Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Low-dose chest CT: optimizing radiation protection for patients.

OBJECTIVE The aim of our study was to evaluate CT scanning protocols to determine how best to minimize patient exposure to ionizing radiation while maintaining sufficient image quality to detect pulmonary diseases. SUBJECT AND METHODS The CT dose index (CTDI) was determined by scanning an acrylic phantom at various tube current-time products (7.5-115 mAs). Image quality was evaluated by comparing the homogeneity and noise level of CT scans obtained in the acrylic phantom with those obtained in a water-equivalent phantom. The CT scans obtained at various milliampere-second settings in patients with nodules or diffuse opacifications were assessed. The relationships between the CTDI and the image quality of the CT scans (noise level and artifacts) were established. RESULTS The reduction of a conventional tube current-time product (115 mAs) by 65%, 78%, or 93.5% can decrease the CTDI by 60%, 70%, or 85%, respectively. In correlating the image quality of each CT scan to the milliampere-second settings used to obtain it, we found that homogeneity decreased as milliampere-second settings decreased, whereas the noise level increased as milliampere-second settings decreased. For both 8- and 3-mm slice thicknesses, the homogeneity of CT scans acquired at 7.5 mAs or greater was within the acceptable range (< 4 H). However, the noise level of CT scans remained within the acceptable range (< 0.35%) when 25 mAs or greater was used. The evaluation of the image quality of the patients' CT scans indicated no statistical significance in image quality rating between the scans obtained at 25 mAs and those obtained at 115 mAs (p > 0.01). CONCLUSION Low-dose (i.e., 40 or 25 mAs) helical chest CT produced satisfactory image quality and reduced the CTDI, thereby maximally protecting patients from radiation exposure.
A Revised and Extended Holocene Glacial History of Icy Bay, Southern Alaska, U.S.A

Abstract Tidewater glaciers have coalesced to advance through Icy Bay, Alaska, three times during the past 3800 yr. Radiocarbon ages show that the first of these expansions was underway by 3750 cal yr B.P. and culminated at the outer coast between 3505 and 3245 cal yr B.P. Subsequent recession and readvance brought the ice margin back to the outer coast by 1525 cal yr B.P. (cal a.d. 425) where it remained for about 650 yr before retreating. Tree-ring cross-dates of glacially killed trees show that the most recent ice advance was underway through the inner bay by the a.d. 1640s and reached into the outer bay in the 1810s. Historical data support ice expansion through the outer bay in the early 19th century and show a late 19th century maximum prior to 20th century retreat. These results are a significant revision and extension of previous studies of the Holocene glacial history of Icy Bay. Average advance rates for the most recent expansion were typical of modern tidewater glaciers in the inner bay but much faster in the outer bay; shallow water here may have been important to this latter phase of unusually rapid advance.
The first representative of the globally widespread subdivision 6 Acidobacteria,Vicinamibacter silvestris gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from subtropical savannah soil.

Members of the phylum Acidobacteria are abundant in a wide variety of soil environments. Despite this, previous cultivation attempts have frequently failed to retrieve representative phylotypes of Acidobacteria, which have, therefore, been discovered by culture-independent methods (13175 acidobacterial sequences in the SILVA database version 123; NR99) and only 47 species have been described so far. Strain Ac_5_C6T represents the first isolate of the globally widespread and abundant subdivision 6 Acidobacteria and is described in the present study. Cells of strain Ac_5_C6T were Gram-stain-negative, immotile rods that divided by binary fission. They formed yellow, extremely cohesive colonies and stable aggregates even in rapidly shaken liquid cultures. Ac_5_C6T was tolerant of a wide range of temperatures (12-40 °C) and pH values (4.7-9.0). It grew chemoorganoheterotrophically on a broad range of substrates including different sugars, organic acids, nucleic acids and complex proteinaceous compounds. The major fatty acids of Ac_5_C6T were iso-C17 : 1 ω9c, C18 : 1 ω7c and iso-C15 : 0. Summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c/C16 : 1 ω6c), iso-C17 : 0 and C16 : 0 were also detected. Phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified glycolipid were identified as polar lipids. The major quinone was MK-8. The DNA G+C content of Ac_5_C6T was 65.9 mol%. With 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 83-84 %, the closest described relatives were Acidicapsa borealis KA1T, Acidobacterium capsulatum 161T, Granulicella pectinovorans TPB6011T, Occallatibacter riparius 277T and Paludibaculum fermentans P105T. According to the morphological, physiological and molecular characteristics, the novel genus Vicinamibacter gen. nov., and the novel species, Vicinamibacter silvestris sp. nov. (type strain Ac_5_C6T = DSM 29464T = LMG 29035T) are proposed.
[Treatment for bowel or biliary obstruction by magnetic compression anastomosis development of Yamanouchi's method and its clinical evaluation].

1. 磁石圧迫吻合術の原理 この手法を思いつくにいたったきっかけであるが, 今から 14 年前の小児の貼付用磁石治療器具(ピップ エレキバンTM)の誤嚥による腸閉塞症例において, 吸着しあった磁石同士の部分に吻合が形成されていた という事実に基づいている. このことから大きく強 い磁石を用いたならば成人にも同様な吻合を形成する ことが可能ではないかと考え,多くの試行錯誤と実験 の結果,最終的に臨床応用出来るところまで技術的に 完成させることが出来た. 実際には,腸管の狭窄部位を迂回するように 2個の 磁石を留置し吸着させると,磁石間に挟まれた 2つの 腸管壁は徐々に虚血壊死におちいる. この時,接し合っ た腸管壁同士は癒着し孔が開き,やがて融合し溝とな り磁石周囲を取り囲むようになる. この溝が磁石周囲 を 1周すると磁石は吻合部から切り離され,きれいな 層々吻合が完成する(図 1). ―特集 21世紀を見据えた画像診断と Interventional Radiology(IVR) ―
Assignment of Actinomyces viscosus and Actinomyces naeslundii strains to numerical taxonomy clusters by immunofluorescence based on antifibril antisera

A previous observation, using a few representative laboratory strains, that rabbit antisera raised against isolated surface fibrils might be useful in identifying Actinomyces viscosus and Actinomyces naeslundii isolates to their correct numerical taxonomy clusters was reexamined with a large culture collection, including clinical isolates from three different laboratories. Strains were first identified by a slower standard procedure, including agglutination with anti-whole-cell antisera, catalase test, and gas and paper chromatography as needed. Indirect immunofluorescence tests indicated that antisera raised against fibrils of strains representing the three principal taxonomic clusters could separate most strains into their correct clusters. The antisera were particularly successful in separating two taxonomically distinct groups of A. naeslundii, clusters 3 and 5, but could not separate A. viscosus belonging to the principal cluster (no. 1) and minor clusters (no. 2, 4, 6).
A novel approach to stability analysis of fixed-point digital filters under finite word length effects

In this paper, a novel approach is proposed to analyze and minimize fixed-point arithmetic errors for digital filter implementations based on eigenvalue sensitivity measures. First, uncertainties of the filter-parameter caused by roundoff and computational errors are expressed in function of register length for fixed-point implementations. Sequentially, based on fixed-point statistical model and normal-form transformation, a stability criterion of the dynamical filter model is derived to form a similarity transformation with a sufficient and necessary condition of the stability. Thus, eigenvalue sensitivity measure with respect to filter parameters is constructed in the sense of induced 2-norm. This measure is minimized by an optimal similarity transformation (normal-form transformation) obtained from an analytically algebraic method. Based upon this transformation as well as the stability criterion, a least register length can be obtained. Finally, an example is performed to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Carbonic anhydrase II is an AP‐1 target gene in osteoclasts

c‐Fos, a member of the AP‐1 family of transcription factors, is necessary for osteoclast differentiation but to date, none of the osteoclast‐phenotypic markers have been identified as AP‐1 target genes. Here, we demonstrate that carbonic anhydrase II (CA II), an enzyme necessary for osteoclast activity, is transcriptionally upregulated by c‐Fos/AP‐1. A functional AP‐1 binding site is present in the CA II promoter and is necessary for this regulation. Furthermore, we show that AP‐1 binding activity, mainly composed of Fra‐2 and JunD, is induced by treatment of bone marrow cultures with the osteoclastogenic hormone 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3. Fra‐2 and JunD are found in mature osteoclasts as well. Thus, our data demonstrate that cFos/AP‐1 can directly regulate the expression of this osteoclast marker and that AP‐1 activity is upregulated in osteoclast progenitors in response to osteoclastogenic signals. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hemodynamic studies in portal hypertension.

The hemodynamic alterations occurring in portal hypertension are com­ plex and difficult to evaluate. Investigation and understanding of the vas­ cular pathophysiology assume clinical importance because operative treat­ ment very often alters splanchnic blood flow suddenly and dramatically. I t is generally conceded that hepatic function is a major determinant in the degree of well being of patients with portal hypertension, especially after complications of portal hypertension are treated by portosystemic shunt. The concept that hepatic function is not the sole determining factor is em­ phasized by a number of clinical studies. Callow et al. (I), Conn & Linden­ muth (2) and Jackson et al. (3) have analyzed the results of shunt therapy in controlled, randomized studies. Survival rates in the surgical groups are not superior to those in the groups treated medically. In a review of the subject, Grace et al. (4) came to the same conclusion. Although survival rates were similar, modes of death differed. In the medically treated control group, hemorrhage from esophageal varices was the major cause while in patients undergoing portacaval shunt, liver failure was the most common cause of death. Johnson et al. (S) reported the results of nonshunting procedures in the control of esophageal varices. None of the long-term survivors were troubled with hepatic encephalopathy or liver failure. In bilharzial cirrhosis hepato­ cellular function usually remains good but Hassab (6) found that 20.6 per cent of such patients undergoing portacaval shunt developed encephalopathy. After nonshunting operations on 3SS patients with the same disease only one patient developed encephalopathy in the absence of bleeding. Mikkelsen et al. (7) reported on 36 patients, in 17 of whom the portal vein was patent, liver function was excellent and there was no evidence of liver disease on gross examination. Following portacaval shunts, 10 developed signs of encephalopathy and five died of liver failure. In those patients with spon­ taneously occluded portal veins these complications were infrequent. The foregoing clinical observations suggest that the sudden complete diversion of portal blood flow, as occurs following an end-to-side or side-to­ side (8, 9) portacaval shunt, may be detrimental to the liver under certain circumstances. This detrimental effect has been observed in dogs (10), spider monkeys (11), and man (12). Warren et al. (13, 14) studied hemo-
Relationship Between Phospholipid Biosynthesis and the Efficiency of the Arsenate Transport System in Yeasts

In studying the possibility that phosphoinositides which formed complexes with arsenic were involved in the arsenate transport system of yeasts, a comparative study of the phospholipid composition and metabolism was carried out both in Saccharomyces carslbergensis and in its arsenate-adapted variant, which showed a deficient inflow of arsenate. It was found that the lipid composition of the two organisms was quite similar, the main classes of phospholipids being phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphoinositides. The only difference was a 1.5- to 2-fold increase in the proportion of inositides in the arsenate-adapted cells. When the transport of arsenate became inactivated in the nonadapted yeasts after a 30- to 60-min exposure to 10−2m arsenate, an increment of inositides of 29 to 50% over the original level was also detected. A study of the incorporation of radioactivity from uniformly labeled 14C-maltose and from 32P-orthophosphate (32Pi) demonstrated a decreased rate of lipid biosynthesis in the arsenate-adapted cells as compared to the normal nonadapted ones. The turnover of the phosphate in phospholipids demonstrated no turnover in phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, and a slow turnover in phosphoinositides. It could be inferred that a normal rate of phospholipid (phosphoinositides) biosynthesis is necessary to have a normal arsenate uptake and that inositide accumulation impairs both the mechanism responsible for the uptake and accumulation of arsenate and the rate of lipid biosynthesis. No differences were found in the deoxyribonucleic acid or protein content of the two types of cells. Also, the arsenate-adapted cells, once freed of external arsenate, showed an increased uptake of 32Pi from low external concentrations of phosphate (10−6 to 10−8m, 10-fold over that observed in AsS cells). These results are indicative of independent behavior in phosphate and arsenate transport systems.
Training residents to be factually accurate and articulate: A case study using foetal heart rate monitoring nomenclature

abstract Careful communication between members of the obstetric team about intrapartum foetal heart rate is critical for clinical management and patient safety. This study evaluated the benefits of two testing modalities in assessing resident physician knowledge of the 2008 NICHD nomenclature. Multiple-choice (MC) and short-answer (SA) examinations were administered to Obstetrics and Gynecology resident physicians before an educational intervention and then immediately after the training, at 6 months and at 12 months. Test scores on both the MC and the SA examinations improved after the training session. The improvement was sustained over the course of the study. Residents performed higher on the MC examination than on the SA test. This study suggests that formalised teaching in foetal heart rate monitoring improves resident physician knowledge of the NICHD nomenclature and that SA examinations may better discriminate between residents who are and are not able to accurately articulate foetal heart rate monitoring terminology.
Expression of human immunodeficiency virus in cerebrospinal fluid of children with progressive encephalopathy

The retrovirus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is now designated the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 27 children with HIV infection was assayed for intra‐blood‐brain barrier (IBBB) synthesis of HIV‐specific antibodies and for the presence of HIV antigen. In this cohort, 11 children had a progressive encephalopathy (PE), 9 had a static encephalopathy (SE), and 7 had normal neurological findings (N). IBBB synthesis of HIV‐specific antibodies was identified (using matched serum and CSF specimens) in 7 of 11 children with PE, 4 of 9 children with SE, and 2 of 7 children with N. HIV antigen was found (using a highly sensitive solid‐phase enzyme immunoassay) in the CSF of 8 of 11 children with PE, none of the children with SE, and none of the 7 children with N. On the basis of these data, we conclude that: (1) IBBB synthesis of HIV antibodies indicates invasion of the central nervous system but may reflect prior or current infection; and (2) HIV antigen in CSF indicates viral expression and correlates with the occurrence of PE. These findings strongly implicate HIV as the causative agent of PE in these children. The assay for HIV antigen in the CSF may be of value in determining the prognosis of children with HIV infection and for evaluating the efficacy of therapeutic agents against this retrovirus.
Prevalence and intensity of Paragonimus uterobilateralis infection among school children in Oban village, South Eastern, Nigeria

A Survey of Paragonimus infection among primary school children aged 6-10 years in Oban village, Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria, was conducted. A total of 198 children were examined:112 (56.6%) were boys while 86 (43.4%) were girls. Eleven of the subjects were sputum positive for paragonimus eggs, giving an overall prevalence rate of 5.5%. The findings show that paragonimiasis is a significant health problem in South Eastern Nigeria; the risk of infection could be minimized by the proper cooking of fresh water crabs and crayfish before consumption.
The Optical and Fluorescence Properties of Planar and Channel Waveguides in Laser Crystal Nd:SrGdGa $_{3}$O $_{7}$ Formed by Carbon Ion Implantation

The planar and channel waveguides were fabricated by C ion implantation on Nd:SrGdGa3O7 crystal respectively. The guided modes and optical propagation properties were investigated by waveguide coupling method, and the simulation of the light propagation process was performed simultaneously for comparison. The propagation losses of planar and channel waveguides were 0.84 dB/cm and 0.5 dB/cm, respectively, which were measured by end-face coupling equipment. The confocal microfluorescence investigation was used to observe the influence of the C ion implantation process on the Nd ions properties. It shows that there are merits about the relative low loss and the good reservation of Nd ions fluorescence properties in the C-ion-implanted waveguide. Thus, this waveguide could be a very promising candidate for integrated optical device.
Comparison of immunological effects of commercially available β-glucans

Biological and most of all immunological effects of natural immunomodulator glucan are already well established. However, since hundreds of individual glucans, isolated from various sources, used at different concentrations and having different physicochemical characteristics are being used, the current scientific knowledge is not complete. In addition, direct comparisons of individual glucans are quite rare. In the present paper, we tested fifteen varieties of glucans differing in source and solubility. Whereas no direct connection between source and immunological effects was found, we can conclude that the best glucans have pleiotropic effects stimulating all facets of immunological reactions, whereas other glucans have low effects or none at all.
Production of BRO β-Lactamases and Resistance to Complement in European Moraxella catarrhalis Isolates

ABSTRACT Of the 419 Moraxella catarrhalis isolates collected during the 1997-1999 European SENTRY surveillance study, 385 (92%) were β-lactamase positive. Twenty-two (5.7%) produced BRO-2 β-lactamase. Twenty-one new mutations were found in the putative promoter region of the bro genes. Nineteen percent of all isolates tested were complement sensitive. Resistance to β-lactams is not linked to the phylogenetic lineages associated with susceptibility to complement.
Phage Therapy: a Step Forward in the Treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections

ABSTRACT Antimicrobial resistance constitutes one of the major worldwide public health concerns. Bacteria are becoming resistant to the vast majority of antibiotics, and nowadays, a common infection can be fatal. To address this situation, the use of phages for the treatment of bacterial infections has been extensively studied as an alternative therapeutic strategy. Since Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most common causes of health care-associated infections, many studies have reported the in vitro and in vivo antibacterial efficacy of phage therapy against this bacterium. This review collects data of all the P. aeruginosa phages sequenced to date, providing a better understanding about their biodiversity. This review further addresses the in vitro and in vivo results obtained by using phages to treat or prevent P. aeruginosa infections as well as the major hurdles associated with this therapy.
Acting like a Tough Guy: Violent-Sexist Video Games, Identification with Game Characters, Masculine Beliefs, & Empathy for Female Violence Victims

Empathy—putting oneself in another’s shoes—has been described as the “social glue” that holds society together. This study investigates how exposure to sexist video games can decrease empathy for female violence victims. We hypothesized that playing violent-sexist video games would increase endorsement of masculine beliefs, especially among participants who highly identify with dominant and aggressive male game characters. We also hypothesized that the endorsement of masculine beliefs would reduce empathy toward female violence victims. Participants (N = 154) were randomly assigned to play a violent-sexist game, a violent-only game, or a non-violent game. After gameplay, measures of identification with the game character, traditional masculine beliefs, and empathy for female violence victims were assessed. We found that participants’ gender and their identification with the violent male video game character moderated the effects of the exposure to sexist-violent video games on masculine beliefs. Our results supported the prediction that playing violent-sexist video games increases masculine beliefs, which occurred for male (but not female) participants who were highly identified with the game character. Masculine beliefs, in turn, negatively predicted empathic feelings for female violence victims. Overall, our study shows who is most affected by the exposure to sexist-violent video games, and why the effects occur. (200 words)
Allergic contact dermatitis from apomorphine

Patch tests with the European standard series, with the addition of eosin, Disperse Red 1, Disperse Red 17, 0.1% thimerosal and 1% ammoniated mercury, 2% copper, 30% titanium, and 1% Red Dye no. 202 (from the Japanese Society of Contact Dermatitis), and photopatch tests with standard test substances, were negative. A patch test with the pigment used on the patient showed a minute papular reaction by D 8. Light microscopic examination of the lesion (H-E stain) showed a lichenoid reaction that consisted of epidermal basal cell degeneration, with incontinence of pigment and Civatte bodies; and dermal band-like infiltration with lymphocytes and histiocytes throughout the dermis, with no evidence of giant cells. A biopsy of the positive patch test reaction showed spongiosis, exocytosis with intraepidermal vesicles, and moderate perivascular infiltration of lymphocytes in the upper dermis. Electron microscopic examination of the lesion revealed pigment granules deposited in macrophages. Xray microanalysis showed multiple metallic peaks, in which titanium was found in high concentration. Treatment with a potent topical corticosteroid 2X a day, had been used for 5 months with no improvement. The papules decreased in size after intralesional steroid injection. Recurrent tenderness and burning sensations, along with enlargement of the papules, occurred within 3 months of the injections. The lesions subsided again with further intralesional corticosteroid injections.