Arterial spin labeling MR image denoising and reconstruction using unsupervised deep learning

Arterial spin labeling (ASL) imaging is a powerful magnetic resonance imaging technique that allows to quantitatively measure blood perfusion non-invasively, which has great potential for assessing tissue viability in various clinical settings. However, the clinical applications of ASL are currently limited by its low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), limited spatial resolution, and long imaging time. In this work, we propose an unsupervised deep learning-based image denoising and reconstruction framework to improve the SNR and accelerate the imaging speed of high resolution ASL imaging. The unique feature of the proposed framework is that it does not require any prior training pairs but only the subject's own anatomical prior, such as T1-weighted images, as network input. The neural network was trained from scratch in the denoising or reconstruction process, with noisy images or sparely sampled k-space data as training labels. Performance of the proposed method was evaluated using in vivo experiment data obtained from 3 healthy subjects on a 3T MR scanner, using ASL images acquired with 44-min acquisition time as the ground truth. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed txtc framework over the reference methods. In summary, our proposed unsupervised deep learning-based denoising and reconstruction framework can improve the image quality and accelerate the imaging speed of ASL imaging.     

Rosmarinus plants: Key farm concepts towards food applications

Rosmarinus species are aromatic plants that mainly grow in the Mediterranean region. They are widely used in folk medicine, food, and flavor industries and represent a valuable source of biologically active compounds (e.g., terpenoids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids). The extraction of rosemary essential oil is being done using three main methods: carbon dioxide supercritical extraction, steam distillation, and hydrodistillation. Furthermore, interesting antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antileishmanial, anthelmintic, anticancer, anti‐inflammatory, antidepressant, and antiamnesic effects have also been broadly recognized for rosemary plant extracts. Thus the present review summarized data on economically important Rosmarinus officinalis species, including isolation, extraction techniques, chemical composition, pharmaceutical, and food applications.     

姜良铎通降腑气的用药经验

姜良铎师从国医大师张学文和著名中医学家董建华,声誉杏林,具有深厚的理论功底和丰富地临床经验。姜良铎善治内科杂病,倡调畅三焦气机,重脏腑协调平衡,尤擅用通降之品化裁于方中,在临床实践中,应用该理论灵活选方用药并注重随证加减,取得良好的治疗效果。     

Information communication technology-enabled instrumental activities of daily living: a paradigm shift in functional assessment

Abstract

Purpose: Information Communication Technology, such as smartphones, apps, the internet, etc., has become all-pervasive in our society. To learn the impact of Information Communication Technology (ICT) on everyday functioning, specifically Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), an exploratory review was undertaken.

Methods: We identified how many primary IADL domains were substantially influenced by ICT, by examining primary IADL domains, in terms of traditional and ICT-enabled ways of completing these common tasks. The study further explored the implications of the pervasiveness of ICT and the ICT-enabled new normal in everyday functioning that underpins the need to redefine IADLs.

Results: This examination revealed that the impact of ICT on IADLs has been so profound, that it marks a paradigm shift in the way we assess IADL completion. Creation of the concept of “Electronic Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (eIADLs)” would be a first step in marking this paradigm shift, and would foster further advances for understanding the mechanisms underlying the ICT-based life style related outcome measurement in rehabilitation science.

• IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• The presence of Information Communication Technology (ICT) has substantially influenced the way we complete our Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). Indeed, the impact is so profound, that it marks a paradigm shift in the way we should assess and measure everyday functioning.

• Creation of the concept of eIADLs would be a first step in marking this paradigm shift, and would foster further advances for understanding the mechanisms underlying the ICT-based life style related outcome measurement in the rehabilitation sciences.

     

Formative Research for an Innovative Smartphone Application to Improve Distribution of Healthy Foods to Corner Stores in Baltimore City

We sought to collect information about the operations of wholesalers and store owner perceptions of smartphones to plan for and create a smartphone application that will facilitate the distribution of healthy foods to corner stores. In-depth interviews were conducted with wholesalers, corner store owners, distributors, and food environment experts in Baltimore City, Maryland, which included providing feedback for a mockup of the app. Store owners that were comfortable with smartphones liked the idea of the app because it was economically practical, culturally suitable, simple and easy to use, and provided a large variety of items at a fair or low price. We found that barriers to uptake among corner store owners would be high delivery costs, no foreign language capability, and a complicated user interface. This work will inform future projects that will utilize mHealth technology to improve distribution of healthier foods in food deserts.