Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Parallel imaging with asymmetric acceleration to reduce Gibbs artifacts and to increase signal‐to‐noise ratio of the gradient echo echo‐planar imaging sequence for functional MRI

Parallel imaging with accelerated acquisition was noted to pronounce Gibbs artifacts which appear as ripples propagated in the phase‐encoding (PE) direction near the susceptibility‐affected region in echo‐planar imaging (EPI). Using the extended EPI sequence, which collected extended readouts outside the regular data sampling time, the pronounced Gibbs artifact was analyzed and found to be caused by an increased echo shift in the pre‐echo time (TE) of accelerated parallel imaging. This was also confirmed by theoretical derivation of the echo shift caused by the inplane susceptibility gradient in the PE direction (ISGPE). A new EPI sequence was developed to reduce the Gibbs artifact and to restore the signal level toward that of nonaccelerated parallel imaging by asymmetrically accelerating only the post‐TE sampling time and by using the extended EPI in the pre‐TE. The nonaccelerated portion in the pre‐TE used the delay for the optimum blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) sensitivity at 3 T, maintaining the same slice coverage as the symmetrical acceleration in both pre‐TE and post‐TE. The increased data sampling points resulted in an increase of the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR). The restored signal and enhanced SNR of the proposed method were confirmed to deliver a better BOLD functional MRI (fMRI) result in the breath holding experiment. Magn Reson Med, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Development of a Speaker Discrimination Test for Cochlear Implant Users Based on the Oldenburg Logatome Corpus

The purpose of the study was to develop a speaker discrimination test for cochlear implant (CI) users. The speech material was drawn from the Oldenburg Logatome (OLLO) corpus, which contains 150 different logatomes read by 40 German and 10 French native speakers. The prototype test battery included 120 logatome pairs spoken by 5 male and 5 female speakers with balanced representations of the conditions ‘same speaker’ and ‘different speaker’. Ten adult normal-hearing listeners and 12 adult postlingually deafened CI users were included in a study to evaluate the suitability of the test. The mean speaker discrimination score for the CI users was 67.3% correct and for the normal-hearing listeners 92.2% correct. A significant influence of voice gender and fundamental frequency difference on the speaker discrimination score was found in CI users as well as in normal-hearing listeners. Since the test results of the CI users were significantly above chance level and no ceiling effect was observed, we conclude that subsets of the OLLO corpus are very well suited to speaker discrimination experiments in CI users.
Comparative study on the effects of various plant growth regulators on growth, quality and physiology of Capsicum annuum L.

Pre- and post-harvest physiology and quality responses of green pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv ‘Standar p.13/0211003-01-Agris’) on exogenous Gibberellic acid-GA3 (100 μM), ProhexadioneCalcium (100 mg l -1 ), Cycocel (100 mg l -1 ) and Ethephon (100 mg l -1 ) applied as foliar sprays, were investigated. Among PGRs, GA3 @ 100μM was effective in promoting flowering and better for vegetative characteristics. Chlorophyll a+b concentration of leaves was markedly inhibited by GA3, Prohexadione-Calcium, Cycocel and Ethephon application while, the maximum quantum yield of primary photochemistry (Fv/Fm) and the ratio Fv/Fo was slightly increased under GA3. The above indices were significantly depressed under Cycocel, Ethephon and Prohexadione-Calcium. CO2 production pattern was negatively related with chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fo) yield and ascorbic acid content. The Brix content and the “maturity index” were depressed after ProhexadioneCalcium, Cycocel and Ethephon application. In general, the best green pepper appearance was found under control and GA3 whereas, pre- and post-harvest physiology and quality characteristics dropped sharply and green peppers were not marketable under the three growth retardants.
Reactions of the herb and moss layer, tree saplings and the shrub layer to tree deaths in forests of the Wielkopolska National Park (Western Poland)

This study examines the impact of canopy and canopy gaps on the development of lower forest layers in five protected phytocoenoses of oak-hornbeam habitats (natural and regeneration stands) and oak-pine habitats in the Wielkopolska National Park (WPN). In the studied forests the most common form of dead trees are those which are uprooted (45–59%), while the most frequently dying tree is pine (40–88%). The total area of gaps in relation to the studied forest area ranges from 329 to 2356 m2/ha.The study reaches the following key conclusions. Gaps do not affect bryophyte richness and cover. The impact of gaps on the herb layer is not uniform for the investigated forests. Gaps often, though not in all cases, cause a significant increase in the total herb layer cover, vascular antrophophyte cover, vascular species richness and a greater H′ diversity. Change in the cover of grasses and lianas to the thinning are not statistically significant. The greatest increase was observed in perennial herbs (mainly dicotyledones). In tree stands under regeneration change gaps are characterized by a rising cover of woody perennials and pioneer species of the Rubus genus. The increase in the herb layer cover does not diminish the cover of tree seedlings. To generalize: differences in the herb layer between the canopy and gaps are greater for forests of oak-hornbeam habitats than for oak-pine forest. The strength of the influence of light gaps on the herb layer is determined by such traits of the pytocoenoses as: density, species composition of tree stand, overshadowing abilities of species present in the canopy, domination or co-domination of one or two species in the herb layer.
Thomas Lidbetter Search games with multiple hidden objects

We consider a class of zero-sum search games in which a Searcher seeks to minimize the expected time to find several objects hidden by a Hider. We begin by analyzing a game in which the Searcher wishes to find k balls hidden among n > k boxes. There is a known cost of searching each box, and the Searcher seeks to minimize the total expected cost of finding all the objects in the worst case. We show that it is optimal for the Searcher to begin by searching a k-subset H of boxes with probability ν(H), which is proportional to the product of the search costs of the boxes in H. The Searcher should then search the n− k remaining boxes in a random order. A worst-case Hider distribution is the distribution ν. We distinguish between the case of a smart Searcher who can change his search plan as he goes along and a normal Searcher who has to set out his plan from the beginning. We show that a smart Searcher has no advantage. We then show how the game can be formulated in terms of a more general network search game, and we give upper and lower bounds for the value of the game on an arbitrary network. For 2-arc connected networks (networks that cannot be disconnected by the removal of fewer than two arcs), we solve the game for a smart Searcher and give an upper bound on the value for a normal Searcher. This bound is tight if the network is a circle.
Pipeline constraints in wholesale natural gas markets : effects on regional pricing and market integration

Natural gas markets in the United States depend on an extensive network of pipelines to transport gas from production fields to end users. While these pipelines are essential for the operation of natural gas markets, their capacity sets a physical limit on the quantity of gas that can be moved between regions. Taking advantage of a rich data set of daily pipeline capacities and flows, this thesis tests the effects of binding pipeline constraints directly. It is found that these constraints affect the citygate prices for the Florida and Southern California markets. The Law of One Price is tested using cointegration techniques and found to hold when pipeline flows are not constrained, and break down during constrained periods. It is also shown that cointegration techniques may not identify bottlenecks between regions when bottlenecks are not severe, or when they only occur for limited periods of time. Contrary to earlier results, Southern California markets are found to be integrated with the national market. Cointegration tests using data from 14 market points suggest that regional wholesale natural gas markets in the United States are generally integrated into a national market.
Pharmacological assessment of the contribution of the arterial baroreflex to sympathetic discharge patterns in healthy humans.

To study how changes in baroreceptor afferent activity affect patterns of sympathetic neural activation, we manipulated arterial blood pressure with intravenous nitroprusside (NTP) and phenylephrine (PE) and measured action potential (AP) patterns with wavelet-based methodology. We hypothesized that 1) baroreflex unloading (NTP) would increase firing of low-threshold axons and recruitment of latent axons and 2) baroreflex loading (PE) would decrease firing of low-threshold axons. Heart rate (HR, ECG), arterial blood pressure (BP, brachial catheter), and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA, microneurography of peroneal nerve) were measured at baseline and during steady-state systemic, intravenous NTP (0.5-1.2 µg·kg-1·min-1, n = 13) or PE (0.2-1.0 µg·kg-1·min-1, n = 9) infusion. BP decreased and HR and integrated MSNA increased with NTP ( P < 0.01). AP incidence (326 ± 66 to 579 ± 129 APs/100 heartbeats) and AP content per integrated burst (8 ± 1 to 11 ± 2 APs/burst) increased with NTP ( P < 0.05). The firing probability of low-threshold axons increased with NTP, and recruitment of high-threshold axons was observed (22 ± 3 to 24 ± 3 max cluster number, 9 ± 1 to 11 ± 1 clusters/burst; P < 0.05). BP increased and HR and integrated MSNA decreased with PE ( P < 0.05). PE decreased AP incidence (406 ± 128 to 166 ± 42 APs/100 heartbeats) and resulted in fewer unique clusters (15 ± 2 to 9 ± 1 max cluster number, P < 0.05); components of an integrated burst (APs or clusters per burst) were not altered ( P > 0.05). These data support a hierarchical pattern of sympathetic neural activation during manipulation of baroreceptor afferent activity, with rate coding of active neurons playing the predominant role and recruitment/derecruitment of higher-threshold units occurring with steady-state hypotensive stress. NEW & NOTEWORTHY To study how changes in baroreceptor afferent activity affect patterns of sympathetic neural activation, we manipulated arterial blood pressure with intravenous nitroprusside and phenylephrine and measured sympathetic outflow with wavelet-based methodology. Baroreflex unloading increased sympathetic activity by increasing firing probability of low-threshold axons (rate coding) and recruiting new populations of high-threshold axons. Baroreflex loading decreased sympathetic activity by decreasing the firing probability of larger axons (derecruitment); however, the components of an integrated burst were unaffected.
Cytoplasmic overexpression of RNA‐binding protein HuR is a marker of poor prognosis in meningioma, and HuR knockdown decreases meningioma cell growth and resistance to hypoxia

HuR regulates cytoplasmic mRNA stability and translatability, and the HuR expression level has been shown to correlate with poor disease outcome in several cancer types; however, the prognostic value and potential pro‐oncogenic properties of HuR in meningioma remain unclear. Thus, in the present study, we analysed 85 meningioma tissue samples to establish the relationship between HuR expression, tumour cell proliferation, and/or patient survival. In addition, we examined the anti‐proliferative effects of HuR knockdown in two meningioma cell lines (IOMM‐Lee and Ben‐Men‐1) and conducted transcriptome‐wide analyses (IOMM‐Lee cells) to elucidate the molecular consequences of HuR knockdown. The results of the present study showed HuR cytoplasmic expression to correlate positively with tumour grade (p = 1.2 × 10−8) and negatively with progression‐free and overall survival (p = 0.01) time in human meningioma tissues. In vitro, siHuR‐induced HuR knockdown was shown to reduce the growth of both Ben‐Men‐1 (p = 2 × 10−8) and IOMM‐Lee (p = 4 × 10−9) cells. Transcriptome analyses revealed HuR knockdown in IOMM‐Lee cells to deregulate the HIF1A signalling pathway (p = 1.5 × 10−6) and to up‐regulate the expression of genes essential for the assembly of the cytoplasmic mRNA processing body, global genome nucleotide‐excision repair, poly(A)‐specific ribonuclease activity, the positive regulation of apoptosis and of cell cycle arrest, and the negative regulation of RNA splicing [p(FDR) < 0.001]. Interestingly, HuR knockdown under hypoxic culture conditions further potentiated the effects of HuR knockdown on cell growth, apoptosis, and HIF1A expression. We thus conclude that cytoplasmic HuR expression is a marker of poor prognosis in meningioma and that HuR is a promising potential therapeutic target for use in tumours refractory to standard therapies. Copyright © 2017 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Panel-based stratified cluster sampling and analysis for photovoltaic outdoor measurements

We study a stratified multisite cluster-sampling panel time series approach in order to analyse and evaluate the quality and reliability of produced items, motivated by the problem to sample and analyse multisite outdoor measurements from photovoltaic systems. The specific stratified sampling in spatial clusters reduces sampling costs and allows for heterogeneity as well as for the analysis of spatial correlations due to defects and damages that tend to occur in clusters. The analysis is based on weighted least squares using data-dependent weights. We show that this does not affect consistency and asymptotic normality of the least squares estimator under the proposed sampling design under general conditions. The estimation of the relevant variance–covariance matrices is discussed in detail for various models including nested designs and random effects. The strata corresponding to damages or manufacturers are modelled via a quality feature by means of a threshold approach. The analysis of outdoor electroluminescence images shows that spatial correlations and local clusters may arise in such photovoltaic data. Further, relevant statistics such as the mean pixel intensity cannot be assumed to follow a Gaussian law. We investigate the proposed inferential tools in detail by simulations in order to assess the influence of spatial cluster correlations and serial correlations on the test's size and power.
Measurement, Optimization, and Impact of Health Care Accessibility: A Methodological Review

Despite spending more than any other nation on medical care per person, the United States ranks behind other industrialized nations in key health performance measures. A main cause is the deep disparities in access to care and health outcomes. Federal programs such as the designations of Medically Underserved Areas/Populations and Health Professional Shortage Areas are designed to boost the number of health professionals serving these areas and to help alleviate the access problem. Their effectiveness relies first and foremost on an accurate measure of accessibility so that resources can be allocated to truly needy areas. Various measures of accessibility need to be integrated into one framework for comparison and evaluation. Optimization methods can be used to improve the distribution and supply of health care providers to maximize service coverage, minimize travel needs of patients, limit the number of facilities, and maximize health or access equality. Inequality in health care access comes at a personal and societal price, evidenced in disparities in health outcomes, including late-stage cancer diagnosis. This review surveys recent literature on the three named issues with emphasis on methodological advancements and implications for public policy.
Pharmacological potential of Cytisus triflorus lâHÃ©rit. extractsas antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent

This work aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and the antioxidant activities of the hydroalcolic extract (HAEs) from aerial parts (stems and leaves separately) of an Algerianmedicinal plantCytisustriflorusL’Herit. The anti-inflammatory activity is evaluated by the carrageenan induced mice hind paw edema model. Oral administration of HAEs tested at the dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight produced significant decrease of the paw edema, in a dose dependant manner. HAEs of leaves and stems showed the maximum inhibitory effect (60,5% and 28,73 %, respectively) at the 4th hours for the 400 mg/kg dose. The plant extracts exhibited DPPH radical scavenging potential with IC50 values of 19,17μg/mland77,81μg/mlfor leaf and stem hydroalcolic extracts, respectively. The total amount of phenolic compounds and flavonoids accounted for 240 mg/g and 52.13 mg/g of the HAE from leaves and 166,5 mg/g and 16.82 mg/g of the HAE from stems, respectively, which were evaluated using the Follin-Ciocalteau and aluminium chloride methods, respectively. The results suggest that the HAEs from leaves of Cytisustriflorus may be considered as a good source of phytopharmaceutical anti-inflammatories.
Pediatric Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Review of Manifestations, Diagnosis and Management

Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a public complaint among adults with degenerated lumbar intervertebral discs. However, its incidence in childhood and adolescence is abundant. This dissimilarity designates that children are distant from being just little adults. Findings recommended that pediatric LDH is, in numerous ways, dissimilar from that in adults. The occurrence, the etiological and the diagnostic topographies of pediatric LDH have been entirely described in the text, while the features concerning the treatment have not been yet studied in details. It was confirmed that pediatric patients respond to conventional management less positively as matched with adults. Also, the consequences of the operation continued to be acceptable for at least 10 years after the first surgery, even though it seems to decline somewhat. The purpose of the current review is to offer a comparative view on the management of pediatric LDH.
Quantification of equine sacral and iliac motion during gait: a comparison between motion capture with skin-mounted and bone-fixated sensors.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY Information regarding movement at the ilium and sacrum in nonlame horses during normal gait may assist in understanding the biomechanics of the equine sacroiliac joint. OBJECTIVES To determine the amount and direction of motion at the ilium and sacrum using 3D orientation sensors during walk and trot in sound Thoroughbreds. To compare results from sensors fixed to the skin with results from sensors fixed to bone-implanted pins. METHODS Three 3D wireless orientation sensors were mounted to the skin over the tuber sacrale (TS) and sacrum of 6 horses and motion at the ilium and sacrum was recorded for lateral bending (LB) flexion-extension (F-E) and axial rotation (AR) during walk and trot. This process was repeated with the orientation sensors mounted to the same pelvic landmarks via Steinmann pins. RESULTS Mean walk values were greater than trot values using pin-mounted sensors for all planes of movement (P < 0.05). Walk had 1.64 ± 0.22° (mean ± s.e.) more LB than trot (pin-mounted) yet 0.68 ± 0.22° less than trot when skin-mounted; 3.45 ± 0.15° more F-E (pin- and skin-mounted), and 4.99 ± 0.4° more AR (pin-mounted), but trot had 3.4 ± 0.40° more AR than walk with skin mounting. Using pinned sensors for trot resulted in less LB (2.47 ± 0.22°), F-E (1.12 ± 0.15°) and AR (10.62 ± 0.40°); and for walk less F-E (1.12 ± 0.15°) and AR (2.15 ± 0.40°) compared to skin-mounted. Poor correlation existed between mean values for skin- and pin-mounted data for walk and trot, for all planes of motion. CONCLUSIONS Movements were smaller at trot with bone-fixated sensors compared to walk, suggesting increased muscular control of movement at the trot. The apparent increase in skin motion at the trot and no clear correlation between skin- and bone-mounted sensors indicates inaccuracies when measuring sacral and iliac movement with skin mounting.
Fermentation of polysaccharides by Klebsielleae and other facultative bacilli

Fermentations of 10 polysaccharides by species of the family Enterobacteriaceae were examined. Algin, guar, karaya, xanthan, and xylan were not fermented by any of the strains tested. Most of the activity was found in the tribe Klebsielleae. Klebsiella oxytoca fermented amylopectin (97% of the strains studied), carrageenan (100%), inulin (68%), polypectate (100%), and tragacanth (100%). Klebsiella pneumoniae fermented amylopectin (91%), carrageenan (100%), and tragacanth (86%). Carrageenan was also fermented by Enterobacter aerogenes (100%), Enterobacter agglomerans (63%), Enterobacter cloacae (95%), and Pectobacterium (38%). Pectobacterium shared polypectate fermentation (100%) with K. oxytoca. With one exception, Serratia strains were negative on all polysaccharides. These results, along with other evidence, indicate that (i) the genus Klebsiella is biochemically the most versatile genus of the tribe, (ii) because of its distinct characteristics, K. oxytoca warrants species designation separate from K. pneumoniae, and (iii) some food additives generally considered indigestible can be metabolized by a few species of facultative bacilli, whereas others appear to be resistant.
Activation of the alternative complement pathway by Trichomonas vaginalis

The mechanism underlying the lysis of Trichomonas vaginalis by normal human or guinea pig serum was investigated. The involvement of the complement system was demonstrated by the failure of human serum deficient in C3 or C8 to mediate parasite killing and by the ablation of lytic activity observed when fresh sera were heated at 56 degrees C or treated with ethylenediaminetetraacetate. Fixation of human C3 on the parasite surface was demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence. The involvement of the alternative complement pathway was demonstrated (i) by the inability of properdin-depleted human serum to lyse T. vaginalis and (ii) by the normal killing observed with guinea pig serum lacking C4 and with normal human or guinea pig serum treated with ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N-tetraacetic acid and Mg2+ to selectively inhibit the classical pathway.
Rare Disasters, Credit and Option Market Puzzles

We embed systematic default, pro-cyclical recovery rates and habit persistence into a model with a slight possibility of a macroeconomic disaster of reasonable magnitude. We derive analytical solutions for defaultable bond prices and show that a single set of structural parameters calibrated to the real economy can simultaneously explain several key empirical regularities in equity, credit, and options markets. Our model captures the empirical level and volatility of credit spreads, generates a fl‡exible credit risk term structure, and provides a good fi…t to a century of observed spreads. The model also matches high-yield and CDO tranche spreads, equity market moments, and index option skewness. Finally, our model implies a time-varying relationship between bond and option prices that depends on the state of the economy and that explains the con‡flicting empirical evidence found in the literature.