Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mapping of magnetic resonance imaging’s transverse relaxation time at low signal‐to‐noise ratio using Bloch simulations and principal component analysis image denoising

High‐resolution mapping of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)’s transverse relaxation time (T2) can benefit many clinical applications by offering improved anatomic details, enhancing the ability to probe tissues’ microarchitecture, and facilitating the identification of early pathology. Increasing spatial resolutions, however, decreases data's signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR), particularly at clinical scan times. This impairs imaging quality, and the accuracy of subsequent radiological interpretation. Recently, principal component analysis (PCA) was employed for denoising diffusion‐weighted MR images and was shown to be effective for improving parameter estimation in multiexponential relaxometry. This study combines the Marchenko–Pastur PCA (MP‐PCA) signal model with the echo modulation curve (EMC) algorithm for denoising multiecho spin‐echo (MESE) MRI data and improving the precision of EMC‐generated single T2 relaxation maps. The denoising technique was validated on simulations, phantom scans, and in vivo brain and knee data. MESE scans were performed on a 3‐T Siemens scanner. The acquired images were denoised using the MP‐PCA algorithm and were then provided as input for the EMC T2‐fitting algorithm. Quantitative analysis of the denoising quality included comparing the standard deviation and coefficient of variation of T2 values, along with gold standard SNR estimation of the phantom scans. The presented denoising technique shows an increase in T2 maps' precision and SNR, while successfully preserving the morphological features of the tissue. Employing MP‐PCA denoising as a preprocessing step decreases the noise‐related variability of T2 maps produced by the EMC algorithm and thus increases their precision. The proposed method can be useful for a wide range of clinical applications by facilitating earlier detection of pathologies and improving the accuracy of patients' follow‐up.
Breaking entanglement-breaking by classical correlations

The inevitable interaction between quantum systems and environment induces effects of decoherence which may be so strong as to destroy any initial entanglement between the systems, a phenomenon known as "entanglement breaking". Here we show the simplest examples where the combination of two entanglement-breaking channels into a joint correlated-noise environment reactivates the distribution of entanglement, with classes of entangled states which are perfectly transmitted from a middle station (Charlie) to two remote stations (Alice and Bob). Surprisingly, this reactivation is induced by the presence of purely-classical correlations in the joint environment, whose state is separable with zero discord. This paradoxical effect is proven for quantum systems with Hilbert spaces of any dimension, both finite and infinite.
SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLES WITH HIGH ACCRETION RATES IN ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI. IV. Hβ TIME LAGS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR SUPER-EDDINGTON ACCRETION

We have completed two years of photometric and spectroscopic monitoring of a large number of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) with very high accretion rates. In this paper, we report on the result of the second phase of the campaign, during 2013–2014, and the measurements of five new Hβ time lags out of eight monitored AGNs. All five objects were identified as super-Eddington accreting massive black holes (SEAMBHs). The highest measured accretion rates for the objects in this campaign are M ˙ ≳ 200 ? > , where M ˙ = M ˙ • / L Edd c − 2 ? > , M ˙ • ? > is the mass accretion rates, L Edd ? > is the Eddington luminosity and c is the speed of light. We find that the Hβ time lags in SEAMBHs are significantly shorter than those measured in sub-Eddington AGNs, and the deviations increase with increasing accretion rates. Thus, the relationship between broad-line region size ( R H β ? > ) and optical luminosity at 5100 Å, R H β - L 5100 ? > , requires accretion rate as an additional parameter. We propose that much of the effect may be due to the strong anisotropy of the emitted slim-disk radiation. Scaling R H β ? > by the gravitational radius of the black hole (BH), we define a new radius–mass parameter ( Y ? > ) and show that it saturates at a critical accretion rate of M ˙ c = 6 ∼ 30 ? > , indicating a transition from thin to slim accretion disk and a saturated luminosity of the slim disks. The parameter Y ? > is a very useful probe for understanding the various types of accretion onto massive BHs. We briefly comment on implications to the general population of super-Eddington AGNs in the universe and applications to cosmology.
Young Adult Cannabis Users’ Perceptions of Cannabis Risks and Benefits by Chronic Pain Status

Abstract Purpose: Young adults experiencing chronic pain may self-medicate with cannabis. We examined perceived risks and benefits of cannabis use among young adult users by chronic pain status, and identified relationships among perceived risks and benefits, physical and mental health, and cannabis-related problems. Methods: Young adults reporting at least weekly cannabis use (N = 176, 50.9% with chronic pain) reported perceptions of lifetime risks and benefits associated with cannabis use, physical and mental health, and cannabis-related problems. Results: Young adults without chronic pain reported better physical and mental health than those with chronic pain. Cannabis use, problems, and risk and benefit perceptions did not differ by pain status. Risk and benefit perceptions were unrelated to physical health, perceiving fewer risks and more benefits was associated with better mental health, and perceiving more risk was associated with cannabis problems. Chronic pain status moderated the relationship between perceived benefits and outcomes, such that perceiving more benefits was associated with better physical health for those without chronic pain. Further, greater perceived benefits were associated with more cannabis-related problems for those without chronic pain but fewer problems for those with chronic pain. Conclusion: This study offers insight into the perceptions of risks and benefits among young adult cannabis users and associations with physical and mental health and cannabis-related problems. The effects of perceived benefits on physical health and cannabis-related problems differs for young adults with and without pain, suggesting assessment and consideration of pain status may be valuable in intervention contexts.
Blood Feeding Sources of Nyssomyia antunesi (Diptera: Psychodidae): A Suspected Vector of Leishmania (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) in the Brazilian Amazon

Abstract Present work aimed to identify blood feeding sources and attempt to detect Leishmania DNA in Nyssomyia antunesi, suspected vector of Leishmania sp. , from a park in the urban center of Belém, the capital of Pará State, in the Brazilian Amazon. Entire bodies and gut contents of Ny. antunesi engorged females, previously captured in the urban park with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) light traps and aspiration on tree bases, were subjected to Leishmania and vertebrate DNA detection through amplification of the Leishmania mini-exon and vertebrate cytochrome b (cyt b) gene regions, respectively. The quality of DNA extraction from entire bodies was ensured through amplification of the dipteran cyt b region. The vertebrate cyt b amplicons were sequenced and compared with those available on GenBank. A maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree was constructed to assess the clustering patterns of these sequences. Leishmania DNA was not detected. The sequences of 13 vertebrate cyt b amplicons were considered informative, exhibiting similarity and clustering with the following six vertebrate species: Dasyprocta leporina (1), Cuniculus paca (1), Tamandua tetradactyla (4), Choloepus didactylus (4), Pteroglossus aracari aracari (2), Homo sapiens (1). The samples of D. leporina and C. paca were obtained from the CDC canopy, whereas the others were by aspiration from tree bases. The present results revealed the eclectic and opportunist blood-feeding behavior of Ny. antunesi, with birds and mammals, these last ones acting as potential reservoirs for Leishmania species, distributed throughout the vertical forest strata.
Weyl-Schur duality for Cartan-type Lie superalgebra $W(n)$

Cartan-type Lie superalgebras is a subclass in the classification of the finite dimensional simple Lie superalgebras over C. Lie superalgebra W (n), which consists of all the superderivations on Grassmann algebra Λ(n), is one of Cartan-type Lie superalgebras. The irreducible representations of W (n) are described in [5]. In this article, we want to develop an analogue of the classical Weyl-Schur duality for W (n). In other words, we try to decompose the m-fold tensor product ⊗mΛ(n) of the defining representation Λ(n) of W (n) under the diagonal actions of W (n) and its commutant algebra. In [7], K. Nishiyama has considered the decomposition of the m-fold tensor product of the defining representation of Cartan-type Lie algebra Wn under the condition m ≤ n. In the present article, we give the decomposition of ⊗mΛ(n) under the condition m ≤ n in Section 2. As an attempt toward the general cases, in Section 3, we consider the case n = 2, where m is arbitrary. Let us explain this more explicitly. Let End[m] be a semigroup of all the mappings from a finite collection of integers [m] := {1, 2, · · · ,m} into itself. In [8] and [9], using the semigroup End[m], Nishiyama and the author determined the commutant algebra of W (n) in the m-fold tensor product of the defining representation under the condition m ≤ n. More precisely, let ψ be the defining representation of W (n) on Λ(n) and φ be a representation of End[m] on ⊗mΛ(n) (the definition is given in Section 1). If m ≤ n, then the commutant algebra of ψ⊗m(W (n)) in End(⊗mΛ(n)) is the algebra generated by φ(End[m]) in End(⊗mΛ(n)) ([9]). Therefore, along the idea of Schur and Weyl, we want to decompose the space ⊗mΛ(n) as a W (n)×End[m]-module. However, in our case, the representation of W (n) on ⊗mΛ(n) is not semisimple, hence we are forced to consider the quotient representations. Nishiyama suggested the following conjectures.
Cross-Resistance and Fitness Costs of the cis-Nitromethylene Neonicotinoid Cycloxaprid Resistance in Melon Aphid, Aphis gossypii (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Abstract The melon aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover, is an important pest on various vegetables around the world and has developed resistance to neonicotinoids in fields. Cycloxaprid is a novel cis-nitromethylene configuration neonicotinoid insecticide that is different from trans-configuration neonicotinoids like imidacloprid and thiamethoxam. Herein, the cross-resistance to the other seven insecticides and fitness costs were investigated in the cycloxaprid-resistant A. gossypii strain (Cpd-R), which has developed 69.5-fold resistance to cycloxaprid. The results showed that the Cpd-R strain had very low levels of cross-resistance to imidacloprid (4.3-fold), acetamiprid (2.9-fold), thiamethoxam (3.7-fold), nitenpyram (6.1-fold), flupyradifurone (2.2-fold), and sulfoxaflor (4.5-fold), while it exhibited a cross-resistance to dinotefuran (10.6-fold). The fitness of the Cpd-R strain by life table analysis was only 0.799 compared to the susceptible strain (Cpd-S). This Cpd-R strain exhibited significantly reduction in fecundity, oviposition days, and developmental time of nymph stage compared to the Cpd-S strain. Moreover, the expression levels of some genes related to the development and reproduction, including EcR, USP, JHAMT, and JHEH were significantly up-regulated, while Vg was down-regulated in the Cpd-R strain. This study indicates that the Cpd-R strain possessed a certain fitness cost. The above research results are useful for rational application of cycloxaprid and implementing the appropriate resistance management strategy for A. gossypii.
Large Number of Rare Events: Diversity Analysis in Multiple Choice Questionnaires and Related Topics

The statistical analysis of a large number of rare events, (LNRE), which can also be called statistical theory of diversity, is the subject of acute interest both in statistical theory and in numerous applications. A careful eye will quickly see the presence of a large number of very rare objects almost everywhere: large numbers of rare species in ecosystems, large numbers of rare opinions in any opinion pool, large numbers of small admixtures in any solution and large numbers of rare words in any text are only few examples. In studying such objects, the interest for mathematical statisticians lies in the fact that most of the frequencies are small and, therefore, difficult to deal with. It is not immediately clear how one should be able to derive consistent and reliable inference from a large number of such frequencies. In this thesis we study the diversity of questionnaires with multiple answers. It has been demonstrated that this is a particular model of LNRE theory. In our analysis, the theories of large deviation, contiguity and Edgeworth expansion were employed, and limit theorems have been established.
Reference equations for evaluation of spirometry function tests in South Asia, and among South Asians living in other countries

Background There are few data to support accurate interpretation of spirometry data in South Asia, a major global region with a high reported burden of chronic respiratory disease. Method We measured lung function in 7453 healthy men and women aged ≥18 years, from Bangladesh, North India, South India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, as part of the South Asia Biobank study. First, we assessed the accuracy of existing equations for predicting normal forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and FEV1/FVC ratio. Then, we used our data to derive (n=5589) and internally validate (n=1864) new prediction equations among South Asians, with further external validation among 339 healthy South Asians living in Singapore. Results The Global Lung Initiative (GLI) and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey consistently overestimated expiratory volumes (best fit GLI-African American, mean±sd z-score: FEV1 −0.94±1.05, FVC −0.91±1.10; n=7453). Age, height and weight were strong predictors of lung function in our participants (p<0.001), and sex-specific reference equations using these three variables were highly accurate in both internal validation (z-scores: FEV1 0.03±0.99, FVC 0.04±0.97, FEV1/FVC −0.03±0.99) and external validation (z-scores: FEV1 0.31±0.99, FVC 0.24±0.97, FEV1/FVC 0.16±0.91). Further adjustment for study regions improves the model fit, with highest accuracy for estimation of region-specific lung function in South Asia. Conclusion We present improved equations for predicting lung function in South Asians. These offer the opportunity to enhance diagnosis and management of acute and chronic lung diseases in this major global population. Newly derived spirometry reference equations greatly improve prediction of normal lung function in South Asians, thus filling the long-standing gap of appropriate reference values for this ethnic group https://bit.ly/3H7ZGt5
Coenzyme Q10 alleviates testicular endocrine and spermatogenic dysfunction induced by high‐fat diet in male Wistar rats: Role of adipokines, oxidative stress and MAPK/ERK/JNK pathway

The current study investigated the possible protective effects of Coenzyme Q10 (Co Q10) on rat model of high‐fat diet (HFD) induced testicular dysfunction. Thirty male Wistar rats were allocated randomly into three groups: control, HFD, HFD + Co Q10 (75 mg/kg/day) groups. Animals were sacrificed after 3 months and epididymal sperm suspension, blood, and testes were collected for further analysis. In comparison to the untreated HFD group, the Co Q10 treated group revealed significantly increased serum testosterone, adiponectin levels, and decreased LH, FSH, and leptin levels. In addition, HFD resulted in significant increase in testicular oxidative stress (increased MDA, iNOS, NO, XO & decreased catalase, SOD, GSH) and inflammation (increased pJNK/JNK, pERK/ERK, and p‐p38MAPK/MAPK), while Co Q10 was effective to ameliorate these changes. In addition, Co Q10 significantly increased sperm count, motility and viability that were markedly deteriorated by HFD. Regarding testicular ultrastructure, seminiferous tubular diameter and epithelium height were reduced in HFD group and Co Q10 significantly improved these testicular changes. Finally, a significant reduction in spermatogenic cell proliferation was detected by PCNA fluorescent expression and Co Q10 significantly reversed this change. In summary, our results indicated that Co Q10 could suppress testicular dysfunction produced by HFD. This protective effect could be attributed to its antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory properties and to its effect on adipokines and spermatogenic cell proliferation. So, Co Q10 may be a promising food supplement to protect against testicular dysfunction induced by HFD.
A NanoBRET-Based H3R Conformational Biosensor to Study Real-Time H3 Receptor Pharmacology in Cell Membranes and Living Cells

Conformational biosensors to monitor the activation state of G protein-coupled receptors are a useful addition to the molecular pharmacology assay toolbox to characterize ligand efficacy at the level of receptor proteins instead of downstream signaling. We recently reported the initial characterization of a NanoBRET-based conformational histamine H3 receptor (H3R) biosensor that allowed the detection of both (partial) agonism and inverse agonism on living cells in a microplate reader assay format upon stimulation with H3R ligands. In the current study, we have further characterized this H3R biosensor on intact cells by monitoring the effect of consecutive ligand injections in time and evaluating its compatibility with photopharmacological ligands that contain a light-sensitive azobenzene moiety for photo-switching. In addition, we have validated the H3R biosensor in membrane preparations and found that observed potency values better correlated with binding affinity values that were measured in radioligand competition binding assays on membranes. Hence, the H3R conformational biosensor in membranes might be a ready-to-use, high-throughput alternative for radioligand binding assays that in addition can also detect ligand efficacies with comparable values as the intact cell assay.
Preliminary Study on Comparative Efficacy of Four Light Sources for Trapping Culicoides spp. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, Thailand

Abstract The light trap is an important tool to determine the presence and abundance of vectors in the field. However, no one has studied the efficiency of light traps for collecting Culicoides in Thailand. In the present study, the efficacy of four light sources was evaluated in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, Thailand. Incandescent (INCND) light, white fluorescent (WHT-FLR) light, ultraviolet fluorescent (UV-FLR) light, and UV light-emitting diode (UV-LED) light were tested using commercial traps. In total, 30,866 individuals of Culicoides species were collected from November 2020 to June 2021, of which 21,016 were trapped on site 1 and 6,731 were trapped on site 2. The two most abundant Culicoides species were C. imicola (54%) and C. oxystoma (31.2%). UV-FLR was highly effective, followed by UV-LED light, WHT-FLR light, and INCND light, respectively, for Culicoides collection. Significantly, more Culicoides species were collected in those traps baited with UV-FLR light, UV-LED light, or WHT-FLR light than for INCND light traps. Traps equipped with UV-FLR lights can be recommended to trap Culcoides biting midges for monitoring purposes.
Interchangeability of optical tracking technologies: potential overestimation of the sprint running load demands in the English Premier League

ABSTRACT Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess the agreement between match-derived running load outputs; total distance (TD), high-speed running (HSR) and sprint distance (SPR) obtained by two optical tracking systems. Methods Data were collected from 31 elite footballers from the first team and under-21 squads of an English Premier League (EPL) football club across three competitive matches. One EPL game (game 2) and one under-21 Premier League game (game 3) were played at the team’s home stadium and one EPL game (game 1) at an away venue. All matches were tracked concomitantly using eight colour cameras sampling at 10 Hz (PROZONE®) and six high-definition motion cameras sampling at 25 Hz (TRACAB®). Results TD displayed a perfect (r = 0.99) correlation while HSR and SPR displayed very large (r = 0.81 and r = 0.73) correlations between TRACAB® and PROZONE®. Mean biases were 5% for TD, −3% for HSR and 61% for SPR. Between games, mean biases for TD were 6% for game 1, and 5% for game 2 and game 3. For HSR, 9% for game 1, −5% for game 2 and 6% for game 3 and for SPR, 31% for game 1, 71% for game 2 and 84% for game 3. Conclusion TD and HSR can be interchanged between PROZONE® and TRACAB®, to allow accurate interpretation between the two optical systems. PROZONE® overestimated SPR compared to the TRACAB®, with the magnitude of difference considered meaningful, altering interpretation of historical match outputs, sprint volume trends in the EPL and forecasts of the modern game.
Obesity-related genomic instability and altered xenobiotic metabolism: possible consequences for cancer risk and chemotherapy

Abstract The increase in the prevalence of obesity has led to an elevated risk for several associated diseases including cancer. Several studies have investigated the DNA damage in human blood samples and showed a clear trend towards increased DNA damage in obesity. Reduced genomic stability is thus one of the consequences of obesity, which may contribute to the related cancer risk. Whether this is influenced by compromised DNA repair has not been elucidated sufficiently yet. On the other hand, obesity has also been linked to reduced therapy survival and increased adverse effects during chemotherapy, although the available data are controversial. Despite some indications that obesity might alter hepatic metabolism, current literature in humans is insufficient, and results from animal studies are inconclusive. Here we have summarised published data on hepatic drug metabolism to understand the impact of obesity on cancer therapy better. Furthermore, we highlight knowledge gaps in the interrelationship between obesity and drug metabolism from a toxicological perspective.
A novel model mouse for type 2 diabetes mellitus with early onset and persistent hyperglycemia

Various mouse models of type 2 diabetes have been established, but few of these show early onset and persistent hyperglycemia. We have established a congenic mouse strain (NSY.B6-Tyr+,Ay) in which a spontaneous mutation of the agouti yellow (Ay) gene, which causes obesity by hyperphagia, was introduced into the NSY strain, which shows increased glucose intolerance with age. This strain has been maintained as a segregating inbred strain by mating obese yellow (Ay/a) males with normal black (a/a) females. All yellow males showed marked obesity and hyperglycemia (mean blood glucose level >400 mg/dl) from 10 to 24 weeks of age. The yellow males also showed glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. They provide a potentially valuable model mouse for research into type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, fatty liver, and renal glomerular complications. Yellow female mice also showed marked obesity, but the incidence of diabetes and the severity of various pathological conditions were milder than in yellow males. None of the black mice showed hyperglycemia in either sex. NSY.B6-Tyr+,Ay strain has good fertility and does not display inter-male aggression, making them useful as a new model for type 2 diabetes with early onset and persistent hyperglycemia.