Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Contrast‐enhanced first pass myocardial perfusion imaging: Correlation between myocardial blood flow in dogs at rest and during hyperemia

The sensitivity of contrast‐enhanced MR first pass perfusion imaging in detection and quantification of hypoperfused myocardium was evaluated using an instrumented, closed‐chest dog model where graded regional hypoperfusion was induced by applying predetermined levels of stenosis to the left anterior descending artery (LAD). All measurements were performed at rest and under stress induced by dipyridamole (DIP). Myocardial perfusion was assessed both with MR and radiolabeled microspheres injected immediately before the administration of the MR contrast agent. Ultrafast MR imaging was performed using a Turbo FLASH sequence with a 180° inversion prepulse. A Gd‐DTPA bolus was injected into the left atrium and T1‐weighted images were acquired with every heart beat. Signal intensity measured from the images in regions of the LAD and left circumflex (LCx) perfusion beds was plotted against time to generate signal intensity versus time curves (SI time curve). Various flow indices were derived according to the indicator dilution theory, and compared with and without volume correction due to vasodilation to the myocardial blood flow (MBF) calculated from radiolabeled microspheres. Correlation of the MR and MBF data demonstrated that different transmural and regional myocardial perfusion levels can be easily visualized in the perfusion images and accurately monitored by the SI time curves. Detection of the impairment of myocardial perfusion improved significantly after administration of DIP. The inverse mean transit time calculated from the SI time curve was found to yield a linear correlation to absolute MBF derived from the microsphere data. These results suggest that with intracardiac injections of exogenous contrast agent, myocardial perfusion can be assessed parametrically with first pass contrast enhanced ultrafast MRI.
Study of water molecules state in transformer oil via FT-IR spectrum and molecular dynamic simulation

Mineral transformer oil has been widely used in the power transformers due to its good insulating property and thermal conductivity. It is well-known that water molecules in the oil have detrimental effect on its conduction and breakdown strength and tend to cause accelerated aging of oil and paper insulation system. The relation of the total amount of water to the electrical properties of oil has been widely investigated. A turning point of moisture content has been found that beyond this point the abrupt decrease of AC breakdown strength of oil is alleviated and keep almost constant with the further increasing of moisture content. Water state in saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons and aromatic hydrocarbons have been studied and indicated that the state of water molecules is closely related to the electrical conductivity of hydrocarbons. Therefore, it is of great importance to investigate the water state in the mineral transformer oil with different moisture contents. In this paper, mineral transformer oil was treated at different humidity and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR) was used to characterize the water state of oil samples with different moisture contents. Moreover, the water state in the oil samples was investigated using a molecular dynamics simulation. By analyzing the formation of hydrogen bonds and the diffusion behavior of water molecules, it is found that the hydrogen bond energy is greatly changed by varying the moisture content of mineral oil, which lead to the change of the state of water clusters.
Video Games and Rehabilitation: Using Design Principles to Enhance Engagement in Physical Therapy

Patient nonadherence with therapy is a major barrier to rehabilitation. Recovery is often limited and requires prolonged, intensive rehabilitation that is time-consuming, expensive, and difficult. We review evidence for the potential use of video games in rehabilitation with respect to the behavioral, physiological, and motivational effects of gameplay. In this Special Interest article, we offer a method to evaluate effects of video game play on motor learning and their potential to increase patient engagement with therapy, particularly commercial games that can be interfaced with adapted control systems. We take the novel approach of integrating research across game design, motor learning, neurophysiology changes, and rehabilitation science to provide criteria by which therapists can assist patients in choosing games appropriate for rehabilitation. Research suggests that video games are beneficial for cognitive and motor skill learning in both rehabilitation science and experimental studies with healthy subjects. Physiological data suggest that gameplay can induce neuroplastic reorganization that leads to long-term retention and transfer of skill; however, more clinical research in this area is needed. There is interdisciplinary evidence suggesting that key factors in game design, including choice, reward, and goals, lead to increased motivation and engagement. We maintain that video game play could be an effective supplement to traditional therapy. Motion controllers can be used to practice rehabilitation-relevant movements, and well-designed game mechanics can augment patient engagement and motivation in rehabilitation. We recommend future research and development exploring rehabilitation-relevant motions to control games and increase time in therapy through gameplay. Video Abstract available (see Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A61) for more insights from the authors.
Thymic stromal lymphopoietin stimulates the formation of eosinophil extracellular traps

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) that is released by epithelial cells upon certain environmental triggers activates cells of the innate and adaptive immune system resulting in a preferential T helper 2 immune response. By releasing eosinophil extracellular traps (EETs), eosinophils achieve an efficient extracellular bacterial killing. Eosinophil extracellular traps release, however, has been observed in both infectious and noninfectious eosinophilic diseases. Here, we aim to investigate whether eosinophils generate functional EETs as a direct response to TSLP, and further to study the extra‐ and intracellular mechanisms involved in this process as well as TSLP receptor (TSLPR) expression by eosinophils in vitro and in vivo.
Evaluation of HCD- and CID-type Fragmentation Within Their Respective Detection Platforms For Murine Phosphoproteomics*

Protein phosphorylation modulates a myriad of biological functions, and its regulation is vital for proper cellular activity. Mass spectrometry is the enabling tool for phosphopeptide analysis, where recent instrumentation advances in both speed and sensitivity in linear ion trap and orbitrap technologies may yield more comprehensive phosphoproteomic analyses in less time. Protein phosphorylation analysis by MS relies on structural information derived through controlled peptide fragmentation. Compared with traditional, ion-trap-based collision-induced dissociation (CID), a more recent type of fragmentation termed HCD (higher energy collisional dissociation) provides beam type CID tandem MS with detection of fragment ions at high resolution in the orbitrap mass analyzer. Here we compared HCD to traditional CID for large-scale phosphorylation analyses of murine brain under three separate experimental conditions. These included a same-precursor analysis where CID and HCD scans were performed back-to-back, separate analyses of a phosphotyrosine peptide immunoprecipitation experiment, and separate whole phosphoproteome analyses. HCD generally provided higher search engine scores with more peptides identified, thus out-performing CID for back-to-back experiments for most metrics tested. However, for phosphotyrosine IPs and in a full phosphoproteome study of mouse brain, the greater acquisition speed of CID-only analyses provided larger data sets. We reconciled our results with those in direct contradiction from Nagaraj N, D'Souza RCJ et al. (J. Proteome Res. 9:6786, 2010). We conclude, for large-scale phosphoproteomics, CID fragmentation with rapid detection in the ion trap still produced substantially richer data sets, but the back-to-back experiments demonstrated the promise of HCD and orbitrap detection for the future.
Controlled release gelatin hydrogels and lyophilisates with potential application as ocular inserts

Hydrogels and lyophilisates were obtained by chemical crosslinking of gelatin using N-hydroxysuccinimide and N, N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride. The systems were characterized with respect to the degree of crosslinking, morphology, water uptake, in vitro drug release and biocompatibility studies. Pilocarpine hydrochloride, a drug for the treatment of glaucoma, was loaded by soaking in an aqueous solution containing the drug. In vitro, the released drug percentage varied between 29.2% and 99.2% in 8 h of study. The release data were fitted to the Korsmeyer–Peppas equation to calculate the release exponent, which indicated anomalous transport for the release of pilocarpine. The corneal endothelial cell culture tests indicated that the prepared biomaterials are not cytotoxic.
Influence of levetiracetame on ictal and postictal EEG in patients with partial seizures

To investigate the influence of levetiracetame (LEV) treatment on the interhemispheric seizure pattern propagation and postictal recovery of electroencephalography (EEG) background activity. Twenty‐three adult patients (age > 16 years) with pharmacoresistant focal epilepsies presenting at the Epilepsy Center Erlangen for pre‐surgical evaluation were enrolled in the study. Those eligible patients receiving only one antiepileptic drugs were recruited to the 48‐h baseline phase and, after at least two seizures, were randomized to the 7‐day treatment phase with either LEV (n = 11) or placebo (n = 12). All participants were submitted to continuous day‐and‐night video‐EEG monitoring. The daily dose of LEV was 1000 mg (500 mg bid.) on the first treatment day and was increased to 2000 mg (1000 mg bid.) from the second day onward. The EEG changes relating to the time delay of the interhemispheric seizure pattern propagation and to the postictal recovery of the background activity were analysed by computerized video‐EEG recording and compared using the non‐parameter Mann–Whitney U‐exact test (α = 0.05). A prolonged latency of the contralateral seizure pattern propagation was observed in the LEV group, whereas a more rapid propagation was observed in the placebo group (P = 0.009). Postictal generalized slowing of the background activity was recorded in 21 patients during the baseline phase. More rapid postictal recovery of the EEG background activity was observed in the LEV, but not in the placebo group (P = 0.03). This study demonstrated that LEV not only prevented the seizure pattern propagation but also helped the speedy recovery of the postictal background activity in the EEG.
Flow cytometric detection of perforin upregulation in human CD8 T cells

Perforin and granzymes work synergistically to induce apoptosis in target cells recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. While perforin is readily detectable by flow cytometry in resting CD8 T cells, upregulation of perforin in activated cells is thought to require proliferation. However, perforin undergoes numerous conformational changes during its maturation, which may affect the ability of conventional antibodies to recognize newly synthesized perforin. Polychromatic flow cytometry was used to detect perforin and cytokine production following stimulation of ex vivo human CD8 T cells. Two different anti‐perforin antibodies, clones B‐D48 and δG9, were used to discriminate various forms of perforin after cellular activation. We provide evidence for the rapid upregulation of perforin protein, which may contribute to the ability of CD8 T cells to kill multiple targets over time. The δG9 clone recognizes the granule‐associated conformation of perforin, while the B‐D48 clone is able to detect perforin in multiple forms. Finally, we show there is variability in the ability of CD8 T cells to upregulate perforin. Human CD8 T cells are capable of new perforin production immediately following activation. This work defines a novel flow cytometric procedure that can be used to more completely assess the cytotoxic capacity of human CD8 T cells. © 2008 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Enhancing online power estimation accuracy for smartphones

This paper proposes an advanced online power estimation technique for multi-core smartphones. The proposed technique models each hardware component's power behavior, considering the component's power consumption characteristics. Our evaluation results show that the proposed technique has high accuracy (92.8%~97.2%) for applications in our evaluations, enough to be used in real smartphones.
Migraine and erythrocyte biology: a review

Migraine is a common disabling headache disorder that is conventionally classified according to the presence or absence of aura. The pathogenesis of this disorder entails a complex interplay of neurovascular factors, that trigger reduction of cerebral blood flow followed by reactive vasodilatation. Despite major emphasis has been placed on the investigation of putative biomarkers that could predict response to specific treatments and prophylaxis, less focus has been directed at the association between migraine and erythrocytosis. Erythrocytosis is typically accompanied by hyperviscosity, that is now considered a crucial determinant in the pathogenesis of migraine. The results of some epidemiological investigations are in substantial agreement to confirm the existence of a significant relationship between increased haemoglobin levels and migraine, whereas some case reports have also reported an effective improvement of symptoms after reduction of erythrocyte count by therapeutic venesection. Interesting evidence has recently emerged from the assessment of red blood cell distribution width (RDW), a simple and inexpensive measure of anysocytosis that has been also associated with a variety of ischaemic and thrombotic disorders other than migraine. The aim of this review was to provide an overview of the current clinical and epidemiological evidence linking migraine and erythrocyte biology.
Which indwelling urethral catheters resist encrustation by Proteus mirabilis biofilms?

OBJECTIVE To test the resistance of currently available types of indwelling urethral catheters to blockage by encrustation with mineralized Proteus mirabilis biofilms. MATERIALS AND METHODS Encrustation was studied in a simple laboratory model of the catheterized bladder. Artificial urine was supplied to the bladder chamber at 0.5 mL/min. The bladder urine was inoculated with a clinical strain of P. mirabilis that had been isolated from an encrusted catheter. The models were operated until the catheters blocked and atomic absorption spectrometry was used to assess the amounts of calcium and magnesium deposited on the catheters. Scanning electron microscopy was also used to locate and assess the degree of encrustation. RESULTS The mean times to blockage ranged from 21 h for the Bard hydrogel/silver-coated latex catheter to 56 h for the Eschmann Folatex S all-silicone catheter. The calcium and magnesium salts were mainly deposited on the 10 cm below the eye-holes of the catheters, complete blockage generally occurring in the 2 cm immediately below the eye-hole. CONCLUSION None of the 18 types of catheter tested, including those coated with hydrogel or silver, were capable of resisting encrustation by P. mirabilis biofilm.
Failure of Bacteroides gingivalis W83 to accumulate bound C3 following opsonization with serum.

Our previous studies have demonstrated that strains of Bacteroides gingivalis are capable of proteolytic degradation and inactivation of complement proteins including the third component of complement C3. Since a crucial step in the ability of complement to control bacterial infections is the binding of C3 fragments to the bacterial surface with subsequent enhancement of phagocytosis, further examination of the importance of the proteolytic capacity of Bacteroides in interactions with complement proteins was carried out by quantitating the amount of C3 bound to two proteolytic Bacteroides gingivalis strains. Pooled normal human serum (NHS) containing 125I-C3 was incubated with strains of B. gingivalis (W83 and ATCC 33277) and the non-proteolytic pathogen A. actinomycetemcomitans strain Y4, and samples of the reaction mixtures were removed at various time intervals for determination of bound C3. B. gingivalis 33277 bound only half the number of C3 molecules as did A. actinomycetemcomitans, while B. gingivalis W83 bound very little C3. A large increase in the number of C3 molecules bound to B. gingivalis W83 was noted in assays carried out in the presence of the protease inhibitor TLCK, indicating that bacterial proteases may be responsible for the lack of binding of C3 to strain W83. TLCK treatment modestly increased the accumulation of C3 on strain 33277, but had no effect on A. actinomycetemcomitans. Analysis of 125I-C3 in supernatants from reaction mixtures of strain 33277, W83, or a proteolytic strain of B. intermedius demonstrated no qualitative differences in the C3 fragments amongst the tested strains or in the presence or absence of TLCK. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Introduction and expression of foreign genes in cultured mouse embryonic gonads by electroporation.

To analyse the functions of genes that are expressed and potentially involved in the development of embryonic gonad cells, a method was developed by which foreign genes can be introduced and expressed in cultured mouse genital ridges. Genital ridges from mouse embryos at 12.5 days post coitus (dpc) were injected with plasmid DNA of a green fluorescence protein (GFP) gene construct and then placed between small electrodes. Rectangular pulses were charged to electroporate DNA into the cells. The treated genital ridges were cultured on a membrane of a culture insert, and GFP gene expression was observed under a fluorescence microscope. Green fluorescence protein expression in the genital ridges was found as early as 1 h after electroporation. Thereafter, the expression gradually increased, peaked after 1 day, and then decreased. A significant number of cells were, however, still positive for fluorescence even after 2 weeks in the culture, in which both gonads and germ cells had continued to develop. The GFP gene was expressed in 1-2% of cells in each genital ridge in a DNA concentration-dependent manner. In addition, we confirmed that an electroporated red fluorescent protein (DsRed) gene construct was expressed in GFP-expressing primordial germ cells in genital ridges of Oct-4/GFP transgenic embryos, although the DNA was mainly found in somatic cells in genital ridges. Finally, an expression vector containing the internal ribosome entry site-green fluorescent protein (IRES-GFP) gene was constructed. An inserted lacZ gene showed similar expression pattern to that of GFP Using this vector, we can easily monitor the expression of an inserted gene of interest by GFP expression. Therefore, this experimental system could be useful for quick assays of gene function in genital ridges.
Spatial location and strength of BOLD activation in high‐spatial‐resolution fMRI of the motor cortex: a comparison of spin echo and gradient echo fMRI at 7 T

The increased blood oxygenation level‐dependent contrast‐to‐noise ratio at ultrahigh field (7 T) has been exploited in a comparison of the spatial location and strength of activation in high‐resolution (1.5 mm isotropic) gradient echo (GE) and spin echo (SE), echo planar imaging data acquired during the execution of a simple motor task in five subjects. SE data were acquired at six echo times from 30 to 55 ms. Excellent fat suppression was achieved in the SE echo planar images using slice‐selective gradient reversal. Threshold‐free cluster enhancement was used to define regions of interest (ROIs) containing voxels showing significant stimulus‐locked signal changes from the GE and average SE data. These were used to compare the signal changes and spatial locations of activated regions in SE and GE data. T2 and T2* values were measured, with means of 48.3 ± 1.1 ms and 36.5 ± 3.4 ms in the SE ROI. In addition, we identified a dark band in SE images of the motor cortex corresponding to a region in which T2 and T2* were significantly lower than in the surrounding grey matter. The fractional SE signal change in the ROI was found to vary linearly as a function of TE, with a slope that was dependent on the particular ROI assessed: the mean ΔR2 value was found to be 0.85 ± 0.11 s–1 for the SE ROI and −0.37 ± 0.05 s–1 for the GE ROI. The fractional signal change relative to the shortest TE revealed that the largest signal change occurred at a TE of 45 ms outside of the dark band. At this TE, the ratio of the fractional signal change in GE and SE data was found to be 0.48 ± 0.05. Phase maps produced from high‐resolution GE images spanning the right motor cortex were used to identify veins. The GE ROI was found to contain 18% more voxels overlying the venous mask than the SE ROI. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Internet of Things based smart measurement and monitoring of wood Equilibrium Moisture Content

Information of moisture content in wood is an important factor for development of wooden products in industries. Contemporary solutions are inadequate to monitor the wood moisture content remotely. This paper presents an Internet of Things based novel approach to measure and monitor moisture content of wood (IoTEMC). Plotly and Xively enabled cloud services are incorporated so as to register the raw values of IoTEMC into the remote IoT cloud servers for permanent storage. Real-time visualization is performed on the captured values to aware the user about the condition of the wood. Real-time statistical analytics is performed on the wood. Mean value, SD and SE of the wood moisture content is 14.7471, 0.029, and 0.00289, respectively. Serial output helps the user to monitor the process of capture of data, network connectivity, and data transmission towards the clouds.
Movement Complexity and Neuromechanical Factors Affect the Entropic Half-Life of Myoelectric Signals

Appropriate neuromuscular functioning is essential for survival and features underpinning motor control are present in myoelectric signals recorded from skeletal muscles. One approach to quantify control processes related to function is to assess signal variability using measures such as Sample Entropy. Here we developed a theoretical framework to simulate the effect of variability in burst duration, activation duty cycle, and intensity on the Entropic Half-Life (EnHL) in myoelectric signals. EnHLs were predicted to be <40 ms, and to vary with fluctuations in myoelectric signal amplitude and activation duty cycle. Comparison with myoelectic data from rats walking and running at a range of speeds and inclines confirmed the range of EnHLs, however, the direction of EnHL change in response to altered locomotor demand was not correctly predicted. The discrepancy reflected different associations between the ratio of the standard deviation and mean signal intensity (Ist:It¯) and duty factor in simulated and physiological data, likely reflecting additional information in the signals from the physiological data (e.g., quiescent phase content; variation in action potential shapes). EnHL could have significant value as a novel marker of neuromuscular responses to alterations in perceived locomotor task complexity and intensity.