Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Three‐dimensional mapping of the B1 field using an optimized phase‐based method: Application to hyperpolarized 3He in lungs

A novel method is presented for the three‐dimensional mapping of the B1‐field of a transmit radio‐frequency MR coil. The method is based on the acquisition of phase images, where the effective flip angle is encoded in the phase of the nonselective hard pulse excitation. The method involves the application of a rectangular composite pulse as excitation in a three‐dimensional gradient recall echo to produce measurable phase angle variation. However, such a pulse may significantly increase the radio‐frequency power deposition in excess of the standard acceptable SAR limits, imposing extremely long TRs (>100 msec), which would result in acquisition times significantly greater than a single breath‐hold. In this study, the phases of the radio‐frequency excitation are modified, resulting in a different pulse sequence scheme. It is shown that the new method increases sensitivity with respect to radio‐frequency inhomogeneities by up to 10 times, and reduces the total duration of the pulse so that three‐dimensional B1 mapping is possible with 3He in lungs within a single breath‐hold. Computer simulations demonstrate the increase in sensitivity. Phantom results with 1H MRI are used for validation. In vivo results are presented with hyperpolarized 3He in human lungs at 1.5T. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
How to solve smooth nonlinear pdes in algebras of generalized functionswith dense singularities

As a significant strengthening of properties of earlier algebras of generalized functions, here are presented classes of such algebras which can deal with dense singularities. In fact, the cardinal of the set of singularpoints can be large than that o the nonsingular points. This large class ofsingularities allows the solution of large classes of smooth nonlinear PDEs. This in certain way overcomes the celebrated 1957 H. Lewy impossibility result.
Triaryl-Substituted Schiff Bases Are High-Affinity Subtype-Selective Ligands for the Estrogen Receptor

We have explored the isoelectronic replacement of the C=C double bond found at the core of many nonsteroidal estrogen ligands with a simple Schiff base (C=N). Di- and triaryl-substituted imine derivatives were conveniently prepared by the condensation of benzophenones with various anilines without the need for phenolic hydroxy protection. Most of these imines demonstrated high affinity for the estrogen receptors, which, in some cases exceeded that of estradiol. In cell-based assays, these imines profiled as ERα agonists but as ERβ antagonists, showing preferential reliance on the N-terminal activation function (AF1), which is more active in ERα. X-ray analysis revealed that the triaryl-imines distort the ligand-binding pocket in a new way: by controlling the separation of helices 3 and 11, which appears to alter the C-terminal AF2 surface that binds transcriptional coactivators. This work suggests that C=N for C=C substitution might be more widely considered as a general strategy for preparing drug analogues.
The Animal Face of Early Modern England

This article is both a work of historical reconstruction and a theoretical intervention. It looks at some influential contemporary accounts of human-animal relations and outlines a body of ideas from the 17th century that challenges what is presented as representative of the past in posthumanist thinking. Indeed, this article argues that this alternative past is much more in keeping with the shifts that posthumanist ideas mark in their departure from humanism. Taking a journey through ways of thinking that will, perhaps, be unfamiliar, the revised vision of human-animal relations outlined here emerges not from a history of philosophy but from an archival study of people’s relationships with and understandings of their livestock in early modern England. At stake are conceptions of who we are and who we might have been, and the relation between those two, and the livestock on 17th-century smallholdings are our guides.
Mediatory Summary Generation: Summary-Passage Extraction for Information Credibility on the Web

In this paper, we discuss the summarization for supporting a user’s judgment on the credibility of information on the Web. In general, if a statement contradicts another statement, the credibility of either of the statements decreases. However, these opposing statements may coexist under certain situations, and presenting such situations is helpful for a user’s judgment. Therefore, we focus on the coexistence of these opposing statements, and attempt to develop a system to generate survey reports that contain mediatory summaries, which are defined as passages extracted from Web documents in order to present situations in which these opposing statements can coexist. We describe the outline of the summarization system and describe how to improve the TextRank algorithm from the viewpoint of passage extraction for the system. From experimental results, we confirmed that the methods based on the improved TextRank algorithm can extract significant passages, which are actually considered as significant by human assessors, with higher precision than baseline methods.
Crystal Structure of a Putative Cytochrome P450 Alkane Hydroxylase (CYP153D17) from Sphingomonas sp. PAMC 26605 and Its Conformational Substrate Binding

Enzymatic alkane hydroxylation reactions are useful for producing pharmaceutical and agricultural chemical intermediates from hydrocarbons. Several cytochrome P450 enzymes catalyze the regio- and stereo-specific hydroxylation of alkanes. We evaluated the substrate binding of a putative CYP alkane hydroxylase (CYP153D17) from the bacterium Sphingomonas sp. PAMC 26605. Substrate affinities to C10–C12 n-alkanes and C10–C14 fatty acids with Kd values varied from 0.42 to 0.59 μM. A longer alkane (C12) bound more strongly than a shorter alkane (C10), while shorter fatty acids (C10, capric acid; C12, lauric acid) bound more strongly than a longer fatty acid (C14, myristic acid). These data displayed a broad substrate specificity of CYP153D17, hence it was named as a putative CYP alkane hydroxylase. Moreover, the crystal structure of CYP153D17 was determined at 3.1 Å resolution. This is the first study to provide structural information for the CYP153D family. Structural analysis showed that a co-purified alkane-like compound bound near the active-site heme group. The alkane-like substrate is in the hydrophobic pocket containing Thr74, Met90, Ala175, Ile240, Leu241, Val244, Leu292, Met295, and Phe393. Comparison with other CYP structures suggested that conformational changes in the β1–β2, α3–α4, and α6–α7 connecting loop are important for incorporating the long hydrophobic alkane-like substrate. These results improve the understanding of the catalytic mechanism of CYP153D17 and provide valuable information for future protein engineering studies.
Psoriasis-Specific RNA Isoforms Identified by RNA-Seq Analysis of 173,446 Transcripts

Background Several studies have been published that investigated potential links between transcriptome changes and psoriasis using microarrays and RNA-seq technologies, but no previous study has analyzed expression profile of alternatively spliced transcripts in psoriasis. Objectives Identification of potential alternatively spliced RNA isoforms with disease-specific expression profile. Methods Using our published RNA sequencing data from lesional psoriatic (LP), non-lesional psoriatic (NLP), and normal control skin (C), we analyzed the differential expression of RNA splicing variants. LP sample was compared with NLP, as was LP with C and NLP with C. Results Transcript-based annotation analyzed 173,446 transcripts (RNA isoforms), and around 9,000 transcripts were identified as differentially expressed between study groups. Several previously undescribed RNA variants were found. For instance, transcript ETV3_3 (ENST00000326786) was significantly downregulated in LP and NLP skin. ETV3 is a transcriptional repressor that contributes to the downstream anti-inflammatory effects of IL-10. We also identified diseases-specific transcripts (S100A7A, IL36RN_4, and IL36G_3) of genes already recognized to be involved in inflammation and immune response. Conclusion Psoriasis is characterized by significant differences in the expression of RNA alternative isoforms. Description of these new isoforms improves our knowledge about this complex disease.
Treatment and Mortality in Men with Localized Prostate Cancer: A Population-Based Study in California

Purpose: To provide patients and physicians with population-based estimates of mortality from prostate cancer or other causes depending upon the primary treatment modality, stratified by patient age, tumor stage and grade. Methods: We conducted a 10-year competing-risk analysis of 45,440 men diagnosed with clinically localized (T1 or T2) prostate cancer in California during 1995-1998. Information on patient characteristics, primary treatment and cause of death was obtained from the California Cancer Registry. Results: In this population-based cohort, the most common primary treatment was surgery (40.4%), followed by radio- therapy (29.1%), conservative management (20.8%), and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) monotherapy (9.8%). Pros- tate cancer mortality differed significantly (p < 0.0001) across treatment groups among patients <80 years at diagnosis with moderately or poorly differentiated disease; the 10-year disease-specific mortality rates were generally highest for men treated with ADT monotherapy (range: 3.3% (95% CI=0.8-12.5%) to 53.8% (95% CI=34.4-72.2%)), intermediate for men treated with conservative management (range: 1.7% (95% CI=0.7-4.6%) to 30.0% (95% CI=16.2-48.8%) or radio- therapy (range: 3.2% (95% CI=1.8-5.5%) to 18.3% (95% CI=15.1-22.0%)), and lowest for men treated with surgery (range: 1.2% (95% CI=0.8-1.7%) to 11.0% (95% CI=8.4-14.2%)). Conclusion: The cause-specific mortality estimates provided by this observational study can help patients and physicians better understand the expected long-term outcomes of localized prostate cancer given the initial treatment choice and prac- tice patterns in the general population.
Management Education as Intentional Learning: A Knowledge-Transforming Approach to Written Composition

Philosopher Alfred North Whitehead long ago warned educators of the danger in teaching "inert ideas"—propositional knowledge that students can express but not use. In the context of management education, this article elaborates differences between the traditional model of instruction, which is teacher-centered and focuses on content knowledge, and the more contemporary model, which is meaning-centered and focuses on merging knowledge, thinking, and learning to enhance students' problem-solving skills. This article discusses an approach to teaching that fosters intentional learning, using knowledge as the means rather than the end, which helps students build their own knowledge structures. Finally, writing assignments that are explicitly knowledge transforming rather than knowledge telling illustrate ways of advancing intentional learning skills.
The vascular endothelium masks the persistent inhibition of rat thoracic arterial tone induced by S-nitrosoglutathione

Aim In endothelium-denuded arteries, the nitric oxide (NO) donor S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) induced a persistent hypo-reactivity to vasoconstrictors, and low-molecular weight thiols such as N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) produced a relaxant effect. These effects were attributed to the formation of vascular NO stores. In arteries with a functional endothelium, such long-lasting effects on arterial tone have not been well characterised. In this study, we proposed to examine the possibility of storing exogenous NO when the vascular endothelium is still able to produce its own NO. Methods For this purpose, changes in isometric tension of isolated arteries were assessed in organ chambers, and nitrosothiol formation was characterised by confocal microscopy. Results In rat aortic rings with endothelium pre-exposed to GSNO, the contractile response to norepinephrine (NE) was not attenuated in comparison with control rings, but NAC induced a relaxant effect. However, an attenuation of the response to NE was observed in GSNO-exposed, intact aortic rings after inhibition of NO synthase by Nw-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME) or in GSNO-denuded rings. The relaxing effects of NAC were due to the mobilisation of NO from nitrosothiols after nitrosylation of protein SH residues. Moreover, the hypo-reactivity to NE and the relaxant effect of NAC were abolished by 1H-[1,2,4] oxadiazolo(4,3-a)quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), an inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclase, and partially by the K+-sensitive channel inhibitor tetra-ethyl-ammonium (TEA). Conclusion These data show that endothelium-derived NO masked the persistent effect of GSNO in rat thoracic aorta. However, the ability of GSNO to form releasable NO stores without altering the vascular tone can be particularly useful in preventing endothelial dysfunction in which NO formation decreases.
Retention of laryngoscopy skills in medical students – a reply

Hunter et al. used a variety of laryngoscopes with different shapes and configurations to assess the retention skills of laryngoscopy among novice students [1]. Videolaryngoscopes undoubtedly improve the laryngoscopic view and are increasingly being used in patients with a difficult airway. However, the efficacy, learning curve or skill retention of one laryngoscope cannot be similar to the other, especially while comparing chanelled with non-chanelled blades, or Macintosh blades with acutely curved blades. Both the CMAC-D blade and AP Advance difficult airway blade have exaggerated blade curvatures. The CMAC-D blade has an 80degree angulation compared with the conventional CMAC [2]. The AP Advance difficult airway blade also has an acute curve compared with conventional blades. Previous studies have reported longer intubation time with more curved blades, due to difficulties in negotiating the tracheal tube through the glottic aperture [3, 4]. Can I ask the authors why they chose CMAC-D and AP Advance difficult airway blade instead of the conventional CMAC or AP Advance Macintosh blades? Using a conventional CMAC blade in the trial might have clarified whether difficulties in skill retention are attributable to the exaggerated blade angulation. Do the authors think that their finding of comparable intubation times with the CMAC-D, AP Advance difficult airway and Macintosh blades in the first session of their study would differ when used by novices, who might struggle with any blade, irrespective of the shape and configuration?
Sustainable Assessment: Rethinking assessment for the learning society

Assessment practices in higher education institutions tend not to equip students well for the processes of effective learning in a learning society. The purposes of assessment should be extended to include the preparation of students for sustainable assessment. Sustainable assessment encompasses the abilities required to undertake those activities that necessarily accompany learning throughout life in formal and informal settings. Characteristics of effective formative assessment identified by recent research are used to illustrate features of sustainable assessment. Assessment acts need both to meet the specific and immediate goals of a course as well as establishing a basis for students to undertake their own assessment activities in the future. To draw attention to the importance of this, the idea that assessment always has to do double duty is introduced.
Accurate profile extraction and mapping by intelligent processing of ultrasonic range data

A novel technique is described that employs intelligent processing of multiple ultrasonic range measurements for accurate surface profile extraction and mapping. It aims to overcome the intrinsic angular uncertainty of ultrasonic sensors, as well as eliminating noise and crosstalk related misreadings. Experimental verification is provided where the ultrasonic range data is acquired through wall following. The technique is evaluated based on three complementary error criteria. Compared to the most recently reported arc-transversal median algorithm, the proposed technique provides about 50% smaller mean absolute error, 28-50% higher correct detection of pixels as full and empty, and 10-15 times smaller CPU time, which is less than a tenth of a second. The method is also superior in eliminating artefacts.
Developing an environmentally appropriate, socially acceptable and gender-sensitive technology for safe-water supply to households in arsenic affected areas in rural Bangladesh

This paper presents the assessment and comparison of three community based pipeline drinking water supply systems in Bangladesh. Since the deep aquifers are identified in most parts of Bangladesh as arsenic free water, with assistance of donor agencies the governmental and nongovernmental organizations, have been constructing communitybased deep tube wells and community-based pipeline water supply systems in rural areas to provide safe water from arsenic-free deep aquifers. Although the installation of deep tube wells are a preferable alternative option, the community based pipeline water supply systems play an important roles in supplying arsenic-free safe water to arsenic-affected rural people. In this study, a comparison was carried out of three programs for communitybased pipeline water supply located in severely arsenic affected areas in Bangladesh. Efficacy, management, sustainability and social appropriateness of the three programs were analyzed. Since access to safe water is an important practical gender need of women that directly relates to their domestic and reproductive role, the compatibility and appropriateness of the systems were viewed from a gender perspective. The study was conducted based on literature reviews, observation of the three water pumping systems, interviews and focus group discussions with beneficiaries of the water supply systems and relevant representatives of the implementing agencies. Study findings indicated that the community-based pipeline water systems were successful in providing arsenic-safe drinking water and were within the affordability of the rural community, as 8090 percent of the cost was subsidized by the government and only 10-20 percent was contributed by the users. The people concerned considered pipe water an acceptable and robust option for water access. The system was found to gender-friendly, convenient and providing equal access to the beneficiaries. Beneficiaries, particularly women, appreciated the use of the piped water supply system because the water is easy to collect, collecting water is not time consuming, and the physical burden is less compared to fetching water from deep tube wells or other sources. There are some drawbacks and challenges for community-based pipeline water supply systems, such as power failures, which stop the water supply to the community due
An immunohistochemical analysis of the neuroprotective effects of memantine, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and brimonidine after acute ischemia reperfusion injury

Purpose This study applies treatment methods to rat retinas subjected to acute ischemia reperfusion injury and compares the efficacy of memantine, hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy, and brimonidine by histopathological examination. Methods Thirty adult Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups after retinal ischemia was induced by elevating the intraocular pressure to 120 mmHg. The groups were as follows: group 1: control; group 2: acute retinal ischemia (ARI) model but without treatment group; group 3: memantine (MEM) treatment group; group 4: HBO therapy group; and group 5: brimonidine treatment (BRI) group. In the control group, right eyes were cannulated with a 30-gauge needle and removed without causing any intraocular pressure change. The ARI group was an acute retinal ischemia model, but without treatment. In the MEM group, animals were given a unique dose of intravenous 25 mg/kg memantine by the tail vein route after inducing ARI. In the HBO group, at 2 h following ARI, HBO treatment was applied for nine days. In the BRI group, a 0.15% brimonidine tartrate eye drop treatment was applied twice a day (BID) for seven days before ARI. Twenty-one days after establishing ischemia reperfusion, the right eyes were enucleated after the cardiac gluteraldehyde perfusion method, and then submitted to histological evaluation. Results On average, the total retinal ganglion cell number was 239.93±8.60 in the control group, 125.14±7.18 in the ARI group, 215.89±8.36 in the MEM group, 208.69±2.05 in the HBO group, and 172.27±8.16 in the BRI group. Mean apoptotic indexes in the groups were 1.1±0.35%, 57.71±0.58%, 23.57±1.73%, 15.63±0.58%, and 29.37±2.55%, respectively. Conclusions The present study shows that memantine, HBO, and brimonidine therapies were effective in reducing the damage induced by acute ischemia reperfusion in the rat retina. Our study suggests that these treatments had beneficial effects due to neuroprotection, and therefore may be applied in clinical practice.
Non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia: two case reports and a short review of the literature

Abstract Introduction: Non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) is an infrequent cause of acute mesenteric ischemia with atypical symptoms and a high mortality. Patients and methods: We report two cases of NOMI characterized by their difference in etiology, treatment and outcome. Results: In the first case, the patient developed NOMI after septic shock, she was successfully treated with surgery. The second patient experienced two episodes of cardiac arrest followed by NOMI. He received only supportive care and died shortly after. We present a short review of the literature, discussing epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentations, diagnosis and management of NOMI. Conclusion: NOMI is a rare disease with a difficult diagnosis. Early recognition and treatment with supportive therapy, vasodilator drugs and possibly surgery can significantly lower mortality.
A compressed sensing perspective of hippocampal function

Hippocampus is one of the most important information processing units in the brain. Input from the cortex passes through convergent axon pathways to the downstream hippocampal subregions and, after being appropriately processed, is fanned out back to the cortex. Here, we review evidence of the hypothesis that information flow and processing in the hippocampus complies with the principles of Compressed Sensing (CS). The CS theory comprises a mathematical framework that describes how and under which conditions, restricted sampling of information (data set) can lead to condensed, yet concise, forms of the initial, subsampled information entity (i.e., of the original data set). In this work, hippocampus related regions and their respective circuitry are presented as a CS-based system whose different components collaborate to realize efficient memory encoding and decoding processes. This proposition introduces a unifying mathematical framework for hippocampal function and opens new avenues for exploring coding and decoding strategies in the brain.