Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Efficient Integral-Based Method for Three-Dimensional MR-EPT and the Calculation of the RF-Coil-Induced ${B_z}$ Field

Magnetic resonance electrical property tomography (MR-EPT) has significant potential for the estimation of the electrical properties (EPs) of tissue, which are essential for the calculation of specific absorption rates (SAR), a critical safety factor requiring monitoring and controlling in applications of ultrahigh field magnetic resonance imaging. In this paper, a novel, efficient method based on integral equations is proposed for the calculation of the EPs and the RF-coil-induced <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\boldsymbol{B}_{\boldsymbol{z}}}$</tex-math> </inline-formula> field. An inverse problem framework is first constructed to include the forward problem operator, while the EPs are reconstructed by using a nonlinear conjugate gradient method. The RF-coil-induced <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\boldsymbol{B}_{\boldsymbol{z}}}$</tex-math></inline-formula> component is then calculated based on the achieved EPs and the forward operator. The proposed MR-EPT algorithm improves upon and differs from the existing methods in three aspects. First, a three-dimensional algorithm with improved efficiency is proposed. The higher efficiency arises from using a fast integral equation solver as well as an approximation of initial solution. Second, in addition to the EP values, the proposed method calculates the RF-coil-induced <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\boldsymbol{B}_{\boldsymbol{z}}}$</tex-math></inline-formula> component, which is usually neglected in the existing MR-EPT algorithms. Here, we show that considering this <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\boldsymbol{B}_{\boldsymbol{z}}}$</tex-math></inline-formula> field can significantly improve the accuracy of the SAR calculation. Finally, in contrast to differential approaches, the proposed method is more robust against noisy measurement of the transmit magnetic fields, because of the nature of the integral equations. The proposed method is verified through a full-wave simulation and an anatomically accurate numerical brain model, demonstrating its accuracy and efficiency.
Anaesthetists' attitudes to intraoperative death

Background and objectives: A recent survey in the British Medical Journal reported the attitudes of orthopaedic surgeons towards the intraoperative death of a patient. Several replies to this article were from anaesthetists, who pointed out that other staff might be affected by ‘death on the table’. We designed a questionnaire survey to assess the attitudes of anaesthetists, concerning intraoperative death. Methods: Three hundred anonymized questionnaires were distributed to 12 anaesthetic departments throughout England. Results: Two hundred and fifty‐one replies were received (84% response rate); 92% of respondents had experienced an intraoperative death, the majority of deaths being expected (60%) and non‐preventable (77%), occurring mainly during emergency surgery (80%), particularly involving vascular surgery (41% of cases); 87% had administered another general anaesthetic in the following 24 h, most without their professional ability being compromised (77%). Conclusions: This survey shows that anaesthetists are highly likely to experience intraoperative death, the consequences of which can be extremely stressful. Although the majority of anaesthetists (71%) agreed that it was reasonable for medical staff not to take part in operations for 24 h after an intraoperative death, fewer (25%) thought the proposal practicable. Nevertheless, all departments should provide for the discontinuation of further operations, if the circumstances require it. Consideration should be given by all departments of anaesthesia towards the prevention of intraoperative death, and the management of its aftermath, including the provision of support for psychologically traumatized staff.
Dynamic mechanical loading enhances functional properties of tissue-engineered cartilage using mature canine chondrocytes.

OBJECTIVE The concept of cartilage functional tissue engineering (FTE) has promoted the use of physiologic loading bioreactor systems to cultivate engineered tissues with load-bearing properties. Prior studies have demonstrated that culturing agarose constructs seeded with primary bovine chondrocytes from immature joints, and subjected to dynamic deformation, produced equilibrium compressive properties and proteoglycan content matching the native tissue. In the process of translating these results to an adult canine animal model, it was found that protocols previously successful with immature bovine primary chondrocytes did not produce the same successful outcome when using adult canine primary chondrocytes. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of a modified FTE protocol using adult canine chondrocytes seeded in agarose hydrogel and subjected to dynamic loading. METHOD Two modes of dynamic loading were applied to constructs using custom bioreactors: unconfined axial compressive deformational loading (DL; 1 Hz, 10% deformation) or sliding contact loading (Slide; 0.5 Hz, 10% deformation). Loading for 3 h daily was initiated on day 0, 14, or 28 (DL0, DL14, DL28, and Slide14). RESULTS Constructs with applied loading (both DL and Slide) exhibited significant increases in Young's modulus compared with free-swelling control as early as day 28 in culture (p < 0.05). However, glycosaminoglycan, collagen, and DNA content were not statistically different among the various groups. The modulus values attained for engineered constructs compare favorably with (and exceed in some cases) those of native canine knee (patella groove and condyle) cartilage. CONCLUSION Our findings successfully demonstrate an FTE strategy incorporating clinically relevant, adult chondrocytes and gel scaffold for engineering cartilage replacement tissue. These results, using continuous growth factor supplementation, are in contrast to our previously reported studies with immature chondrocytes where the sequential application of dynamic loading after transient transforming growth factor-beta3 application was found to be a superior culture protocol. Sliding, which simulates aspects of joint articulation, has shown promise in promoting engineered tissue development and provides an alternative option for FTE of cartilage constructs to be further explored.
Monetary policy and economic growth in Kenya:The role of money supply and interest rates

Using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach; this paper examines the short-run and long-run impact of monetary policy on economic growth in Kenya for the period 1973 to 2013. The paper uses both the broad money supply and the 3-month Treasury bill rate as proxies of monetary policy. Both short-run and long-run empirical results support monetary policy neutrality, implying that monetary policy has no effect on economic growth ? both in the short run and in the long run. This could be due to the fact that the increasing fiscal deficits funded domestically in Kenya could have weakened the transmission of monetary policy actions into the real economy. The study recommends that policies aimed at improving the institutional and regulatory environment for the financial sector and monetary policy conduct should be pursued in Kenya. There is also a need for improvement in policy coordination, particularly monetary and fiscal policies.
Surface Conditioning Influences Zirconia Ceramic Bonding

Air-abrasion seems to be mandatory for durable resin bonding to zirconia ceramic. Air-abrasion might compromise the ceramic strength by creating surface defects. Therefore, omitting air-abrasion or using reduced air-pressure seems desirable. We tested the null hypotheses that omitting air-abrasion or using reduced air-pressure does not affect zirconia ceramic bonding independent of using primers. Three mechanical surface conditions (polished, air-abraded at 0.05 or at 0.25 MPa) and 4 priming conditions were tested. After different surface conditioning, zirconia ceramic specimens were bonded, and tensile bond strengths were evaluated after water storage for 3 days or for 150 days with additional 37,500 thermal cyclings for artificial aging. Omitting air-abrasion resulted in debonding during artificial aging independent of using primers. The combination of air-abrasion and priming improved long-term resin bonding to zirconia ceramic significantly. With low-pressure air-abrasion, surface roughness was reduced without affecting long-term bond strength, provided that adequate adhesive primers were applied.
Segregating the core computational faculty of human language from working memory

In contrast to simple structures in animal vocal behavior, hierarchical structures such as center-embedded sentences manifest the core computational faculty of human language. Previous artificial grammar learning studies found that the left pars opercularis (LPO) subserves the processing of hierarchical structures. However, it is not clear whether this area is activated by the structural complexity per se or by the increased memory load entailed in processing hierarchical structures. To dissociate the effect of structural complexity from the effect of memory cost, we conducted a functional magnetic resonance imaging study of German sentence processing with a 2-way factorial design tapping structural complexity (with/without hierarchical structure, i.e., center-embedding of clauses) and working memory load (long/short distance between syntactically dependent elements; i.e., subject nouns and their respective verbs). Functional imaging data revealed that the processes for structure and memory operate separately but co-operatively in the left inferior frontal gyrus; activities in the LPO increased as a function of structural complexity, whereas activities in the left inferior frontal sulcus (LIFS) were modulated by the distance over which the syntactic information had to be transferred. Diffusion tensor imaging showed that these 2 regions were interconnected through white matter fibers. Moreover, functional coupling between the 2 regions was found to increase during the processing of complex, hierarchically structured sentences. These results suggest a neuroanatomical segregation of syntax-related aspects represented in the LPO from memory-related aspects reflected in the LIFS, which are, however, highly interconnected functionally and anatomically.
No Evidence of Hendra Virus Infection in the Australian Flying‐fox Ectoparasite Genus Cyclopodia

Hendra virus (HeV) causes potentially fatal respiratory and/or neurological disease in both horses and humans. Although Australian flying‐foxes of the genus Pteropus have been identified as reservoir hosts, the precise mechanism of HeV transmission has yet to be elucidated. To date, there has been limited investigation into the role of haematophagous insects as vectors of HeV. This mode of transmission is particularly relevant because Australian flying‐foxes host the bat‐specific blood‐feeding ectoparasites of the genus Cyclopodia (Diptera: Nycteribiidae), also known as bat flies. Using molecular detection methods, we screened for HeV RNA in 183 bat flies collected from flying‐foxes inhabiting a roost in Boonah, Queensland, Australia. It was subsequently demonstrated that during the study period, Pteropus alecto in this roost had a HeV RNA prevalence between 2 and 15% (95% CI [1, 6] to [8, 26], respectively). We found no evidence of HeV in any bat flies tested, including 10 bat flies collected from P. alecto in which we detected HeV RNA. Our negative findings are consistent with previous findings and provide additional evidence that bat flies do not play a primary role in HeV transmission.
Effects of unilateral vestibular ganglionectomy on glutaminase activity in the vestibular nerve root and vestibular nuclear complex of the rat

The metabolism of glutamate, the most likely neurotransmitter of vestibular ganglion cells, includes synthesis from glutamine by the enzyme glutaminase. We used microdissection combined with a fluorometric assay to measure glutaminase activity in the vestibular nerve root and nuclei of rats with unilateral vestibular ganglionectomy. Glutaminase activity in the lesioned‐side vestibular nerve root decreased by 62% at 4 days after ganglionectomy and remained at similar values through 30 days. No change occurred in the contralateral vestibular nerve root. Glutaminase activity changes in the vestibular nuclei were lesser in magnitude and more complex, including contralateral increases as well as ipsilateral decreases. At 4 days after ganglionectomy, glutaminase activity was 10–20% lower in individual lesioned‐side nuclei compared with their contralateral counterparts. By 14 and 30 days after ganglionectomy, there were no statistically significant differences between the nuclei on the two sides. This transient asymmetry of glutaminase activities in the vestibular nuclei contrasts with the sustained asymmetry in the vestibular nerve root and suggests that intrinsic, commissural, or descending pathways are involved in the recovery of chemical symmetry. This recovery resembles our previous finding for glutamate concentrations in the vestibular nuclei and may partially underlie central vestibular compensation after peripheral lesions. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Influencing public sector performance: studying the impact of ability-, motivation- and opportunity-enhancing human resources practices on various performance outcomes in the public sector

Background In response to recent calls in the literature to decompose both the human resources system and performance, this study has examined the effects of ability-, motivation- and opportunity-enhancing human resources practices on the effectiveness, efficiency and fairness of public organizations, with job satisfaction considered as a mediating variable. Aim Insights from Human Resource Management and performance research, mostly conducted in the private sector, have been combined with public management literature in order to gain insight into the Human Resource Management–performance relationship in the public sector. Method Regression analysis with a bootstrapping method was used to test the mediating effects. Results The analysis showed that the three human resources components heterogeneously impact upon the three performance outcomes. Further, the results showed that ability-enhancing and opportunity-enhancing human resources practices are more strongly related to performance outcomes than motivation-enhancing human resources practices. Conclusion Decomposing Human Resource Management and performance provides greater insight into the Human Resource Management–performance relationship. Points for practitioners The results show that investing in Human Resource Management positively influences performance outcomes. Moreover, our results show that various aspects of public performance require different human resources approaches. Investing in ability-enhancing human resources practices seems to be particularly relevant if one wants to enhance effectiveness. All the human resources practices, but especially ability-enhancing ones, are relevant to enhancing efficiency. However, investing in motivation-enhancing human resources practices seems to make little sense if one is seeking to enhance fairness.
Quality of life at older ages: evidence from the English longitudinal study of aging (wave 1)

Objectives: To investigate whether longstanding illnesses, social context, and current socioeconomic circumstances predict quality of life. Design: Secondary analysis of wave 1 of the English longitudinal study of aging. Missing data were imputed and multiple regression analyses conducted. Setting: England, 2002 Participants: Nationally representative sample of non-institutionalised adults living in England (n = 11 234, 54.5% women, age 65.1 (SD 10.2) years). Main outcome measure: Quality of life as measured by CASP-19, a 19 item Likert scaled index. Results: The quality of life was reduced by depression (β −0.265), poor perceived financial situation (β −0.157), limitations in mobility (β −0.124), difficulties with everyday activities (β −0.112), and limiting longstanding illness (β −0.112). The quality of life was improved by trusting relationships with family (β 0.105) and friends (β 0.078), frequent contacts with friends (β 0.059), living in good neighbourhoods (β 0.103), and having two cars (β 0.066). The regression models explained 48% variation in CASP-19 scores. There were slight differences between age groups and between men and women. Conclusions: Efforts to improve quality of life in early old age need to address financial hardships, functionally limiting disease, lack of at least one trusting relationship, and inability to move out of a disfavoured neighbourhood. There is the potential for improved quality of life in early old age (the third age) if these factors are controlled.
Phosphorylation of the transcription factor Sp4 is reduced by NMDA receptor signaling

The regulation of transcription factor function in response to neuronal activity is important for development and function of the nervous system. The transcription factor Sp4 regulates the developmental patterning of dendrites, contributes to complex processes including learning and memory, and has been linked to psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Despite its many roles in the nervous system, the molecular mechanisms regulating Sp4 activity are poorly understood. Here, we report a site of phosphorylation on Sp4 at serine 770 that is decreased in response to membrane depolarization. Inhibition of the voltage‐dependent NMDA receptor increased Sp4 phosphorylation. Conversely, stimulation with NMDA reduced the levels of Sp4 phosphorylation, and this was dependent on the protein phosphatase 1/2A. A phosphomimetic substitution at S770 impaired the Sp4‐dependent maturation of cerebellar granule neuron primary dendrites, whereas a non‐phosphorylatable Sp4 mutant behaved like wild type. These data reveal that transcription factor Sp4 is regulated by NMDA receptor‐dependent activation of a protein phosphatase 1/2A signaling pathway. Our findings also suggest that the regulated control of Sp4 activity is an important mechanism governing the developmental patterning of dendrites.
Intracavernous transplantation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells restores erectile function of streptozocin-induced diabetic rats.

INTRODUCTION Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a frequent complication of diabetes mellitus. The efficacy of common ED therapies is low for diabetes-associated ED. AIM To explore the effects of transplantation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) on improving erectile function of streptozocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. METHODS Male Sprague Dawley rats were injected either with STZ to induce diabetes or with citrate buffer as controls. Rat BM-MSCs were harvested and labeled with CM-DiI (Chloromethylbenzamido derivatives of 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate), and then transplanted into corporal cavernosum of STZ-induced diabetic rats. Four weeks after transplantation, all rats were analyzed for erectile function and penile histology. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Erectile function was evaluated by the ratio between intracavernous pressure (ICP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) during electrostimulation of cavernous nerve. Fate of transplanted BM-MSCs was identified using immunofluorescence staining. Smooth muscle and endothelium in corpora cavernosum were assessed using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS After BM-MSCs transplantation, the ICP/MAP ratio was increased significantly compared with diabetic controls. Content of smooth muscle and endothelium in corporal cavernosa of BM-MSCs transplanted rats was significantly increased compared to diabetic controls. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that CM-DiI-labeled BM-MSCs could stay in corporal cavernosa for at least 4 weeks and some of them expressed von Willebrand Factor, CD31, calponin, or α-smooth muscle actin, cells markers for endothelial cells or smooth muscle cells, respectively. CONCLUSION Intracavernous transplantation of BM-MSCs had beneficial effects on erectile function of diabetic rats and increased the content of endothelium and smooth muscle in corporal cavernosum.
Role of the nhaC-encoded Na+/H+ antiporter of alkaliphilic Bacillus firmus OF4

Application of protoplast transformation and single- and double-crossover mutagenesis protocols to alkaliphilic Bacillus firmus OF4811M (an auxotrophic strain of B. firmus OF4) facilitated the extension of the sequence of the previously cloned nhaC gene, which encodes an Na+/H+ antiporter, and the surrounding region. The nhaC gene is part of a likely 2-gene operon encompassing nhaC and a small gene that was designated nhaS; the operon is preceded by novel direct repeats. The predicted alkaliphile NhaC, based on the extended sequence analysis, would be a membrane protein with 462 amino acid residues and 12 transmembrane segments that is highly homologous to the deduced products of homologous genes of unknown function from Bacillus subtilis and Haemophilus influenzae. The full-length version of nhaC complemented the Na+-sensitive phenotype of an antiporter-deficient mutant strain of Escherichia coli but not the alkali-sensitive growth phenotypes of Na+/H+-deficient mutants of either alkaliphilic B. firmus OF4811M or B. subtilis. Indeed, NhaC has no required role in alkaliphily, inasmuch as the nhaC deletion strain of B. firmus OF4811M, N13, grew well at pH 10.5 at Na+ concentrations equal to or greater than 10 mM. Even at lower Na+ concentrations, N13 exhibited only a modest growth defect at pH 10.5. This was accompanied by a reduced capacity to acidify the cytoplasm relative to the medium compared to the wild-type strain or to N13 complemented by cloned nhaC. The most notable deficiency observed in N13 was its poor growth at pH 7.5 and Na+ concentrations up to 25 mM. During growth at pH 7.5, NhaC is apparently a major component of the relatively high affinity Na+/H+ antiport activity available to extrude the Na+ and to confer some initial protection in the face of a sudden upshift in external pH, i.e., before full induction of additional antiporters. Consistent with the inference that NhaC is a relatively high affinity, electrogenic Na+/H+ antiporter, N13 exhibited a defect in diffusion potential-energized efflux of 22Na+ from right-side-out membrane vesicles from cells that were preloaded with 2 mM Na+ and energized at pH 7.5. When the experiment was conducted with vesicles loaded with 25 mM Na+, comparable efflux was observed in preparations from all the strains.
The role of mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width in the prediction of placental abruption

Abstract We determined the role of mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) in the prediction of placental abruption (PA) prior to caesarean section. Data obtained between January 2011 and July 2014 from patients (n = 33) with PA and healthy control subjects (n = 67) matched for age- and gestation-stage were analysed. Pre-operative and post-operative MPV and PDW were significantly different between the PA and control groups when cut-off values for MPV were set at 9.23; sensitivity at 87.8% and specificity at 46.2%; positive predictive value (PPV) at 48.3%; and negative predictive value (NPV) at 90.0%. When the cut-off value for PDW was set at 18.5, the sensitivity was 100% and specificity 71.6%, PPV 40.7% and NPV 59.3% for the prediction of PA. MPV and PDW levels were significantly higher in cases of PA. These results suggest that clinical evaluation of MPV and PDW displays reasonable sensitivity and specificity as a marker of PA, prompting the need for more research in this area of clinical study.