocrine disorder (study group), and 70 patients were endocrine negative (control group). Endocrine disorders diagnosed were thyroid disorders (32.5%), diminished ovarian reserve (23.8%), insulin resistance (22.5%), PCOS (15.2%), hyperprolactinaemia (13.4%), obesity (12.1%), hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (0.8%) and congenital adrenal hyperplasia (0.2%). Before the IVF treatment, systematic endocrine laboratory examinations were performed in all patients. Higher age, BMI and FSH were found in the study group, while AMH level was lower. There were no differences in LH, E2, prolactin, TSH, FT3, FT4, TT, DHEAS, androstendione, 17-OHP and SHBG level between the study and control groups. The study group had higher baseline glucose, baseline insulin, 120-min glucose and 120-min insulin level after oral glucose tolerance test. With no difference in the IVF cycles performed, pregnancy rate was lower in the study group (61.43% vs. 34.16%; p = 0.003), and this difference (p = 0.0151) remained in age-corrected rates, as well. The analyses were also performed in individual endocrinology groups. The prevalence of endocrine disorders is high in females participating in IVF programs, and they are often accompanying each other. Even after proper correction, the presence of the endocrine disorder negatively influences the pregnancy rate in IVF treatment.
Experiential Learning in a Biomedical Device Engineering Course: Proposal Development and Raw Research Data-Based Assignments
Authors: Goshi Noah , Girardi Gregory , Kim Hyehyun , Seker Erkin 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThere is a need for novel teaching approaches to train biomedical engineers that are conversant across disciplines and have the technical skills to address interdisciplinary scientific and technological challenges. Here, we describe a graduate-level miniaturized biomedical device engineering course that has been taught over the last decade in in-person, remote, and hybrid formats. The course employs experiential learning components, including a proposal development and review that mimic the National Institutes of Health process and technical assignments that use raw research data to simulate a research experience. The effectiveness of the course was measured via pre-/post-course concept inventory surveys as well as course evaluations with targeted questions on the learning instruments. Statistical comparison of pre-/post-course survey scores suggests that the course was effective in students achieving the learning objectives, and comparison of relative increase in pre-/post-course survey scores across different instruction formats (i.e., in-person, remote, hybrid) showed minimal difference, suggesting that the teaching elements are readily transferrable to remote instruction.