TASK DEFINITION: Given a passage classify if the passage has a definite objective/aim/goal or not. Output '1' if the passage has a defininte objective/aim/goal and output '0' if the passage does not have a definite objective/aim/goal.
PROBLEM: MRI of tissues with rapid transverse relaxation can be performed efficiently using the zero echo time (ZTE) technique. At high bandwidths leading to large relative initial radiofrequency (RF) dead times, the method becomes increasingly sensitive to artifacts related to signal stemming from outside the field of view, particularly from the RF coils. Therefore, in this work, a birdcage coil was designed that is virtually free of 1H signal.', 'A transmit-receive birdcage RF coil for MRI of joints at 7T was designed by rigorously avoiding materials containing 1H nuclei, by using purely mechanical connections without glue, and by spoiling of unwanted signal by application of ferromagnetic materials. The coil was tested for residual 1H signal using ZTE phantom and in vivo joint imaging.', 'In standard ZTE imaging, no 1H signal was detected above noise level. Only at extreme averaging, residual signal was observed close to conductors associated with 1H-containing molecules at adjacent glass surfaces. Phantom images with dead times up to 3.8 Nyquist dwells were obtained with only negligible background artifacts. Furthermore, high-quality ZTE images of human joints were acquired.

SOLUTION: 1

PROBLEM: To determine whether anxiety and depression are associated with greater respiratory discomfort in asthma.', 'Adults with asthma (n = 230) underwent methacholine (Mch) challenge. Anxiety and depression, asthma control, and quality of life were evaluated at study entry by using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Asthma Control Test, and Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire, respectively. Qualitative descriptors of breathlessness, dyspnea intensity (modified Borg scale and visual analog scale [VAS]), and other respiratory symptoms were evaluated before and after Mch challenge.', 'Patients were classified as neither anxiety nor depression (NAD), anxiety only, depression only (D), or both anxiety and depression (AD) according to the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale score. Asthma Control Test and Asthma Control Test, and Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire scores were lowest in the AD group (both p < 0.001). VAS scores for dyspnea and wheezing before Mch challenge were highest in the AD group (both p < 0.05). The increase in the modified Borg scale score after Mch challenge was higher in the AD group (mean [standard deviation] 2.5 ± 2.0) than in the NAD (1.5 ± 1.5) and D (0.8 ± 0.9) groups (p = 0.006 and p = 0.003, respectively). Most descriptors of breathlessness were more prevalent in the anxiety only, D, and AD groups than in the NAD group. Multivariable logistic regression models indicated that anxiety increased the risk of dyspnea (odds ratio 1.10, p < 0.001 for the Borg score; odds ratio 3.84, p = 0.032 for the VAS score) but not for other respiratory symptoms.

SOLUTION: 1

PROBLEM: Despite advances in the understanding of diabetic retinopathy, the nature and time course of molecular changes in the retina with diabetes are incompletely described. This study characterized the functional and molecular phenotype of the retina with increasing durations of diabetes.', 'Using the streptozotocin-induced rat model of diabetes, levels of retinal permeability, caspase activity, and gene expression were examined after 1 and 3 months of diabetes. Gene expression changes were identified by whole genome microarray and confirmed by qPCR in the same set of animals as used in the microarray analyses and subsequently validated in independent sets of animals. Increased levels of vascular permeability and caspase-3 activity were observed at 3 months of diabetes, but not 1 month. Significantly more and larger magnitude gene expression changes were observed after 3 months than after 1 month of diabetes. Quantitative PCR validation of selected genes related to inflammation, microvasculature and neuronal function confirmed gene expression changes in multiple independent sets of animals.

SOLUTION:
0