Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
VASO‐based calculations of CBV change: Accounting for the dynamic CSF volume

The goal of the vascular space occupancy (VASO) imaging technique is to use selective nulling of the blood signal to infer relative changes in cerebral blood volume (CBV). In accordance with recent work, we show that changes in the local CSF fraction (xc) with activation can significantly impact the VASO signal, thereby limiting our ability to infer ΔCBV from ΔVASO alone. Here we calculate CBV change using a VASO‐based method which ACcounts for the Dynamic Cerebrospinal (ACDC) fluid fraction. By combining data from two separate VASO acquisitions that eliminate either the blood signal (VASOb) or the CSF signal (VASOc), a nonlinear least‐squares optimization may then be used to simultaneously solve for the relative changes in CBV and CSF with activation. The method is applied across the whole brain during a breath‐holding task, offering insight into the relationship between changes in CBV and xc associated with global vasodilatation. Calculations of mean changes in CBV in different volumes of interest obtained from the proposed method compare much better with previous (gold‐standard) PET data than traditional VASO methods that do not account for a nonzero Δxc with activation. This confirms the necessity of incorporating the dynamic CSF volume into VASO‐based calculations of ΔCBV. Magn Reson Med 58:308–315, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Age-Related Differences in Locomotor Strategies During Adaptive Walking

ABSTRACT Simultaneous control of lower limb stepping movements and trunk motion is important for skilled walking; adapting gait to environmental constraints requires frequent alternations in stepping and trunk motion. These alterations provide a window into the locomotor strategies adopted by the walker. The authors examined gait strategies in young and healthy older adults when manipulating step width. Anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) smoothness (quantified by harmonic ratios) and stepping consistency (quantified by gait variability) were analyzed during narrow and wide walking while controlling cadence to preferred pace. Results indicated older adults preserved ML smoothness at the expense of AP smoothness, shortened their steps, and exhibited reduced stepping consistency. The authors conclude that older adults prioritized ML control over forward progression during adaptive walking challenges.
Comparison of Semi-Invasive "Internal Splinting" and Open Suturing Techniques in Achilles Tendon Rupture Surgery.

The goal of the present study was to evaluate the semi-invasive "internal splinting" (SIIS) method for repair of Achilles tendon rupture relative to open repair with Krakow sutures. Efficacy was evaluated based on the clinical and functional outcomes, postoperative magnetic resonance imaging measurements, isokinetic results, and surgical complication rates. Functional measurements included the Thermann and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle scores, bilateral ankle dorsiflexion, and plantar flexion measurements. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to compare the bilateral length and thickness of each Achilles tendon. The isokinetic outcomes were evaluated using a Biodex System 3 dynamometer. Of the 45 patients meeting the inclusion criteria, 24 were treated by SIIS and 21 by the open Krackow suture technique. The mean follow-up time for all patients was 43.7 (range 6 to 116) months. In the SIIS group, patients returned to normal daily activities after 7.2 (range 6 to 8) weeks compared with 14.3 (range 12 to 15) weeks in the open surgery group. The AOFAS ankle scores were 93.5 (range 82 to 100) points in the open repair group and 96.2 (range 86 to 100) points in the SIIS group. The Thermann scores were 80.4 (range 53 to 91) points for the open repair group and 87.9 (range 81 to 100) points for the SIIS method. The mean Achilles length on the operated side measured using magnetic resonance imaging was 175.06 (range 110 to 224) mm and 177.76 (range 149 to 214) mm for the open surgery and SIIS groups, respectively. Sensory impairment in the territory of the sural nerve was identified in 1 patient immediately after SIIS surgery, although this defect had completely resolved within 12 months. SIIS yielded better outcomes relative to the open surgery group according to the isokinetic measurements. Taken together, these data indicate the SIIS method for Achilles tendon ruptures performed better in terms of both functional and objective outcomes compared with open surgery.
Functional connectivity and dynamics of cortical–thalamic networks co-cultured in a dual compartment device

Co-cultures containing dissociated cortical and thalamic cells may provide a unique model for understanding the pathophysiology in the respective neuronal sub-circuitry. In addition, developing an in vitro dissociated co-culture model offers the possibility of studying the system without influence from other neuronal sub-populations. Here we demonstrate a dual compartment system coupled to microelectrode arrays (MEAs) for co-culturing and recording spontaneous activities from neuronal sub-populations. Propagation of electrical activities between cortical and thalamic regions and their interdependence in connectivity is verified by means of a cross-correlation algorithm. We found that burst events originate in the cortical region and drive the entire cortical–thalamic network bursting behavior while mutually weak thalamic connections play a relevant role in sustaining longer burst events in cortical cells. To support these experimental findings, a neuronal network model was developed and used to investigate the interplay between network dynamics and connectivity in the cortical–thalamic system.
Comparison of conventional and shell vial cultures for detecting cytomegalovirus infection

We tested 606 specimens for cytomegalovirus infection. Fifty-two specimens were positive by conventional culture versus forty-three by pre-cytopathic effect detection. Twenty-nine specimens were positive by both methods. Because of toxicity, specimens should be set up on both conventional and shell vial culture systems to achieve maximum sensitivity.
Species delimitation in asexual insects of economic importance: The case of black scale (Parasaissetia nigra), a cosmopolitan parthenogenetic pest scale insect

Asexual lineages provide a challenge to species delimitation because species concepts either have little biological meaning for them or are arbitrary, since every individual is monophyletic and reproductively isolated from all other individuals. However, recognition and naming of asexual species is important to conservation and economic applications. Some scale insects are widespread and polyphagous pests of plants, and several species have been found to comprise cryptic species complexes. Parasaissetia nigra (Nietner, 1861) (Hemiptera: Coccidae) is a parthenogenetic, cosmopolitan and polyphagous pest that feeds on plant species from more than 80 families. Here, we implement multiple approaches to assess the species status of P. nigra, including coalescence-based analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear genes, and ecological niche modelling. Our results indicate that the sampled specimens of P. nigra should be considered to comprise at least two ecotypes (or "species") that are ecologically differentiated, particularly in relation to temperature and moisture. The presence of more than one ecotype under the current concept of P. nigra has implications for biosecurity because the geographic extent of each type is not fully known: some countries may currently have only one of the biotypes. Introduction of additional lineages could expand the geographic extent of damage by the pest in some countries.
Panamanian Grandmothers' Family Relationships and Adjustment to Having a Grandchild with a Disability

The purpose of this article was to explore the family relationships and role adjustment of grandmothers in the Republic of Panama who have a grandchild with special needs. Thirty Panamanian grandmothers of children with a disability were interviewed using a standardized format and non-directive probing. Categories of analysis were established only after the data was fully collected and reviewed. The results indicate that for most Panamanian grandmothers, their changes in family relationships are not dramatic when they have a grandchild with a disability; however, 25% clearly report a deteriorated relationship with their son-in-laws. They view their relationship with their grandchild with a disability to be one that provides a mixture of affection, love, acceptance and patience. In the area of role adjustment, they see a need to become more involved in areas that include assisting their grandchildren and/or her family with caregiving and household responsibilities, economic and medical support, or in areas related to school/academic, spiritual or recreational activities. With respect to emotional adjustment, Panamanian grandmothers of children with disabilities distinguish themselves from grandmothers in the United States, by experiencing reduced emotional stress and dwelling less on personal loss, grief, or role stigma. The implications are that there appear to be universal beliefs and adjustment factors that Panamanian grandmothers of grandchildren with disabilities experience. However, culture appears to have a genuine influence that results in subtle but unique differences from their U.S. counterparts.
The Effects of High-Oil Corn or Typical Corn with or without Supplemental Fat on Diet Digestibility in Finishing Steers

Two 3 x 3 latin squares were utilized in an 84-day digestion trial with ruminallyand duodenallycannulated steers. Diets consisted of 73 to 78% whole corn grain, 12.3% corn silage and 2.0% N, with treatment differences being high-oil corn(HOC), isogenetic typical-corn(TC), or isogenetic typical-corn + fat(TC+F) based diets. The HOC and TC+F diets were formulated to provide the same ether extract (EE) content. All diets were fed at 90% of ad libitum intake. Chromic oxide was used as a digestibility marker. Total tract dry matter (DM) (P=.08), organic matter (OM) (P=.08) and nitrogen (N) (P=.06) digestibilities tended to be greater for TC than HOC diets, whereas starch neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and ether extract digestibilities were similar (P>.10). There were no differences (P>.10) in total tract dry matter, organic matter, starch, NDF, ADF, ether extract, or nitrogen digestibilities between TC+F and HOC diets or TC and TC+F diets. Ruminal digestion of dry matter, organic matter, starch, NDF, ADF, and feed nitrogen was similar (P>.10) among treatments. Microbial-nitrogen flow and efficiencies were also similar (P>.10) among treatments. Results indicate finishing steer diets composed of primarily HOC are equally or less digestible than similar diets composed of TC, and adding fat to TC diets did not affect the digestibility of the diet when fed to finishing steers.
Volatile and Within-Needle Terpene Changes to Douglas-fir Trees Associated With Douglas-fir Beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Attack

Abstract Mass attack by tree-killing bark beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) brings about large chemical changes in host trees that can have important ecological consequences. For example, mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) attack increases emission of terpenes by lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud.), affecting foliage flammability with consequences for wildfires. In this study, we measured chemical changes to Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca (Mirb.) Franco) foliage in response to attack by Douglas-fir beetles (Dendroctonus pseudotsugae Hopkins) as trees die and crowns transitioned from green/healthy, to green-infested (year of attack), to yellow (year after attack), and red (2 yr after attack). We found large differences in volatile and within-needle terpene concentrations among crown classes and variation across a growing season. In general, emissions and concentrations of total and individual terpenes were greater for yellow and red needles than green needles. Douglas-fir beetle attack increased emissions and concentrations of terpene compounds linked to increased tree flammability in other conifer species and compounds known to attract beetles (e.g., α-pinene, camphene, and D-limonene). There was little relationship between air temperature or within-needle concentrations of terpenes and emission of terpenes, suggesting that passive emission of terpenes (e.g., from dead foliage) does not fully explain changes in volatile emissions. The potential physiological causes and ecological consequences of these bark beetle-associated chemical changes are discussed.
A Performance On-Demand Approach to Power-Efficient Computing

Abstract : Complexity-Adaptive Processing (CAP) addresses increasing microprocessor power dissipation through on-the-fly, low-cost hardware adaptation and related circuit techniques so as to better match hardware complexity and speed to application demands. Specific results include adaptive processing elements and hardware/software control techniques, a Multiple Clock Domain processor that saves energy via fine-grain voltage scaling, power-efficient issue queue and register file techniques, a low-leakage dynamic logic circuit and associated control logic for functional units, multi-threaded power and noise reduction, efficient on-chip dc-dc conversion and clock control circuits, low power domino logic and interface circuits, and interconnect width optimization for low power. Overall, a several-fold reduction in power is demonstrated via the collective application of these various techniques.
Mutational analysis of the bacteriophage P2 Ogr protein: truncation of the carboxy terminus

The Ogr protein is a 72-residue, zinc-binding transcription factor essential for activation of late gene expression in bacteriophage P2. Analysis of C-terminal truncated proteins generated by stop codon mutagenesis shows that deletion of residues distal to position 51 had negligible effects on Ogr function. More-extensive deletion resulted in unstable products with severely reduced activity. These results, as well as the effects of other mutations in this region, support the idea that the 21 C-terminal residues are not required for transactivation.
Understanding Action and Sensing by Designing Action-Based Sensors

This article proposes a method for automatically designing sensors from the specification of a robot's task, its actions, and its uncertainty in control. The sensors provide the information required by the robot to perform its task, despite uncertainty in sensing and control. The key idea is to generate a strategy for a robot task by using a backchaining planner that assumes perfect sensing while taking careful account of control uncer tainty. The resulting plan indirectly specifies a sensor that tells the robot when to execute which action. Although the planner assumes perfect sensing information, the sensor need not ac tually provide perfect information. Instead, the sensor provides only the information required for the plan to function correctly.
Trend prediction of internet public opinion based on collaborative filtering

Collaborative filtering recommendation has very important applications in the personalized recommendation. Especially it is widely used in e-commerce. The key of this approach is to find similar users or items using user-item rating matrix so that the system can show recommendations and provide a lot similar or interesting advice for users. The method of internet public opinion trend prediction based on collaborative filtering is proposed in order to solve the problem of internet public opinion trend prediction. This paper introduces the collaborative filtering algorithm and study user-based collaborative filtering algorithm, then the principles of internet public opinion trend prediction based on collaborative filtering are analyzed, and the frame structure of internet public opinion trend prediction is designed. Furthermore, a series of experimental results show that this method can effectively predict the development trend of internet public opinion.
A Review on Volume Calculation of Brain Abnormalities from MRI of Brain using CAD system

Brain abnormalities and the tumor segmentation using computer aided design (CAD) is a challenging task because of the high diversity in the appearance of abnormal and tumor tissues among different patients and in many cases similarity with the normal tissues. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is advanced medical imaging technique from which a lot of information about human soft tissue is gathered. Using this MRI of brain volume measurement by the CAD system is more realistic for diagnosis of tumor or abnormalities. Here these volume measurement approaches are reviewed with an importance placed on enlightening the advantages and drawbacks of these methods for brain abnormality and tumor quantification.
Learner Acceptance of Using Virtual Patient Encounters to Train Foreign Healthcare Professionals in Swedish

Healthcare professionals need good communication skills to be able to communicate with patients. In such provider-patient communication, the professional needs to be well understood by the patient, but also be able to understand subtle parts of a medical history taking dialogue with worried, sick or mentally affected patients. Virtual Patients VPs-learning environments that simulate encounters between a patient and a physician-were used to prepare 26 immigrating professionals in Swedish for healthcare practitioners. The professionals were speaking nine different foreign languages and used two different VP systems to train patient communication. Almost all participants welcomed the use of VPs for training communication in healthcare Swedish and 19 of the 26 users indicated that they considered that VPs should be mandatory to use in future courses. Targeted individual training in provider-patient communication with Virtual Patients seems to be of great educational value and well accepted by immigrating healthcare professionals.
Research on an improved optimization algorithm based on ant colony to solve WBC scanning routing problem

To solve white blood cell scanning routing problem, an improved optimization algorithm based on ant colony algorithm was proposed. The shortest equivalent time was selected as evaluating function. Pheromone updating rule and convergence strategy were added as well. Four algorithms were applied to the same WBC image frame and series of WBC image frames. The experimental results prove the effectiveness and excellence of the improved algorithm.
Visual quality of lossy compressed images

Graphical information (images) is widely used in CAD and telecommunication systems. Often digital images are represented (available) in compressed form and visualized at computer monitor, thus, making a problem of visual quality analysis of compressed images very important. This paper considers a problem of visual quality analysis of lossy compressed images by several state-of-the-art coders.
Computation on shape manifold for atlas generation: application to whole heart segmentation of cardiac MRI

In this work, we investigate the computation on a shape manifold for atlas generation and application to atlas propagation and segmentation. We formulate the computation of Fréchet mean via the constant velocity fields and Log-Euclidean framework for Nadaraya-Watson kernel regression modeling. In this formulation, we directly compute the Fréchet mean of shapes via fast vectorial operations on the velocity fields. By using image similarity metric to estimate the distance of shapes in the assumed manifold, we can estimate a close shape of an unseen image using Naderaya-Watson kernel regression function. We applied this estimation to generate subject-specific atlases for whole heart segmentation of MRI data. The segmentation results on clinical data demonstrated an improved performance compared to existing methods, thanks to the usage of subject-specific atlases which had more similar shapes to the unseen images.
Low-power and cost-effective wifi sensor motes for wireless embedded Internet applications

Wireless embedded Internet (WEI) is a new research trend nowadays, with a focus on developing new wireless embedded end devices, network protocols, optimized models of intelligent context management, as well as the integration of WEI applications to the Internet. However, current approaches are still lack of a dimension, i.e., cost-effective WEI solution at a reasonable price for developing market like Vietnam. In this paper, new low-power wifi sensor motes are designed and implemented for using in the smart building applications at the reasonable cost. The energy consumption measured on the developed low-power wifi sensor mote shows that its lifetime is improved much longer, with the use of our proposed low-power hardware architecture and low-power software technique.
Influence of Intrahepatic Vessels on Volume and Shape of Percutaneous Thermal Ablation Zones: In Vivo Evaluation in a Porcine Model

Objectives:Aim of the study was to evaluate the precise influence of different intrahepatic vessels, vessel sizes, and distances from the applicator on volume and shape of hepatic laser ablation zones in an in vivo porcine model. Materials and Methods:The study was approved by the institutional animal care and use committee. Eighteen computed tomography-guided Nd:YAG laser ablations were performed in the livers of 10 pigs at varying distances from hepatic veins and portal fields. After hepatectomy the livers were cut into 2-mm slices perpendicular to the laser applicator axes. For each ablation zone the maximum achievable (ideal) volume, the segmented (real) volume, the maximum radius, and the radius at the position of adjacent hepatic vessels were determined. The shapes of the ablation zones were evaluated qualitatively. Comparative statistics using the unpaired t test and a multiple linear regression analysis were performed. Results:Ideal and real ablation zone volumes differed by 27.3% (8.6 ± 1.5 mL vs. 6.4 ± 1.1 mL; P < 0.0001). Thirty-eight of 60 (63%) hepatic veins versus 28 of 31 (90%) portal veins within the central slices of the 18 ablation zones led to a reduction of the ablation zone's radius, depending on the distance between the vessel and the applicator and the vessel type. Portal fields revealed stronger effects than hepatic veins. The vessel diameter showed no independent effect (P > 0.05). When influencing, all hepatic veins showed a focal indentation whereas portal fields always showed broad flattening of the ablation zone. Conclusions:Portal fields lead to more heat sink than hepatic veins. The effects decreased with the distance between vessel and applicator tip, but less so for portal fields. The 2 vessel types induced considerably different shape alterations of the ablation zones. These results were not dependent on vessel size. This should be considered in the planning of thermal tumor ablations.