Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
(S)-4-(3-18F-Fluoropropyl)-l-Glutamic Acid: An 18F-Labeled Tumor-Specific Probe for PET/CT Imaging—Dosimetry

The glutamic acid derivative (S)-4-(3-18F-Fluoropropyl)-l-glutamic acid (18F-FSPG, alias BAY 94-9392), a new PET tracer for the detection of malignant diseases, displayed promising results in non–small cell lung cancer patients. The aim of this study was to provide dosimetry estimates for 18F-FSPG based on human whole-body PET/CT measurements. Methods: 18F-FSPG was prepared by a fully automated 2-step procedure and purified by a solid-phase extraction method. PET/CT scans were obtained for 5 healthy volunteers (mean age, 59 y; age range, 51–64 y; 2 men, 3 women). Human subjects were imaged for up to 240 min using a PET/CT scanner after intravenous injection of 299 ± 22.5 MBq of 18F-FSPG. Image quantification, time–activity data modeling, estimation of normalized number of disintegrations, and production of dosimetry estimates were performed using the RADAR (RAdiation Dose Assessment Resource) method for internal dosimetry and in general concordance with the methodology and principles as presented in the MIRD 16 document. Results: Because of the renal excretion of the tracer, the absorbed dose was highest in the urinary bladder wall and kidneys, followed by the pancreas and uterus. The individual organ doses (mSv/MBq) were 0.40 ± 0.058 for the urinary bladder wall, 0.11 ± 0.011 for the kidneys, 0.077 ± 0.020 for the pancreas, and 0.030 ± 0.0034 for the uterus. The calculated effective dose was 0.032 ± 0.0034 mSv/MBq. Absorbed dose to the bladder and the effective dose can be reduced significantly by frequent bladder-voiding intervals. For a 0.75-h voiding interval, the bladder dose was reduced to 0.10 ± 0.012 mSv/MBq, and the effective dose was reduced to 0.015 ± 0.0010 mSv/MBq. Conclusion: On the basis of the distribution and biokinetic data, the determined radiation dose for 18F-FSPG was calculated to be 9.5 ± 1.0 mSv at a patient dose of 300 MBq, which is of similar magnitude to that of 18F-FDG (5.7 mSv). The effective dose can be reduced to 4.5 ± 0.30 mSv (at 300 MBq), with a bladder-voiding interval of 0.75 h.
Agents that Know How to Play

We look at ways to enrich Alternating-time Temporal Logic (ATL) - a logic for specification and verification of multi-agent systems - with a notion of knowledge. Starting point of our study is a recent proposal for a system called Alternating-time Temporal Epistemic Logic (ATEL). We show that, assuming that agents act under uncertainty in some states of the system, the notion of allowable strategy should be defined with some caution. Moreover, we demonstrate a subtle difference between an agent knowing that he has a suitable strategy and knowing the strategy itself. We also point out that the agents should be assumed similar epistemic capabilities in the semantics of both strategic and epistemic operators. Trying to implement these ideas, we propose two different modifications of ATEL. The first one, dubbed Alternating-time Temporal Observational Logic (ATOL), is a logic for agents with bounded recall of the past. With the second, ATEL-R*, we present a framework to reason about both perfect and imperfect recall, in which we also incorporate operators for reasoning about the past. We identify some feasible subsystems of this expressive system.
Psychoactive substance consumption and awareness of health effects among students in tertiary institutions in Ekiti State, Nigeria

The study investigated psychoactive substance consumption and awareness of health effects among students in tertiary institutions in Ekiti State. A total of 480 students were randomly sampled from three tertiary institutions in Ekiti State. A structured questionnaire was used to collect relevant data for the study. Chi-square and t-test statistics were used to verify hypothesis one to three, respectively. Results showed a high consumption of alcohol, tobacco, caffeine and marijuana by participants. Also, there was a significant difference in the extent to which male and female participants consumed psychoactive substances. Factors such as weight control, acceptance by others, desire to experiment and peer group interaction were the rationale for psychoactive substance consumption among the participants. However, there was no significant difference between psychoactive substance users and non-users on the reasons for substance use. Aggressiveness, sleeplessness, tension and headache were the leading health effects experienced by psychoactive substance users. The findings of the study would provide useful information on the extent and types of psychoactive substances consumed by the students for planning health education programmes and for formulation of health policy for students in tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
Lipomas of the head and neck: presentation variability and diagnostic work-up

Introduction: Head and neck lipomas have seldom drawn attention in the literature, except in isolated case reports. Aims: This study aimed to assess the presentation variability of head and neck lipomas as well as the relative importance and efficiency of pre-operative diagnostic methods used. Materials and methods: A retrospective review was undertaken of medical records and imaging studies of 24 patients with histopathologically proven head and neck lipomas, over a three-year period. Results: The 24 patients had 26 lipomas. Men predominated (62.5 per cent). The posterior subcutaneous neck was the most common site. Three patients had deep lipomas affecting the hypopharynx, larynx and parotid gland; all were correctly diagnosed pre-operatively. Computed tomography (CT) scan with specific radiodensity recording was the preferred pre-operative investigation. Conclusions: Lipomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of soft-tissue head and neck masses even in rare locations. A CT or magnetic resonance imaging scan can correctly diagnose a lipoma pre-operatively, thereby allowing better treatment planning.
Are automated debugging techniques actually helping programmers?

Debugging is notoriously difficult and extremely time consuming. Researchers have therefore invested a considerable amount of effort in developing automated techniques and tools for supporting various debugging tasks. Although potentially useful, most of these techniques have yet to demonstrate their practical effectiveness. One common limitation of existing approaches, for instance, is their reliance on a set of strong assumptions on how developers behave when debugging (e.g., the fact that examining a faulty statement in isolation is enough for a developer to understand and fix the corresponding bug). In more general terms, most existing techniques just focus on selecting subsets of potentially faulty statements and ranking them according to some criterion. By doing so, they ignore the fact that understanding the root cause of a failure typically involves complex activities, such as navigating program dependencies and rerunning the program with different inputs. The overall goal of this research is to investigate how developers use and benefit from automated debugging tools through a set of human studies. As a first step in this direction, we perform a preliminary study on a set of developers by providing them with an automated debugging tool and two tasks to be performed with and without the tool. Our results provide initial evidence that several assumptions made by automated debugging techniques do not hold in practice. Through an analysis of the results, we also provide insights on potential directions for future work in the area of automated debugging.
Cortical Excitability in Cryptogenic Localization‐Related Epilepsy: Interictal Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies

Summary: Purpose: To assess whether single‐ and paired‐pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) can measure the interictal brain excitability of medicated patients with cryptogenic localization related epilepsy (CLE). Changes in the balance between excitation and inhibition are the core phenomena in focal epileptogenesis. TMS can assess this balance in the primary motor cortex.
Appraisal of a Leishmania major Strain Stably Expressing mCherry Fluorescent Protein for Both In Vitro and In Vivo Studies of Potential Drugs and Vaccine against Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

Background Leishmania major cutaneous leishmaniasis is an infectious zoonotic disease. It is produced by a digenetic parasite, which resides in the phagolysosomal compartment of different mammalian macrophage populations. There is an urgent need to develop new therapies (drugs) against this neglected disease that hits developing countries. The main goal of this work is to establish an easier and cheaper tool of choice for real-time monitoring of the establishment and progression of this pathology either in BALB/c mice or in vitro assays. To validate this new technique we vaccinated mice with an attenuated Δhsp70-II strain of Leishmania to assess protection against this disease. Methodology We engineered a transgenic L. major strain expressing the mCherry red-fluorescent protein for real-time monitoring of the parasitic load. This is achieved via measurement of fluorescence emission, allowing a weekly record of the footpads over eight weeks after the inoculation of BALB/c mice. Results In vitro results show a linear correlation between the number of parasites and fluorescence emission over a range of four logs. The minimum number of parasites (amastigote isolated from lesion) detected by their fluorescent phenotype was 10,000. The effect of antileishmanial drugs against mCherry+L. major infecting peritoneal macrophages were evaluated by direct assay of fluorescence emission, with IC50 values of 0.12, 0.56 and 9.20 µM for amphotericin B, miltefosine and paromomycin, respectively. An experimental vaccination trial based on the protection conferred by an attenuated Δhsp70-II mutant of Leishmania was used to validate the suitability of this technique in vivo. Conclusions A Leishmania major strain expressing mCherry red-fluorescent protein enables the monitoring of parasitic load via measurement of fluorescence emission. This approach allows a simpler, faster, non-invasive and cost-effective technique to assess the clinical progression of the infection after drug or vaccine therapy.
Do Social Stories Benefit Children with Autism in Mainstream Primary Schools

The winner of the 1998 Stanley Segal Award, Carol Rowe, a specialist teacher with the Kent Behaviour Support Service who works in primary schools, reports on a small scale research project to investigate the possible benefits of a technique, ‘social stories’, for a pupil with an autistic spectrum disorder in a mainstream primary school.
German translation, cultural adaptation, and validation of the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ)

The Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ), developed in Australia in 2012 using a ‘validity-driven’ approach, has been rapidly adopted and is being applied in many countries and languages. It is a multidimensional measure comprising nine distinct domains that may be used for surveys, needs assessment, evaluation and outcomes assessment as well as for informing service improvement and the development of interventions. The aim of this paper is to describe the German translation of the HLQ and to present the results of the validation of the culturally adapted version. The HLQ comprises 44 items, which were translated and culturally adapted to the German context. This study uses data collected from a sample of 1,058 persons with chronic conditions. Statistical analyses include descriptive and confirmatory factor analyses. In one-factor congeneric models, all scales demonstrated good fit after few model adjustments. In a single, highly restrictive nine-factor model (no cross-loadings, no correlated errors) replication of the original English-language version was achieved with fit indices and psychometric properties similar to the original HLQ. Reliability for all scales was excellent, with a Cronbach’s Alpha of at least 0.77. High to very high correlations between some HLQ factors were observed, suggesting that higher order factors may be present. Our rigorous development and validation protocol, as well as strict adaptation processes, have generated a remarkable reproduction of the HLQ in German. The results of this validation provide evidence that the HLQ is robust and can be recommended for use in German-speaking populations. Trial Registration: German Clinical Trial Registration (DRKS): DRKS00000584. Registered 23 March 2011.
Effect of Lactobacillus GG and Breast-feeding in the Prevention of Rotavirus Nosocomial Infection

Background Rotavirus is one of the leading etiologic agents of nosocomial infections among children. The development of preventive measures is therefore important. The efficacy of Lactobacillus GG in the treatment of rotavirus infection has been reported in literature, but there is only one recent study about its effectiveness in prevention of infection. The role of breast-feeding in the prevention of rotavirus infection is still debated. The aim of our study was to assess the efficacy of Lactobacillus GG and breast-feeding in the prevention of nosocomial rotavirus infections. Methods In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study, 220 children aged 1 to 18 months hospitalized from December 1999 to May 2000, received Lactobacillus GG (n = 114) at a dose of 1010 colony-forming units or a comparable placebo (n = 106) every day of their hospital stay. Rotavirus testing on stool samples was performed for every patient on admission, during hospitalization, and after discharge. Results The total incidence of nosocomial rotavirus infections was 27.7% (61 of 220 patients). The attack rate of rotavirus infections among the patients who received probiotic was 25.4% (29 of 114 patients), while for the placebo group it was 30.2% (32 of 106 patients). The difference is not significant (P = 0.432). Forty-seven of 220 infants (21.4%) were breast-fed, and 173 of 220 (78.6%) were non–breast-fed. The attack rate of rotavirus infections among breast-fed infants was 10.6% (5 of 47 infants), while for non–breast-fed infants it was 32.4% (56 of 173 infants). The difference is significant (P = 0.003). Conclusion In our study, Lactobacillus GG was ineffective in preventing nosocomial rotavirus infections, whereas breast-feeding was effective.
Assessment of PEM Fuel Cells-Based DC/DC Power Conversion for Applications in AUVs

This paper assesses the behavior of electrical output for a Ballard Mark V 35-cell 5 kW PEMFC (proton exchange membrane fuel cell) stack-based dc-dc power conversion for applications in autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) under load changes. Since the fuel cell produces dc output voltage that is unregulated, pulsewidth modulated (PWM) dc-dc converters are connected to the output of the studied fuel cell for converting the unregulated voltage into a desired voltage level. The fuel cell model includes the double-layer charging effect, gases diffusion in the electrodes, and the thermodynamic characteristic. Moreover, PWM dc-dc converters are assumed to operate in continuous-conduction mode (CCM), and the compensator is designed with voltage-mode control. The models of the study's fuel cell and PWM dc-dc converters have been implemented in a Matlab/SIMULINK™ environment. The results show that the output voltages of the studied PEMFC connected with PWM dc-dc converters during a load change are stable.
Isolation of a transcription factor DREB1A gene from Phaseolus vulgaris and computational insights into its characterization: protein modeling, docking and mutagenesis

A transcription factor DREB1A (dehydration-responsive element-binding 1A) gene was amplified and sequenced from the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). PvDREB1A had a 777 base pairs (bp) open reading frame encoding a protein of 225 residues. The protein sequence contained a conserved DNA-binding AP2 domain of about 60 residues and a nuclear localization signal (NLS) at N-terminus site. PvDREB1A demonstrated high homology with other DREB1 members only in AP2 domain and NLS site. The phylogenetic distribution of different DREB members showed three main groups as DREB1–3 and PvDREB1A was a member of DREB1 group. Homology modeling and secondary structure analyses revealed that PvDREB1A AP2 domain was packed into the three-stranded antiparallel beta sheets (β1–3) and an alpha helix (α1) almost parallel to these beta sheets. Moreover, DNA-binding AP2 domain of PvDREB1A and GCC-box containing double helix DNA were docked. The docking analysis showed that PvDREB1A AP2 domain could bind to the major groove of the DNA by three-stranded antiparallel beta sheets, with residues Gly86 or Thr87 in β1-sheet and Arg63 or Arg64 in β3-sheet. The docked complex also indicated that AP2 domain has a preferential for the binding of GCC stretches in the double helix DNA. A total of 36 reliably estimated hot spots residues were identified with high mutability grade but none of these residues was essential for the protein function since they are located at outside the DNA-binding AP2 domain of PvDREB1A.
Inter-Relationship between Testicular Dysgenesis and Leydig Cell Function in the Masculinization Programming Window in the Rat

The testicular dysgenesis syndrome (TDS) hypothesis proposes that maldevelopment of the testis, irrespective of cause, leads to malfunction of the somatic (Leydig, Sertoli) cells and consequent downstream TDS disorders. Studies in rats exposed in utero to di(n-butyl) phthalate (DBP) have strongly supported the TDS concept, but so far no direct evidence has been produced that links dysgenesis per se to somatic cell dysfunction, in particular to androgen production/action during the ‘masculinization programming window’ (MPW; e15.5–e18.5). Normal reproductive tract development and anogenital distance (AGD) are programmed within the MPW, and TDS disorders arise because of deficiencies in this programming. However, DBP-induced focal testicular dysgenesis (Leydig cell aggregation, ectopic Sertoli cells, malformed seminiferous cords) is not evident until after the MPW. Therefore, we used AGD as a read-out of androgen exposure in the MPW, and investigated if this measure was related to objectively quantified dysgenesis (Leydig cell aggregation) at e21.5 in male fetuses exposed to vehicle, DBP (500 or 750 mg/kg/day) or the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (Dex; alone or plus DBP-500) from e15.5–e18.5 (MPW), e13.5–e20.5 or e19.5–e20.5 (late window). Dysgenesis was found only in animals exposed to DBP during the MPW, and was negatively correlated (R2 = −0.5) with AGD at e21.5 and at postnatal day 8, irrespective of treatment period. Dysgenesis was also negatively correlated (R2 = –0.5) with intratesticular testosterone (ITT) at e21.5, but only when treatments in short windows (MPW, late window) were excluded; the same was true for correlation between AGD and ITT. We conclude that AGD, reflecting Leydig cell function solely within the MPW, is strongly related to focal dysgenesis. Our results point to this occurring because of a common early mechanism, targeted by DBP that determines both dysgenesis and early (during the MPW) fetal Leydig cell dysfunction. The findings provide strong validation of the TDS hypothesis.
Titanium With Nanotopography Induces Osteoblast Differentiation by Regulating Endogenous Bone Morphogenetic Protein Expression and Signaling Pathway

We aimed at evaluating the effect of titanium (Ti) with nanotopography (Nano) on the endogenous expression of BMP‐2 and BMP‐4 and the relevance of this process to the nanotopography‐induced osteoblast differentiation. MC3T3‐E1 cells were grown on Nano and machined (Machined) Ti surfaces and the endogenous BMP‐2/4 expression and the effect of BMP receptor BMPR1A silencing in both osteoblast differentiation and expression of genes related to TGF‐β/BMP signaling were evaluated. Nano supported higher BMP‐2 gene and protein expression and upregulated the osteoblast differentiation compared with Machined Ti surface. The BMPR1A silencing inhibited the osteogenic potential induced by Nano Ti surface as indicated by reduced alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin and RUNX2 gene expression, RUNX2 protein expression and ALP activity. In addition, the expression of genes related to TGF‐β/BMP signaling was deeply affected by BMPR1A‐silenced cells grown on Nano Ti surface. In conclusion, we have demonstrated for the first time that nanotopography induces osteoblast differentiation, at least in part, by upregulating the endogenous production of BMP‐2 and modulating BMP signaling pathway. J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 1718–1726, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Development of a short form of the Attitudes to Ageing Questionnaire (AAQ)

The original 24‐item Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire (AAQ) is well established as a measure of attitudes to aging, comprising domains of psychosocial loss (PL), physical change (PC), and psychological growth (PG). This paper presents a new 12‐item short form Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire (AAQ‐SF).
Social Awareness and Leader Influence: Development of Classroom and Web-Based Learning Interventions

Abstract : This research entailed developing and testing a detailed program of instruction to help Army leaders improve their social awareness and influence skills. Based on input from Soldier subject matter experts and the behavioral sciences literature, two training programs were developed: a six-hour classroom course and a parallel web-based course. Additionally, four assessments were created: a Social Awareness and Influence Skills Self-assessment to assess self-perceptions of skills, a knowledge test to assess learning in the course, a situational judgment test (SJT) to assess the students? ability to apply social insight and judgment to interpersonal situations, and a web-based role-play to assess the students? ability to apply influence tactics. These courses and assessments were then subsequently tested in two pilot samples. Results of the participant reactions questionnaire indicated that the training programs in both the classroom and web-based formats were well received by the target audience and that participants gained new knowledge as a result of the course. Results also indicated promise for the measures piloted in this project. The outcomes of this effort include a fully developed classroom-based POI and a companion prototype web-based POI that are suitable for first-line Army leaders (E4 to E6 and O1 to O3).
Gait recovery pattern of unilateral lower limb amputees during rehabilitation

The aim of this study was to determine the rate at which gait recovery as measured by temporal distance factors (velocity and symmetry) occurs in unilateral lower limb amputees. A microcomputer footswitch system was used to record the gait patterns of twenty subjects, mean age 65.1 years. The initial measurement was taken when the subject was capable of walking 6 meters with an interim prosthesis within the parallel bars. The patient sample as a whole was analyzed and subjects were further divided into four groups, depending on ambulatory aid required at discharge. Group A, n = 3 used no aid, Group B, n = 5 used a single stick, Group C, n = 6 used 2 single sticks and Group D, n = 5 required frames. A one way analysis of variance (F = 4.55, p = 0.02) showed a significant difference between the Groups, (A and D, B and D, C and D). The major velocity increase occurs within the first 30 days of the gait training programme. Overall about 55% increase in velocity can be expected within the first fifteen day period followed by an additional 30% between days 15-30. A moderately strong correlation (r = 0.78) was found between initial and discharge velocity. The correlation between initial and discharge symmetry was weaker (r = 0.50).