Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Convolutional neural network for accelerating the computation of the extended Tofts model in dynamic contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging

Quantitative physiological parameters can be obtained from nonlinear pharmacokinetic models, such as the extended Tofts (eTofts) model, applied to dynamic contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE‐MRI). However, the computation of such nonlinear models is time consuming. The aim of this study was to develop a convolutional neural network (CNN) for accelerating the computation of fitting eTofts model without sacrificing agreement with conventional nonlinear‐least‐square (NLLS) fitting. This was a retrospective study, which included 13 patients with brain glioma for training (75%) and validation (25%), and 11 patients (three glioma, four brain metastases, and four lymphoma) for testing. CAIPIRINHA‐Dixon‐TWIST DCE‐MRI and double flip angle T1 map acquired at 3 T were used. A CNN with both local pathway and global pathway modules was designed to estimate the eTofts model parameters, the volume transfer constant (Ktrans), blood volume fraction (vp), and volume fraction of extracellular extravascular space (ve), from DCE‐MRI data of tumor and normal‐appearing voxels. The CNN was trained on mixed dataset consisting of synthetic and patient data. The CNN result and computation speed were compared with NLLS fitting. The robustness to noise variations and generalization to brain metastases and lymphoma data were also evaluated. Statistical tests used were Student's t test on mean absolute error, concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), and normalized root mean squared error. Including global pathway modules in the CNN and training the network with mixed data significantly (p < 0.05) improved the CNN performance. Compared with NLLS fitting, CNN yields an average CCC greater than 0.986 for Ktrans, greater than 0.965 for vp, and greater than 0.948 for ve. The CNN accelerated computation speed approximately 2000 times compared to NLLS, showed robustness to noise (signal‐to‐noise ratio >34.42 dB), and had no significant (p > 0.21) difference applied to brain metastases and lymphoma data. In conclusion, the proposed CNN to estimate eTofts parameters showed comparable result as NLLS fitting while significantly reducing the computation time.
Gas discharge physics

The topic “gas discharge physics” is fundamental to electrical breakdown in gases. Many excellent publications provide detailed accounts. In this article, the authors recall contributions drawn from research conducted at the University of Strathclyde (UK) under the direction of David J. Tedford. From the late 1950s onwards, these programmes generated numerous international meetings, research collaborations and exchange programmes that inevitably fostered several lively “debates”. In this article, they summarize some key concepts to provide a background before attempting to recall something of these debates. (5 pages)
Natural biopolymer surface of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)-photoinduced modification with triarylsulfonium salts

The graft copolymerization of 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) and methacrylic acid (MAA) onto a biodegradable and biocompatible polymer, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBHV), has been investigated. The one-step process was conducted in aqueous media using for the first time a cationic photoinitiator, triarylsulfonium hexafluoroantimonate salts, upon UV irradiation. Under appropriate conditions, the remaining radicals abstract hydrogen from the PHBHV backbone which initiate the UV-mediated grafting of polymers from the PHBHV surface. This process provides the opportunity to adapt the functionality of the film, thus permitting the control of its wettability as a function of the time of irradiation. In the last demonstration, we demonstrated that UV-mediated graft polymerization is an effective method to micropattern coatings onto PHBHV surface to develop microdevices for biological applications.
Posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and trauma-informed care in higher levels of care for eating disorders.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of the current study was to examine the prevalence and trajectory of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among patients with eating disorders (EDs) in higher level of ED care with trauma-informed components, but without a formal evidence-based trauma intervention. METHOD Participants were 613 adults diagnosed with EDs receiving treatment at inpatient, residential, or partial hospitalization levels of care. Participants completed the PTSD Checklist-5 (PCL-5) at admission and discharge. RESULTS Over half of patients scored above the cutoff of 33 on the PCL-5 at admission, suggestive of PTSD symptoms characteristic of a formal PTSD diagnosis. The average PCL-5 score significantly decreased for every ED diagnostic category, and there was a significant reduction in the proportion of patients above the PCL-5 cutoff score at discharge. PCL-5 subscales measuring PTSD criteria B (intrusions) and C (avoidance) improved with modest effect sizes, whereas PCL-5 subscales D (negative alterations in cognitions and mood) and E (alterations in arousal and reactivity) improved with larger effect sizes. DISCUSSION PTSD symptoms are prevalent among patients with EDs seeking higher levels of care. Despite not offering evidence-based trauma-specific interventions, PTSD symptoms decreased over the course of treatment. However, improvements cannot definitely be attributed to trauma-informed care.
317 GHz InAlGaN/GaN HEMTs with extremely low on‐resistance

This paper reports depletion-mode In0.13Al0. 83Ga0.04N/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) on a SiC substrate with a record current gain cutoff frequency (fT) of 317 GHz. Thanks to the combination of high electron mobility, regrown n+ InGaN/GaN ohmic contacts and scaled source-to-drain distance, the devices have an very low on-resistance of 0.4 Ω·mm. This very low resistance enables a significant reduction of the transistor parasitic delay and devices with a peak fT of 317 GHz have been demonstrated for a 26 nm gate length. The device performance is limited by a relatively thick top barrier which causes serious short-channel effects (SCEs) in the devices with gate length below 50 nm. It is expected that a suppression of the SCEs will render further improvements in frequency performance in future devices. (© 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
The indications for biopsy in routine upper gastrointestinal endoscopy

This review describes the indications and contraindications for endoscopic biopsy, in routine practice, of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. We accept that this review provides grounds for controversy, as our stance in certain situations is counter to some national guidelines. Nevertheless, we provide evidence to support our viewpoints, especially on efficiency and economic grounds. We describe the particular controversies concerning the biopsy assessment of Barrett's oesophagus, chronic gastritis and the duodenum in the investigation of coeliac disease. We accept that there are indications for more extensive upper GI biopsy protocols in children than in adults; the latter constitute our main focus in this article. We would encourage detailed discussion between pathologists and their endoscopy colleagues about the indications, or lack of them, for routine upper GI endoscopic biopsy, as studies have shown that adherence to agreed guidelines has resulted in a very considerable diminution in the biopsy workload without compromising patient management. Furthermore, where biopsy is indicated, we emphasise the importance of accompanying clinical information provided to the pathologist, in particular regarding biopsy site(s), and regular feedback to endoscopists to improve and maintain the quality of such information. Finally, local dialogue is also advised, when necessary, to indicate to endoscopists the need to appropriately segregate biopsies into separate, individually labelled specimens, to maximise the information that can be derived by pathological evaluation and thereby improve the quality of the final pathology report.
The clash of culture and cuisine: A qualitative exploration of cultural tensions and attitudes toward food and body in Chinese young adult women.

OBJECTIVE Accumulating evidence suggests that the prevalence of eating disorders among Chinese women is a public health concern. Prior studies have drawn linkages between conflicting cultural values, identity confusion, and eating disorder symptomatology, which may be relevant for understanding the rise of eating disorders amidst China's rapid economic and sociocultural transformation. Here, we explore how women's experiences with traditional eating norms and modernizing norms of femininity may shape their food and body attitudes. METHOD Chinese young adult women (N = 34; aged 18-22 years) participated in semi-structured interviews focusing on experiences with norms surrounding eating and ideal feminine appearance, perceived conflict between these norms, and their responses to perceived conflict. Interviews were conducted via email (n = 27) or via Skype (n = 7). Participants were not asked about past or present diagnoses of eating disorders. Analysis of responses was guided by the principles of thematic analysis. RESULTS Women reported encounters with cultural eating norms and feminine appearance norms, and described factors that motivated continued or discontinued adherence to these norms. Women reported strategies of conflict resolution, which resulted in different emotional and behavioral outcomes including eating disorder symptoms. DISCUSSION Women's experiences with norms surrounding eating and appearance indicate the centrality of these encounters in the formation of individual and interpersonal values. Our findings suggest the importance for clinicians to assist clients in exploring the meanings behind internalized attitudes toward food and body, and to help clients balance interpersonal and individual needs.
Adverse Childhood Experiences on Reproductive Plans and Adolescent Pregnancy in the Gulf Resilience on Women’s Health Cohort

We investigated if adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and ACE sub-types were associated with increased odds of planning to have children and adolescent pregnancy. The Gulf Resilience on Women’s Health (GROWH) is a diverse cohort of reproductive-age women living in southeastern Louisiana during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. In our sample of 1482 women, we used multinomial logistic regression to model odds ratios of wanting future children and assessed effect measure modification by educational attainment. We also estimated odds ratios of adolescent pregnancy with binomial logistic regression. Exposure to ACEs increased odds of wanting future children across all ACE sub-types. Among women with lower educational attainment, three or more ACEs (overall, childhood, and adolescence) had over two times the odds of wanting future children. History of ACE and the various sub-types, except for emotional abuse, were associated with increased risk of adolescent pregnancy. ACEs may be linked to adolescent pregnancy and reproductive plans, and variations by educational status highlighted social discrepancies and importance of social context in evaluation and intervention.
Highly Resolved Determination of Structure and Particle Deposition in Fibrous Filters by MRI

A new method for the quantitative three-dimensional structure determination of a coarse filter medium as well as the particle deposition inside this medium is described. The filter structure was imaged at a voxel resolution of 59 μm which is close to the mean fiber diameter, therefore allowing individual fibers and their position to be determined. The data processing method for determining the filter structure as well as the quantification of the mass deposited in the filter are explained in detail. For particle deposition investigations the spatial resolution used was 235 μm. Hereby, a linear correlation between deposited mass and signal intensity was observed.
Assessing the low complexity of protein sequences via the low complexity triangle.

BACKGROUND Proteins with low complexity regions (LCRs) have atypical sequence and structural features. Their amino acid composition varies from the expected, determined proteome-wise, and they do not follow the rules of structural folding that prevail in globular regions. One way to characterize these regions is by assessing the repeatability of a sequence, that is, calculating the local propensity of a region to be part of a repeat. RESULTS We combine two local measures of low complexity, repeatability (using the RES algorithm) and fraction of the most frequent amino acid, to evaluate different proteomes, datasets of protein regions with specific features, and individual cases of proteins with extreme compositions. We apply a representation called 'low complexity triangle' as a proof-of-concept to represent the low complexity measured values. Results show that proteomes have distinct signatures in the low complexity triangle, and that these signatures are associated to complexity features of the sequences. We developed a web tool called LCT (http://cbdm-01.zdv.uni-mainz.de/~munoz/lct/) to allow users to calculate the low complexity triangle of a given protein or region of interest. CONCLUSIONS The low complexity triangle proves to be a suitable procedure to represent the general low complexity of a sequence or protein dataset. Homorepeats, direpeats, compositionally biased regions and globular regions occupy characteristic positions in the triangle. The described pipeline can be used to characterize LCRs and may help in quantifying the content of degenerated tandem repeats in proteins and proteomes.
PEG-POSS Star Molecules Blended in Polyurethane with Flexible Hard Segments: Morphology and Dynamics

A star polymer with a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanne (POSS) core and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) vertex groups is incorporated in a polyurethane with flexible hard segments in-situ during the polymerization process. The blends are studied in terms of morphology, molecular dynamics, and charge mobility. The methods utilized for this purpose are scanning electron and atomic force microscopies (SEM, AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and to a larger extent dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS). It is found that POSS reduces the degree of crystallinity of the hard segments. Contrary to what was observed in a similar system with POSS pendent along the main chain, soft phase calorimetric glass transition temperature drops as a result of plasticization, and homogenization of the soft phase by the star molecules. The dynamic glass transition though, remains practically unaffected, and a hypothesis is formed to resolve the discrepancy, based on the assumption of different thermal and dielectric responses of slow and fast modes of the system. A relaxation α′, slower than the bulky segmental α and common in polyurethanes, appears here too. A detailed analysis of dielectric spectra provides some evidence that this relaxation has cooperative character. An additional relaxation g, which is not commonly observed, accompanies the Maxwell Wagner Sillars interfacial polarization process, and has dynamics similar to it. POSS is found to introduce conductivity and possibly alter its mechanism. The study points out that different architectures of incorporation of POSS in polyurethane affect its physical properties by different mechanisms.
Physical fitness and activity level in Norwegian adults with achondroplasia

This cross‐sectional Physical Fitness Study compared cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2 peak), six‐minute walk test (6MWT), muscle strength (30sSTS), balance (BESS), and self‐reported physical activity level (IPAQ) in Norwegian adults with achondroplasia (ACH) to reference values of average‐statured individuals. The feasibility of the physical fitness tests and IPAQ was explored. Forty‐three adults (22 women) participated. Mean age was 38 years (range 16–69 years). Mean differences (95% CI) for men and women with ACH compared to reference values were: VO2 peak. −7.0 m/min/kg (−13.6 to −0.5, p = .037), and − 7.9 ml/kg/min (−11.6 to −4.3, p < .001); 6MWT −270.8 m (−340.4 to −201.2, p < .001), and − 196.7 m (−244.3 to −149.0, p = .001); 30sSTS ‐4.6 repetitions (−7.8 to −1.5, p = .006), and − 1.1 repetitions (−3.4 to 1.1, p = .335). There were no differences within ACH participants, except for VO2 peak, where men performed better. Sufficient physical activity (> 600 metabolic equivalent of task weekly) was achieved by 79% of the participants. The feasibility of the 6MWT and 30sSTS was good. There was a strong correlation between the VO2 peak and 6MWT (men: r = 0.63, p = .007; women: r = 0.71, p < .001). The findings indicate that the 6MWT and 30sSTS test are useful in assessing functional exercise capacity and muscle strength in adults with ACH.
Adherence to Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Eating Plan and Prevalence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Adults

Background/Aims Despite huge evidence on the link between adherence to dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) eating pattern and several metabolic abnormalities, the association of this diet with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has not been investigated so far. We aim to examine the association between adherence to the DASH diet and prevalence of IBS symptoms and subtypes in adults. Methods This cross-sectional study was done among 3362 adult people in Isfahan, Iran. Usual dietary intakes were assessed using a validated 106-item dish-based semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. To investigate participants’ adherence to DASH-style diet, we created DASH score based on 8 main foods and nutrients emphasized or minimized in the DASH diet. Participants were classified into 3 categories according to their DASH-style diet scores. A validated modified Persian version of the Rome III questionnaire was applied for assessment of IBS. Results Totally, 22.2% of study participants were affected by IBS. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, we found that participants in the highest tertile of DASH score had lower odds of IBS (OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.50-0.83) compared with those in the lowest tertile. The same findings were also reached for IBS with constipation (OR for the highest vs the lowest tertile of DASH-style diet = 0.56; 95% CI, 0.38-0.85). No significant association was seen between adherence to DASH-style diet and IBS with diarrhea (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 0.83-2.06). Conclusions We found a significant inverse association between adherence to DASH dietary pattern and odds of IBS and IBS with constipation. Further prospective studies are required to confirm these findings.
Novel Perspectives Regarding the Pathology, Inflammation, and Biomarkers of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is an acute inflammation of the lung resulting from damage to the alveolar–capillary membrane, and it is diagnosed using a combination of clinical and physiological variables. ARDS develops in approximately 10% of hospitalised patients with pneumonia and has a mortality rate of approximately 40%. Recent research has identified several biomarkers associated with ARDS pathophysiology, and these may be useful for diagnosing and monitoring ARDS. They may also highlight potential therapeutic targets. This review summarises our current understanding of those clinical biomarkers: (1) biomarkers of alveolar and bronchiolar injury, (2) biomarkers of endothelial damage and coagulation, and (3) biomarkers for treatment responses.
Re-Thinking the Role of Government Information Intervention in the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Agent-Based Modeling Analysis

The COVID-19 pandemic imposes new challenges on the capability of governments in intervening with the information dissemination and reducing the risk of infection outbreak. To reveal the complexity behind government intervention decision, we build a bi-layer network diffusion model for the information-disease dynamics that were intervened in and conduct a full space simulation to illustrate the trade-off faced by governments between information disclosing and blocking. The simulation results show that governments prioritize the accuracy of disclosed information over the disclosing speed when there is a high-level medical recognition of the virus and a high public health awareness, while, for the opposite situation, more strict information blocking is preferred. Furthermore, an unaccountable government tends to delay disclosing, a risk-averse government prefers a total blocking, and a low government credibility will discount the effect of information disclosing and aggravate the situation. These findings suggest that information intervention is indispensable for containing the outbreak of infectious disease, but its effectiveness depends on a complicated way on both external social/epidemic factors and the governments’ internal preferences and governance capability, for which more thorough investigations are needed in the future.
Sleep medicine exposure offered by United States residency training programs.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To understand the sleep medicine (SM) educational exposure among parent specialties of sleep medicine fellowships, we conducted an online survey among ACGME-approved training programs. METHODS Target respondents were program directors of family medicine, otolaryngology, psychiatry, neurology, pediatrics, and pulmonary and critical care (PCCM) training programs in the United States. The survey was based on the Sleep Education Survey (SES), a peer-reviewed, published survey created by the American Academy of Neurology Sleep Section. The modified 18-question survey was emailed via Survey Monkey per published methods totaling 3 requests approximately one week apart in January 2017. RESULTS A total of 1,228 programs were contacted, and 479 responses were received for an overall response rate of 39%. Some programs in every specialty group offered a SM elective or a required rotation to trainees. PCCM and neurology reported the highest percentages of SM rotation as an option for housestaff (85.7% and 90.8%, respectively), and PCCM had the highest portion of programs indicating a rotation requirement (75.4%). Teaching format was a mixture of didactic lectures, sleep center/lab exposure, and case reports; with lectures being the most common format. Didactics averaged 4.75 hours per year. Few programs reported trainees subsequently pursuing SM fellowship (< 10% produced a fellow over five years), and even fewer reported having a trainee who pursued grant funding for sleep-related research over five years. CONCLUSIONS There is wide variability and overall low exposure to sleep medicine education among United States "parent" ACGME training programs whose medical boards offer sleep medicine certification.