Albertsenyang8429

Constraints in extended neighborhood system demand the use of a large number of interpolations in directionality-guided compressed-sensing nonlinear diffusion MR image reconstruction technique. This limits its practical application in terms of computational complexity. The proposed method aims at multifold improvement in its runtime without compromising the image quality.

Conventional approach to extended neighborhood computation requires 108 linear interpolations per pixel for 10 sets of neighborhoods. #link# We propose a neighborhood stretching technique that systematically extends the location of neighboring pixels such that 66% to 100% fewer interpolations are required to compute the gradients along multiple directions. A spatial frequency-based deviation measure is then used to choose the most reliable edges from the set of images generated by diffusion along different directions.

The semi-interpolated and interpolation-free diffusion techniques proposed in this paper are compared with the fully interpolased sensing MRI reconstruction methods.

To evaluate transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) findings in patients who underwent segmental rectosigmoid resection for deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) and to correlate postsurgical ultrasound findings with symptoms.

A retrospective study including 50 premenopausal women with bowel endometriosis who underwent segmental rectosigmoid resection was conducted. Within 12 months after surgery, a TVUS examination was conducted in all patients to evaluate the presence of postsurgical endometriosis locations and symptoms, including dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, dysuria, dyschezia, and chronic pelvic pain. Pelvic pain was assessed in all women by a visual analog scale.

At the follow-up 32 of 50 patients were receiving medical treatment, whereas 18 women declined postsurgical medical therapy and tried to conceive. A high percentage of adhesions (90%) was found. A negative sliding sign (a simple diagnostic sign that can be performed during a TVUS examination, consisting of gentle pressure applied by both the vaginal symptoms experienced during follow up. Women should be aware that painful symptoms and alterations of pelvic organs could still be present after surgery and be detectable by TVUS.

To evaluate the utility of hyperpolarized [1-

C]-l-lactate to detect hepatic pyruvate carboxylase activity in vivo under fed and fasted conditions.

[1-

C]-labeled sodium L-lactate was polarized using a dynamic nuclear polarizer. Polarization level and the T

were measured in vitro in a 3 Telsa MR scanner. Two groups of healthy rats (fasted vs. fed) were prepared for in vivo studies. Each rat was anesthetized and intravenously injected with 60-mM hyperpolarized [1-

C]-l-lactate, immediately followed by dynamic acquisition of

C (carbon-13) MR spectra from the liver at 3 Tesla. The dosage-dependence of the

C-products was also investigated by performing another injection of an equal volume of 30-mM hyperpolarized [1-

C]-l-lactate.

T

and liquid polarization level of [1-

C]-l-lactate were estimated as 67.8 s and 40.0%, respectively. [1-

C]pyruvate and [1-

C]alanine, [

C]bicarbonate (







HCO





3





-





) and [1-

C]aspartate were produced frourable pyruvate carboxylase/pyruvate dehydrogenase enzyme activities.

This study demonstrates that a unique biomarker of pyruvate carboxylase flux, the appearance of [1-13 C]aspartate from [1-13 C]-l-lactate, is sensitive to nutritional state and may be monitored in vivo at 3 Tesla. Because [13 C] HCO 3 - is largely produced by pyruvate dehydrogenase flux, these results suggest that the ratio of [1-13 C]aspartate and [13 C] HCO 3 - (aspartate/ HCO 3 - ) reflects the saturable pyruvate carboxylase/pyruvate dehydrogenase enzyme activities.Ultrasonography offers a unique advantage in the clinical diagnosis of intussusception. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography in pediatric intussusception. The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library databases, and African Journals Online database were searched for studies pertaining to ultrasonographic diagnosis of intussusception in children. Finally, read more (combined n = 2367) were found eligible for inclusion. Pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.94 (95% confidence interval 0.91-0.96) and 0.96 (95% confidence interval 0.93-0.98), respectively. In conclusion, ultrasonography has high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of intussusception.Neonicotinoids are a widely used class of pesticides. Co-exposure to neonicotinoids and other classes of pesticides can exert potentiating or synergistic effects, and these mixtures have been detected in human bodily fluids. The present review summarizes studies into the effects of neonicotinoid-containing pesticide mixtures on humans and other nontarget organisms. Exposure to these mixtures has been reported to result in reproductive and hormonal toxicity, genotoxicity, neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and immunotoxicity in vertebrates. Mortality of pollinators and toxicity in other organisms has also been reported. The underlying mechanism of pesticide mixture toxicity may be associated with impairment of cytochrome 450 enzymes, which are involved in metabolizing pesticides. However, a comprehensive explanation of the adverse effects of neonicotinoid-containing pesticide mixtures is still required so that effective prevention and control measures can be formulated. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;391884-1893. © 2020 SETAC.The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has led to an unprecedented demand for diagnostic tests. Many studies have modeled the efficiency gains of specimen pooling, but few have systematically evaluated the dilution effect of pooling on the sensitivity of tests. Using the frequency distribution of cycle threshold (Ct ) values of our first 838 SARS-CoV-2 positive specimens, we modeled 100 specimens on the same frequency distribution. Given this distribution, we then tested dilutions of 15, 110, and 150 to find the percentage of specimens positive at each Ct value with each pool size. Using the frequency distribution and the percentage of specimens positive at each Ct value, we estimate that pools of 5 lead to 93% sensitivity, pools of 10 lead to 91% sensitivity, and pools of 50 lead to 81% sensitivity. Pools of 5 and 10 lead to some specimens with Ct values of ≥32 becoming negative, while pools of 50 lead to some specimens with Ct values of ≥28 becoming negative. These sensitivity estimates can inform laboratories seeking to implement pooling approaches as they seek to balance test efficiency with sensitivity.Recently, the need of improvement of energy storage has led to the development of Lithium batteries with porous materials as electrodes. Porous Germanium (pGe) has shown promise for the development of new generation Li-ion batteries due to its excellent electronic, and chemical properties, however, the effect of lithium in its properties has not been studied extensively. In this contribution, the effect of surface and interstitial Li on the electronic properties of pGe was studied using a first-principles density functional theory scheme. The porous structures were modeled by removing columns of atoms in the [001] direction and the surface dangling bonds were passivated with H atoms, and then replaced with Li atoms. Also, the effect of a single interstitial Li in the Ge was analyzed. The transition state and the diffusion barrier of the Li in the Ge structure were studied using a quadratic synchronous transit scheme.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disease associated with worse structural and functional impairment of the heart in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM).

The presence and severity of OSA can decrease the right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) in patients with HOCM.

In total, 151 consecutive patients with a confirmed diagnosis of HOCM at Fuwai Hospital between September 2017 and September 2018 were included. Polysomnography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging were performed in all patients.

Overall, 84 (55.6%) patients were diagnosed with OSA. The RVEF significantly decreased with the severity of OSA (none, mild, moderate-severe 46.1 ± 8.2 vs 42.9 ± 7.5 vs 41.4 ± 7.4, P = .009). The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was significantly high in patients with RVEF<40% among the different OSA groups (mild, moderate7.7 ± 2.4 vs 9.6 ± 2.9, P = .03; 24.4 ± 9.0 vs 36.3 ± 18.0, P = .01). In the multiple linear regression model, the right ventricular end-systolic volume (β = -0.28, P < .001), AHI (β = -0.09, P = .02), and oxygen desaturation index (β = -0.11, P = .04) were independently associated with a decrease in RVEF (adjusted R

= 0.347, P < .001). Furthermore, the prevalence of RVEF<40% was high in patients with OSA. link2 Compared with RVEF>40%, RVEF<40% was associated with more symptoms, mainly chest pain, chest distress, NYHA class III or IV, pulmonary hypertension, and moderate or severe mitral regurgitation.

In patients with HOCM, the presence and severity of OSA is independently associated with a lower RVEF. In addition, compared with patients with RVEF>40%, those with RVEF<40% had more symptoms, including chest pain, chest distress, and NYHA class III or IV.

40%, those with RVEF less then 40% had more symptoms, including chest pain, chest distress, and NYHA class III or IV.

Sarcopenia is associated with poor health outcomes such as disability, institutionalization, and mortality. Efforts to manage sarcopenia clinically have been hindered by challenges in determining how to ascertain sarcopenia status correctly. The objective of this project was to assess the agreement between the different methods of ascertaining sarcopenia recommended by expert groups.

Cross-sectional study of baseline data (2011-2015) from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

Population-based multicenter study of community-dwelling participants.

Eligible participants (n = 12,646) aged 65 to 85 living within 25 to 50 km of 11 data collection sites in Canada. link3 The analyses included 10,820 participants with the data required to diagnose sarcopenia.

Sarcopenia was operationalized as appendicular lean mass (ALM), ALM and grip strength, ALM and gait speed, and grip strength and gait speed. Within each combination, ALM was adjusted for height squared, weight, body mass index, and the residual of regressent agreement to be considered equivalent. This has important clinical implications for the management of sarcopenia because treatments may differ based on how sarcopenia is identified. To improve the clinical utility of sarcopenia, a unified definition of sarcopenia is required.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia implemented widespread closure of beauty and cosmetic services to control the virus spread. The effect of these restrictions is unknown, given that beauty services are widely used for stress relief or to enhance confidence. The current study explored the relationship between engagement in appearance-focused behaviors and distress regarding beauty service closure. Participants with high and low levels of dysmorphic concern were compared to determine whether COVID-19 restrictions may affect these groups differently.

An online survey was completed by 216 participants living in Australia. Questions addressed engagement in appearance-focused behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic and attitudes toward beauty service closure. The Dysmorphic Concern Questionnaire (DCQ) was used to group participants by low and high dysmorphic concern.

Appearance-focused behaviors decreased in the low DCQ group (n = 163) during the COVID-19 pandemic, while such behaviors in the high DCQ group (n = 53) remained unchanged.