Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Refraction corrected transmission ultrasound computed tomography for application in breast imaging.

PURPOSE We present an iterative framework for CT reconstruction from transmission ultrasound data which accurately and efficiently models the strong refraction effects that occur in our target application: Imaging the female breast. METHODS Our refractive ray tracing framework has its foundation in the fast marching method (FNMM) and it allows an accurate as well as efficient modeling of curved rays. We also describe a novel regularization scheme that yields further significant reconstruction quality improvements. A final contribution is the development of a realistic anthropomorphic digital breast phantom based on the NIH Visible Female data set. RESULTS Our system is able to resolve very fine details even in the presence of significant noise, and it reconstructs both sound speed and attenuation data. Excellent correspondence with a traditional, but significantly more computationally expensive wave equation solver is achieved. CONCLUSIONS Apart from the accurate modeling of curved rays, decisive factors have also been our regularization scheme and the high-quality interpolation filter we have used. An added benefit of our framework is that it accelerates well on GPUs where we have shown that clinical 3D reconstruction speeds on the order of minutes are possible.
The effect of selected metals on the central metabolic pathways in biology: A review

In South Africa, mining and industrial activity may cause toxic substances including metals to pollute surface and groundwater resources. Furthermore, there is an increased public awareness regarding pesticides, fertilisers, agricultural products and metals that might endanger our indigenous fish populations and aquatic ecosystems. This is mainly because humans use these natural resources as food and water supplies and are therefore also exposed to products polluting these resources. Of particular concern is the exposure of bio-organisms to metal pollution, as it is known that metals act as mutagenic/genotoxic compounds, interfere with xenobiotic metabolic pathways, and may also affect glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, oxidative phosphorylation, protein amino acid metabolism as well as carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Therefore, in this review, we discuss the two phases of the central metabolic pathways, as well as how metals affect the different enzymes and metabolic processes in these pathways. The focus is particularly on metals most frequently found in groundwater in South Africa and include cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), aluminium (Al), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and chromium (Cr). We conclude that metals in the environment and polluting our groundwater may have a major impact on human and animal life and that ultimately exposure to these products may be the cause of many diseases due to their effect on the central metabolic pathways. Water SA Vol.32 (4) 2006: pp.543-554
When Your Gain Is My Pain and Your Pain Is My Gain: Neural Correlates of Envy and Schadenfreude

We often evaluate the self and others from social comparisons. We feel envy when the target person has superior and self-relevant characteristics. Schadenfreude occurs when envied persons fall from grace. To elucidate the neurocognitive mechanisms of envy and schadenfreude, we conducted two functional magnetic resonance imaging studies. In study one, the participants read information concerning target persons characterized by levels of possession and self-relevance of comparison domains. When the target person's possession was superior and self-relevant, stronger envy and stronger anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) activation were induced. In study two, stronger schadenfreude and stronger striatum activation were induced when misfortunes happened to envied persons. ACC activation in study one predicted ventral striatum activation in study two. Our findings document mechanisms of painful emotion, envy, and a rewarding reaction, schadenfreude.
Increased midlife triglycerides predict brain β-amyloid and tau pathology 20 years later

Objective To evaluate the effect of midlife lipid levels on Alzheimer brain pathology 20 years later in cognitively normal elderly individuals. Methods This is a longitudinal cohort study of 318 cognitively normal individuals with data on fasting lipid levels at midlife (mean age 54 years). Presence of β-amyloid (Aβ) and tau pathologies 20 years later (mean age 73 years) were detected by quantifying Alzheimer disease (AD) biomarkers in CSF. In a subset (n = 134), Aβ (18F-flutemetamol) PET was also performed. Results CSF Aβ42 and Aβ PET revealed Aβ pathology in approximately 20% of the cognitively healthy population and CSF Aβ42/phosphorylated tau (p-tau) ratio indicated both Aβ and tau pathology in 16%. Higher levels of triglycerides in midlife were independently associated with abnormal CSF Aβ42 (odds ratio [OR] 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–1.75, p = 0.029) and abnormal Aβ42/p-tau ratio (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.10–1.93; p = 0.009) adjusting for age, sex, APOE ε4, education, and multiple vascular risk factors. Triglycerides were also associated with abnormal Aβ PET in multivariable regression models, but the association was attenuated in the fully adjusted model. Increased levels of medium and large low-density lipoprotein subfractions were significantly associated with abnormal Aβ PET and large high-density lipoprotein particles were associated with decreased risk of abnormal Aβ PET. Conclusions Increased levels of triglycerides at midlife predict brain Aβ and tau pathology 20 years later in cognitively healthy individuals. Certain lipoprotein subfractions may also be risk factors for Aβ pathology. These findings further support an involvement of lipids in the very early stages of AD development.
Effect of CO2 on the metabolic and ventilatory responses to ambient temperature in conscious adult and newborn rats.

1. In newborn and adult rats, hypoxia decreases metabolic rate, especially at low ambient temperatures (Ta). We examined whether a similar effect can occur during hypercapnia. 2. We measured metabolism (oxygen consumption, Vo2, open flow‐through method), and expiratory ventilation (VE; barometric method (adults), airflow plethysmograph (newborns)) in air and 2% or 5% CO2 in normoxia. 3. In adults, Vo2 was higher at Ta = 10 degrees C than 25 degrees C. At each Ta, CO2 breathing did not change Vo2, but increased VE, less at 10 degrees C (up to +100%) than at 25 degrees C (+161%). Blood pressure was maintained at both values of Ta and CO2, while pulse rate and body temperature were decreased in 5% CO2 at 10 degrees C. 4. In newborns, the metabolic response to lowering Ta (from 40 to 20 degrees C) much depended on behavioural responses, being larger in groups of two or four pups than in individual animals. In no case did CO2 influence the response. VE increased during 5% CO2 exposure, more so at Ta = 33 percent C (+69%) than at 25 degrees C (+49%). 5. In both adults and newborns, hypoxia (10% O2) always decreased metabolic rate. 6. We conclude that hypercapnia has no appreciable effects on metabolic rate in rats (both newborns and adults) even at low Ta, a result quite different from the hypometabolic response to hypoxia.
Predicting the breaking onset of surface water waves

Why do ocean waves break? Understanding this important and obvious property of the ocean surface has been elusive for decades. This paper investigates causes which lead deep‐water two‐dimensional initially monochromatic waves to break. Individual wave steepness is found to be the single parameter which determines whether the wave will break immediately, never break or take a finite number of wave lengths to break. The breaking will occur once the wave reaches the Stokes limiting steepness. The breaking probability and the location of breaking onset can be predicted, properties of incipient breakers measured. Potential applications to field conditions are discussed.
Effects of Noninhibitory Serpin Maspin on the Actin Cytoskeleton: A Quantitative Image Modeling Approach

Abstract Recent developments in quantitative image analysis allow us to interrogate confocal microscopy images to answer biological questions. Clumped and layered cell nuclei and cytoplasm in confocal images challenges the ability to identify subcellular compartments. To date, there is no perfect image analysis method to identify cytoskeletal changes in confocal images. Here, we present a multidisciplinary study where an image analysis model was developed to allow quantitative measurements of changes in the cytoskeleton of cells with different maspin exposure. Maspin, a noninhibitory serpin influences cell migration, adhesion, invasion, proliferation, and apoptosis in ways that are consistent with its identification as a tumor metastasis suppressor. Using different cell types, we tested the hypothesis that reduction in cell migration by maspin would be reflected in the architecture of the actin cytoskeleton. A hybrid marker-controlled watershed segmentation technique was used to segment the nuclei, cytoplasm, and ruffling regions before measuring cytoskeletal changes. This was informed by immunohistochemical staining of cells transfected stably or transiently with maspin proteins, or with added bioactive peptides or protein. Image analysis results showed that the effects of maspin were mirrored by effects on cell architecture, in a way that could be described quantitatively.
Protein trafficking abnormalities in Drosophila tissues with impaired activity of the ZIP7 zinc transporter Catsup

Developmental patterning requires the precise interplay of numerous intercellular signaling pathways to ensure that cells are properly specified during tissue formation and organogenesis. The spatiotemporal function of the Notch signaling pathway is strongly influenced by the biosynthesis and intracellular trafficking of signaling components. Receptors and ligands must be trafficked to the cell surface where they interact, and their subsequent endocytic internalization and endosomal trafficking is crucial for both signal propagation and its down-modulation. In a forward genetic screen for mutations that alter intracellular Notch receptor trafficking in Drosophila epithelial tissues, we recovered mutations that disrupt the Catsup gene, which encodes the Drosophila ortholog of the mammalian ZIP7 zinc transporter. Loss of Catsup function causes Notch to accumulate abnormally in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi compartments, resulting in impaired Notch signaling. In addition, Catsup mutant cells exhibit elevated ER stress, suggesting that impaired zinc homeostasis causes increased levels of misfolded proteins within the secretory compartment.
Selection of an Immunohistochemical Panel for Cardiovascular Research in Sheep

Large animal research, often required as a final phase before commencing clinical trials for devices, has generally been hampered by the lack of appropriate tools to compare it with either initial small animal tests or to later evaluation in humans. Setting out to tissue engineer heart valves, we were particularly struck by the limited availability of immunohistochemical markers for sheep tissue, despite sheep being the FDA-approved animal for heart valve testing. This paper, therefore, aims to compile the available knowledge and extend the marker list with antibodies cross-reacting with sheep tissue. Thirty-seven antibodies attributed to 1 of these classes were found to be useful: (1) endothelium, (2) mesenchymal cells, myofibroblasts, and smooth muscle cells, (3) immune response, (4) primitive cells, (5) extracellular matrix, and (6) miscellaneous. Twelve had already been used in sheep tissue, but to our knowledge, the remaining 25 have not been described for use in sheep. From this result, we can conclude that the immunohistochemical panel for sheep has been extensively expanded with respect to cardiovascular research.
Induction of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes in Neurospora crassa by cellodextrins

Neurospora crassa colonizes burnt grasslands in the wild and metabolizes both cellulose and hemicellulose from plant cell walls. When switched from a favored carbon source such as sucrose to cellulose, N. crassa dramatically upregulates expression and secretion of a wide variety of genes encoding lignocellulolytic enzymes. However, the means by which N. crassa and other filamentous fungi sense the presence of cellulose in the environment remains unclear. Here, we show that an N. crassa mutant carrying deletions of two genes encoding extracellular β-glucosidase enzymes and one intracellular β-glucosidase lacks β-glucosidase activity, but efficiently induces cellulase gene expression in the presence of cellobiose, cellotriose, or cellotetraose as a sole carbon source. These data indicate that cellobiose, or a modified version of cellobiose, functions as an inducer of lignocellulolytic gene expression in N. crassa. Furthermore, the inclusion of a deletion of the catabolite repressor gene, cre-1, in the triple β-glucosidase mutant resulted in a strain that produces higher concentrations of secreted active cellulases on cellobiose. Thus, the ability to induce cellulase gene expression using a common and soluble carbon source simplifies enzyme production and characterization, which could be applied to other cellulolytic filamentous fungi.
Interoperability of wearable cuffless BP measuring devices

While a traditional cuff-based Blood Pressure (BP) measuring device can only take a snap shot of BP, real-time and continuous measurement of BP without an occluding cuff is preferred which usually use the pulse transit time (PTT) in combination with other physiological parameters to estimate or track BP over a certain period of time after an initial calibration. This article discusses some perspectives of interoperability of wearable medical devices, based on IEEE P1708 draft standard that focuses on the objective performance evaluation of wearable cuffless BP measuring devices. The ISO/IEEE 11073 family of standards, supporting the plug-and play feature, is intended to enable medical devices to interconnect and interoperate with other medical devices and with computerized healthcare information systems in a manner suitable for the clinical environment. In this paper, the possible adoption of ISO/IEEE 11073 for the interoperability of wearable cuffless BP devices is proposed. In the consideration of the difference of the continuous and cuffless BP measuring methods from the conventional ones, the existing device specialization standards of ISO/IEEE 11073 cannot be directly followed when designing the cuffless BP device. Specifically, this paper discusses how the domain information model (DIM), in which vital sign information is abstracted as objects, is used to structure the information about the device and that generated from the device. Though attention should also be paid to adopt the communication standards for other parts for the communication system, applying communication standards that enable plug-and-play feature allows achieving the interoperability of different cuffless BP measuring devices with possible different configurations.
Bioinspired Load Balancing in Large-Scale WSNs Using Pheromone Signalling

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) consist of multiple, distributed nodes each with limited resources. With their strict resource constraints and application-specific characteristics, WSNs contain many challenging tradeoffs. This paper proposes a bioinspired load balancing approach, based on pheromone signalling mechanisms, to solve the tradeoff between service availability and energy consumption. We explore the performance consequences of the pheromone-based load balancing approach using (1) a system-level simulator, (2) deployment of real sensor testbeds to provide a competitive analysis of these evaluation methodologies. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is evaluated with different scenario parameters and the required performance evaluation techniques are investigated on case studies based on sound sensors.
Street Cleaning Trucks as Potential Sources of Legionella pneumophila

In 2015, Legionnaires’ disease was diagnosed in a street cleaning worker. We found Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 in the water and internal foam from the tanks of 2 trucks used by the worker during the incubation period. The internal foam was removed, and a Legionella prevention program was implemented.
Polycystic ovary syndrome after precocious pubarche: ontogeny of the low‐birthweight effect

OBJECTIVE Young girls with precocious pubarche (PP) are at increased risk of developing polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), including hyperinsulinism, dyslipidaemia and ovarian hyperandrogenism, particularly if PP itself was preceded by a low birthweight. Resistance to insulin is thought to be a key factor in the pathogenesis of this sequence. We aimed to elucidate the peripubertal ontogeny of the low birthweight effect on hyperinsulinism, dyslipidaemia and ovarian dysfunction after PP.
The speeding of EPSC kinetics during maturation of a central synapse

Several factors contribute to the shape of excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) in CNS neurons, among them the kinetics of presynaptic release, transmitter clearance, and the properties and distribution of postsynaptic receptors. The decays of AMPA receptor‐mediated EPSCs at rat cerebellar mossy fibre–granule cell (MF–gc) synapses follow a bi‐exponential time‐course. The fast component dominates the decay, accounting for 84–94% of the peak amplitude. Here we show that both components of decay, and also the risetimes, became faster during postnatal maturation. At adult, but not immature, synapses, the risetimes and decays of evoked multiquantal EPSCs were similar to those of monoquantal miniature (m)EPSCs. The faster risetimes at mature synapses reflected increased synchrony of multivesicular release, whereas the faster decays appeared to reflect changes in the properties of postsynaptic receptors. Inhibition of glutamate uptake was without effect on evoked EPSCs at both ages. Furthermore, after slowing receptor desensitization with cyclothiazide, the EPSCs at mature synapses decayed as slowly as EPSCs at immature synapses, suggesting that faster glutamate clearance does not account for the developmental speeding of EPSC decay. Our results support previous conclusions that glutamate clearance and receptor deactivation are important determinants of the fast decay component at immature synapses. Desensitization becomes increasingly important during development and plays a major role in shaping EPSC decay at mature synapses.
A study of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in relation to respiratory symptoms in mild to moderate asthma

To determine the role high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) as a inflammation cytokine in the severity of asthma, a resting spirometry test and fasting blood sampling was performed in 42 middle-aged males with mild to moderate severity of asthma for measuring serum CRP and respiratory functional. Also, a total 33 healthy males participated in study as control group. Pearson correlations were used to establish the relationship between serum CRP concentrations with spirometry markers in asthma patients. Serum CRP concentration in asthmatic patients was significantly higher than healthy subjects. Serum CRP correlated negatively with FEV1 (p = 0.021), FVC (p = 0.026) and FEV1/FVC (p = 0.034). Based on our results, we can say asthma is a inflammation disorder and these date support the hypothesis that the measurement of serum levels of hs-CRP may be useful tool for detecting systemic inflammation in asthma.
Brief Emergency Department Interventions for Youth Who Use Alcohol and Other Drugs: A Systematic Review

Objective Brief intervention (BI) is recommended for use with youth who use alcohol and other drugs. Emergency departments (EDs) can provide BIs at a time directly linked to harmful and hazardous use. The objective of this systematic review was to determine the effectiveness of ED-based BIs. Methods We searched 14 electronic databases, a clinical trial registry, conference proceedings, and study references. We included randomized controlled trials with youth 21 years or younger. Two reviewers independently selected studies and assessed methodological quality. One reviewer extracted and a second verified data. We summarized findings qualitatively. Results Two trials with low risk of bias, 2 trials with unclear risk of bias, and 5 trials with high risk of bias were included. Trials evaluated targeted BIs for alcohol-positive (n = 3) and alcohol/other drug–positive youth (n = 1) and universal BIs for youth reporting recent alcohol (n = 4) or cannabis use (n = 1). Few differences were found in favor of ED-based BIs, and variation in outcome measurement and poor study quality precluded firm conclusions for many comparisons. Universal and targeted BIs did not significantly reduce alcohol use more than other care. In one targeted BI trial with high risk of bias, motivational interviewing (MI) that involved parents reduced drinking quantity per occasion and high-volume alcohol use compared with MI that was delivered to youth only. Another trial with high risk of bias reported an increase in abstinence and reduction in physical altercations when youth received peer-delivered universal MI for cannabis use. In 2 trials with unclear risk of bias, MI reduced drinking and driving and alcohol-related injuries after the ED visit. Computer-based MI delivered universally in 1 trial with low risk of bias reduced alcohol-related consequences 6 months after the ED visit. Conclusions Clear benefits of using ED-based BI to reduce alcohol and other drug use and associated injuries or high-risk behaviours remain inconclusive because of variation in assessing outcomes and poor study quality.
Baseline Plasma Fatty Acids Profile and Incident Cardiovascular Events in the SU.FOL.OM3 Trial: The Evidence Revisited

Objective We aimed to investigate the association between baseline plasma fatty acids profile and the risk of future major cardiovascular events in patients with a history of ischaemic heart disease or ischemic stroke. Methods Baseline plasma fatty acids as well as established cardiovascular risk factors were measured in 2,263 patients enrolled in the SUpplementation with FOLate, vitamins B-6 and B-12 and/or OMega-3 fatty acids randomized controlled trial. Incident major cardiovascular, cardiac and cerebrovascular events were ascertained during the 4.7 years of follow up. Hazard ratios were obtained from Cox proportional hazards models after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. Results During the follow-up, 154, 379 and 84 patients had major cardiovascular, cardiac and cerebrovascular events respectively. Upon adjustment for gender, initial event, baseline age and BMI, the risk of developing a major cardiovascular event decreased significantly in successive quartiles of arachidonic acid (Ptrend<0.002), total omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (Ptrend<0.03), docosapentaenoic acid (Ptrend<0.019), docosahexaenoic acid (Ptrend<0.004), eicosapentaenoic acid + docosahexaenoic acid (Ptrend<0.03) and eicosapentaenoic acid + docosapentaenoic acid + docosahexaenoic acid (Ptrend<0.02). This inverse association was borderline significant with increased quartiles of stearidonic acid (Ptrend<0.06). In the full model, only stearidonic acid remained inversely associated with the risk of developing a major cardiovascular event (Ptrend<0.035), a cardiac event (Ptrend<0.016) or a cerebrovascular event (Ptrend<0.014), while arachidonic acid was inversely associated with the risk a cerebrovascular event (Ptrend<0.033). Conclusion The inverse association of long chain omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids with recurrence of Cardiovascular diseases was mainly driven by well-known cardiovascular risk factors. Trial Registration Controlled-Trials.com ISRCTN41926726