Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Monte Carlo results from neural networks as an alternative to Compton photons LOR analysis

Sensitivity is critical in small-animal PET, and including more of the discarded detections would increase it. However lowering the energy threshold compromises the spatial resolution. This paper is an update on a method to include triple coincidences in the image without significant image degradation. With the energy threshold set as low as 50 keV, the triple coincidences analyzed are the simplest inter-crystal Compton scatter scenario where one photoelectric 511-keV detection coincides with two detections whose energy sum is also 511-keV. The method uses neural networks instead of traditional Compton interaction mathematical models to compute the proper Line-of-Response (LOR) for that coincidence. The paper revisits the algorithm structure, and in particular the preprocessing steps required to simplify the data fed to the network, preprocessing which improves the LOR computation significantly. The paper then presents Monte-Carlo analysis of the method with various point and cylinder sources. The simulated scanner geometry is purposely made to encompass the very worst-case conditions seen in PET scanners today: small diameter, poor photoelectric fraction, poor 35% FWHM energy resolution. LOR identification error is around 20 to 25% and the sensitivity increase ranges from approximately 70 to 100%. Finally, images were recently obtained, with overall very good quality.
Epidemiology and control of hand, foot and mouth disease in Singapore, 2001-2007.

INTRODUCTION We reviewed the epidemiology of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Singapore after the 2000 epidemic caused by Enterovirus 71 (EV71), with particular reference to the cyclical pattern, predominant circulating enteroviruses and impact of prevention and control measures in preschool centres. MATERIALS AND METHODS We analysed the epidemiological data from all clinical cases and deaths of HFMD diagnosed by medical practitioners and notified to the Ministry of Health, as well as laboratory data on enteroviruses detected among HFMD patients maintained by the Department of Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, and the Microbiology Laboratory, KK Women's and Children's Hospital from 2001 to 2007. RESULTS The incidence rate was highest in the 0 to 4 years old age group, with males being predominant. Three deaths were reported between January and February 2001. Nationwide epidemics occurred periodically; the predominating circulating virus was Coxsackievirus A16 (CA16) in the 2002, 2005 and 2007 epidemics, and EV71 in the 2006 epidemic. During the epidemic years between 2005 and 2007, 2 peaks were observed. The number of institutional outbreaks had increased 10-fold from 167 in 2001 to 1723 in 2007, although most of these outbreaks were rapidly brought under control with an attack rate of less than 10%. CONCLUSION HFMD remains an important public health problem in Singapore with the annual incidence rate per 100,000 population increasing from 125.5 in 2001 to 435.9 in 2007, despite stringent measures taken in preschool centres to prevent the transmission of infection. A high degree of vigilance should be maintained over the disease situation, in particular, surveillance of EV 71 which continues to cause severe complications and deaths in the region.
A model for the mechanism of action of the repellent DEET on Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae).

A model is proposed to suggest that the mechanism of action of DEET on the mosquito Aedes aegypti is through interaction of the repellent molecules with the lipid portion of cell membranes. DEET in the vapor state would have access to the membranes of neurons in the chemosensilla and to the membranes of a great many body cells via pores in the cuticle and the tracheal system, respectively. In host location, a behavior chiefly mediated by olfactory cues, interaction of DEET molecules with lipids perturbs the organization of the dendritic membranes in such a way that the normal responses to attractants are altered. Sufficient quantity of DEET would alter significantly the sensory pattern, largely composed of responses from all the olfactory neurons, that impinges on the central nervous system (CNS). Consequently, the CNS would not elicit the muscular contractions needed to make the appropriate turning responses that would keep the mosquito within the stream of host-related attractants. DEET, having entered the body through the spiracles, may indirectly interfere with nonolfactory-mediated behaviors by interaction with membranes of a large number of body cells, initially affecting respiration. Other physiological processes would be affected that could eventually cause the observed behavioral changes. This indirect action on the nervous system would not be important in DEET's interference with host location, because the proposed alteration of the sensory pattern mechanism would occur more quickly.
How much does language proficiency by non-native listeners influence speech audiometric tests in noise?

Objective: The current study investigates the extent to which the linguistic complexity of three commonly employed speech recognition tests and second language proficiency influence speech recognition thresholds (SRTs) in noise in non-native listeners. Design: SRTs were measured for non-natives and natives using three German speech recognition tests: the digit triplet test (DTT), the Oldenburg sentence test (OLSA), and the Göttingen sentence test (GÖSA). Study sample: Sixty-four non-native and eight native listeners participated. Results: Non-natives can show native-like SRTs in noise only for the linguistically easy speech material (DTT). Furthermore, the limitation of phonemic-acoustical cues in digit triplets affects speech recognition to the same extent in non-natives and natives. For more complex and less familiar speech materials, non-natives, ranging from basic to advanced proficiency in German, require on average 3-dB better signal-to-noise ratio for the OLSA and 6-dB for the GÖSA to obtain 50% speech recognition compared to native listeners. Conclusions: In clinical audiology, SRT measurements with a closed-set speech test (i.e. DTT for screening or OLSA test for clinical purposes) should be used with non-native listeners rather than open-set speech tests (such as the GÖSA or HINT), especially if a closed-set version in the patient's own native language is available.
Cytologic diagnosis of low‐grade papillary urothelial neoplasms (low malignant potential and low‐grade carcinoma) in the context of the 1998 WHO/ISUP classification

The 1998 World Health Organization/International Society of Urological Pathology (WHO/ISUP) classification of urothelial neoplasms introduced a category called papillary neoplasm of low malignant potential (LMP) and separated it from low‐grade papillary urothelial carcinoma (LGPUC), which was thought to yield abnormal cells in cytology specimens. The objective of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of urine cytology in diagnosing these lesions. Eighty‐six paired transurethral surgical biopsy and corresponding urine cytology specimens representing the spectrum of urothelial papillary lesions were examined. Consensus diagnosis on each biopsy was made, and the distribution was as follows: 16 benign urothelium, 27 LMP, 28 LGPUC, and 15 high‐grade papillary urothelial carcinoma (HGPUC). This was followed by a blinded independent review of the urine cytology specimens by three observers. Each cytology case was marked as negative, atypical, suspicious, or positive for malignant cells by using previously published cytologic criteria. When the negative and atypical diagnoses were grouped together as “benign” and the suspicious and malignant diagnoses as “malignant,” the detection rate of “malignancy” of the lesions was as follows: LMP, 37%; LGPUC, 25%; and HGPUC, 53%. The false positive rate was 6%, and the positive predictive value (PPV) was 94%. Detection rates of cells that were at least “atypical” were as follows: LMP, 74%; LGPUC, 79%; and HGPUC, 100%. While most of the LMP and LGPUC cases yielded cells that were at least “atypical,” there was no significant difference in the distribution of cytologic diagnoses for LMP and LGPUC cases (P > 0.05). Urine cytology in the context of the 1998 WHO/ISUP classification appears to be useful as a screening tool but does not appear to discriminate LMP effectively from LGPUC. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2003;28:186–190. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Has global change induced divergent trends in radial growth of Pinus sylvestris and Pinus halepensis at their bioclimatic limit? The example of the Sainte-Baume forest (south-east France)

Abstract• It is agreed that climate (precipitation and temperature) influences the distribution of plant species. Near the margins of a species’ natural range, climate becomes limiting to physiological processes. There, climate change may be expected to have a significant impact on tree growth and the species’ ranges may be altered. • In order to assess what influence climate change could exert on the distribution of pine species at their margin, radial growth trends in ring-width chronologies over the last century were analysed. In the French Mediterranean area where climate change is characterized by increased temperature, forest plots were selected along an altitudinal transect on the north-facing slope of the Sainte-Baume mountain (Bouches-du-Rhône, France) where the ranges of Pinus sylvestris and Pinus halepensis overlap. • Two growth patterns were identified. For P. halepensis, radial growth has increased at all altitudes indicating that climate change has improved growth conditions of this species near the margin of its ecological range. For P. sylvestris, radial growth has increased only at low altitudes and even decreased at high altitudes. • It must be deduced that the growth changes observed cannot be generalised either at the species level or at the geographical level and must be interpreted with great caution. Résumé• Il est admis que les facteurs climatiques (températures et précipitations) sont en partie responsables de la distribution des espèces en limitant leurs processus physiologiques en limite de distribution d’aire. Dans ce cas, les conséquences des changements climatiques sur la croissance sont susceptibles d’y être le plus marqué et leurs distributions pourraient varier. • Afin d’évaluer les conséquences des changements climatiques, les tendances de croissance observées au siècle dernier dans les séries temporelles de cernes ont été analysées. En zone méditerranéenne française, où les changements climatiques sont caractérisés par une augmentation des températures, des placettes ont été sélectionnées selon un gradient altitudinal sur le flanc nord de la montagne de la Sainte-Baume (Bouches-du-Rhône, France) où les distributions de Pinus sylvestris et Pinus halepensis se superposent. • Deux patrons de croissance ont été identifiés. La croissance radiale de P. halepensis a augmenté quelle que soit l’altitude considérée indiquant que le changement climatique a amélioré les conditions de croissance de l’espèce à sa limite de distribution. Chez P. sylvestris, des tendances de croissance opposées inattendues ont été mises en évidence : la croissance a augmenté à faible altitude et a diminué aux altitudes les plus élevées. • Il en résulte que les changements de croissance observés ne peuvent être généralisés ni au niveau spécifique ni à une échelle géographique et doivent être interprétés avec la plus grande prudence.
Spatiotemporal distribution of neuronal calcium sensor‐1 in the developing rat spinal cord

The present study revealed the localization of neuronal calcium sensor (NCS)‐1 immunoreactivity (IR) in the developing rat spinal cord. The NCS‐1 IR first appeared at embryonic day 12 in the peripheral nerves and their somata. Intense NCS‐1 IR was expressed in ascending and descending tracts in the white matter during the late prenatal period, which gradually decreased to the faint level during postnatal development. Intense NCS‐1 IR was colocalized with growth associated protein (GAP)‐43 IR in the marginal zone and with the glutamate‐aspartate transporter (GLAST) IR in the radial processes traversing the marginal zone. In the adult rat white matter, radially oriented astrocytes and astrocytes in the glia limitans were double‐labeled for NCS‐1 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), whereas small dots on finger‐like dendritic projections were double‐labeled for NCS‐1 and synaptophysin. In the developing gray matter, the NCS‐1 IR appeared at embryonic day 12 and gradually increased in the neuronal somata and neuropil, reaching a plateau after the end of the 4th postnatal week. The small dots in neuropil were colabeled for NCS‐1 and GFAP or NCS‐1 and synaptophysin in the adult rat gray matter. These results strongly suggest that NCS‐1 is involved in axogenesis and synaptogenesis in the developing rat spinal cord. NCS‐1 can serve as a Ca2+‐sensor not only in neurons but also in radial glial cells or even in radially oriented astrocytes in the adult rat spinal cord. J. Comp. Neurol. 460:465–475, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An Econometric Analysis of Residential Electricity Demand in Ghana

The study examines the short- and long-run elasticities of residential demand for electricity in Ghana from 1970 to 2010. It employed a combinations of methodologies, namely, the autoregressive distributive lag bound, dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) and the fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS). Generally, the series indicated the presence of structural breaks and obtained stationarity after the first differencing and were cointegrated. The ARDL results revealed that both the long- and short-run elasticities were affected by structural breaks. The parameters were stable after correcting for structural breaks. Prominent among the policy recommendation, is the need to strengthen the effectiveness of educational agencies by changing behavioural attitude of residential consumers on the purchase of new and efficient appliance as well as enforce standards and labels. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014. v5n16p209
Intake of Dried Bonito Broth Flavored with Dextrin Solution Induced Conditioned Place Preference in Mice

We investigated to determine whether dried bonito broth flavor induces a reinforcing effect using the conditioned place preference (CPP) test. Only dried bonito broth did not induce CPP. Sucrose induced CPP in 20% solution. A 21.86% dextrin solution, with the same calorie content as the 20% sucrose solution, did not induce CPP, but a dextrin solution flavored with dried bonito broth (BD) induced CPP. An AD solution containing the same concentrations of dextrin, NaCl, IMP, GMP, and amino acids as found in BD tended to increase the time spent in the conditioned box but did not significantly. Aromatic compounds, such as citral, vanillin, and menthol flavored AD solutions did not induce CPP, whereas an AD solution supplemented with dried bonito flavoring agent induced CPP. In mice with transected olfactory nerves, CPP was not induced by voluntary intake of BD. These results suggest that the aromatic profile of the dried bonito broth plays an important role in BD-induced CPP.
A Family of Arf Effectors Defined as Suppressors of the Loss of Arf Function in the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae *

Arf proteins are ubiquitous, eukaryotic regulators of virtually every step of vesicular membrane traffic. ADP-ribosylation factors are essential in yeast and the lethality resulting from either overexpression or underexpression (deletion) of Arf genes has previously been ascribed to dysregulation of the secretory process. We have identified a family of four genes (Suppressors of Arft s, SAT) as high copy suppressors of a loss of function allele of ARF1 (arf1–3). Those proteins with SAT activity were found to contain a minimal consensus motif, including a C2C2H2 cluster with a novel and specific spacing. Genetic interactions between members of this family and withARF1 are consistent with each sharing a common cellular pathway. Included in this family is Gcs1, a protein previously described (Poon, P. P., Wang, X., Rotman, M., Huber, I., Cukierman, E., Cassel, D., Singer, R. A., and Johnston, G. C. (1996) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 93, 10074–10077) to possess Arf GTPase-activating protein (GAP) activity, demonstrating a direct interaction between Arf and at least one of these suppressors. The suppression of the loss of Arf function by overexpression of Gcs1 and demonstration of direct, preferential binding of Gcs1 to the activated form of Arf (Arf·GTP) lead us to conclude that the biological role of Gcs1 is as an effector of the essential function of Arf in mitotic growth, rather than a down-regulator as implied by the biochemical (Arf GAP) activity. Suppression of the growth defect ofarf1−3 cells was observed under conditions that did not alter the secretory defect associated witharf1 − mutation, indicating that the essential role of Arf in eukaryotes can be distinguished from role(s) in the secretory pathway and appear to employ distinct pathways and effectors.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and exacerbations: clinician insights from the global Hidden Depths of COPD survey

Abstract Objective: This real-life, global study aimed to investigate current views of and clinical practice in the management of COPD and its exacerbations, among clinicians from both the primary and secondary care settings. Methodology: We devised an online questionnaire about COPD management and invited 13,613 general practitioners (GPs) and respiratory specialists to respond. Participating clinicians, recruited from an established research panel, treated a minimum of 10 (GPs) or 20 (respiratory specialists) patients with COPD per month. Completed responses were collected from 1400 clinicians from 14 countries. Results: A third of GPs and respiratory specialists reported that the main goal of COPD management was to improve patients’ quality of life; only 14% of GPs thought that the prevention of exacerbations was a priority. The study showed a strong preference for inhaled corticosteroids in combination with other treatments, rather than as sole therapy, in line with global guidelines. Fewer GPs than respiratory specialists routinely recommended anticholinergics, pulmonary rehabilitation or oxygen therapy. Clinicians reported that 55% (GPs) and 57% (respiratory specialists) of their COPD patients had experienced an exacerbation in the previous 12 months. Although higher than those reported in clinical trials, these rates were lower than patients’ own estimates from a corresponding patient survey, even in mild COPD patients (62%; 80% in severe patients). Despite this, 74% of GPs and 67% of respiratory physicians reported satisfaction with therapies to prevent exacerbations. Conclusions: This global survey revealed that clinicians’ main goal when managing COPD was to improve the lives of their patients, and that few viewed reducing exacerbations as a priority. Despite a relatively high level of adherence to treatment recommendations, it appears that clinicians, particularly GPs, underestimate the frequency and impact of exacerbations. These results suggest a need to raise awareness of exacerbations among both GPs and respiratory specialists.
Anaerobic electron acceptor chemotaxis in Shewanella putrefaciens

Shewanella putrefaciens MR-1 can grow either aerobically or anaerobically at the expense of many different electron acceptors and is often found in abundance at redox interfaces in nature. Such redox interfaces are often characterized by very strong gradients of electron acceptors resulting from rapid microbial metabolism. The coincidence of S. putrefaciens abundance with environmental gradients prompted an examination of the ability of MR-1 to sense and respond to electron acceptor gradients in the laboratory. In these experiments, taxis to the majority of the electron acceptors that S. putrefaciens utilizes for anaerobic growth was seen. All anaerobic electron acceptor taxis was eliminated by the presence of oxygen, nitrate, nitrite, elemental sulfur, or dimethyl sulfoxide, even though taxis to the latter was very weak and nitrate and nitrite respiration was normal in the presence of dimethyl sulfoxide. Studies with respiratory mutants of MR-1 revealed that several electron acceptors that could not be used for anaerobic growth nevertheless elicited normal anaerobic taxis. Mutant M56, which was unable to respire nitrite, showed normal taxis to nitrite, as well as the inhibition of taxis to other electron acceptors by nitrite. These results indicate that electron acceptor taxis in S. putrefaciens does not conform to the paradigm established for Escherichia coli and several other bacteria. Carbon chemo-taxis was also unusual in this organism: of all carbon compounds tested, the only positive response observed was to formate under anaerobic conditions.
Current pharmacotherapy of pertussis

Human infection with Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis causes significant morbidity and mortality. While universal immunisation represents the mainstay of prevention, the purpose of this review is to summarise the current options for antimicrobial chemotherapy of pertussis. Several chemotherapeutic approaches have an important place in therapy and in infection control. Supportive treatment including nasopharyngeal suction, oxygen and parenteral fluids, is essential for infants < 1 year who are at greatest risk of complications and permanent sequelae. Steroids and β2-agonists are also used in the management of severe neonatal pertussis. Several antibiotics have been shown to reduce the level of bacterial colonisation of the respiratory tract, however, erythromycin is accepted to be the treatment of choice. Erythromycin reduces severity and duration of disease, even if started during the paroxysmal phase. A 14 day course is recommended although side effects may limit compliance; a recent study indicates that a 7 day course may have similar efficacy in terms of eradication and prevention of relapse. Alternatives to erythromycin are clarithromycin, azithromycin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Fluoroquinolones have good in vitro activity against both B. pertussis and B. parapertussis and may be useful in the treatment of adult patients with pertussis, although there are no supporting clinical data at present. Erythromycin prophylaxis is also recommended for close household contacts of patients with pertussis.
BAC Libraries: Precious Resources for Marsupial and Monotreme Comparative Genomics

Over the past decade, the construction of Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) libraries has revolutionized gene mapping in marsupials and monotremes, and has been invaluable for genome sequencing, either for sequencing target regions or as part of whole genome sequencing projects, making it possible to include representatives from these two major groups of mammals in comparative genomics studies. Marsupials and monotremes bridge the gap in vertebrate phylogeny between reptile-mammal divergence 310 million years ago and the radiation of eutherian (placental) mammals 105 million years ago (Fig. 1). The inclusion of these interesting species in such studies has provided great insight and often surprising findings regarding gene and genome evolution. In this chapter, I will review the important role BACs have played in marsupial and monotreme comparative genomics studies.