Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional acquisition for 18F-FDG PET oncology studies performed on an LSO-based scanner.

UNLABELLED Three-dimensional (3D) PET acquisition has the potential to reduce image noise but the advantage of 3D PET for studies outside the brain has not been well established. To compare the performance of 2-dimensional (2D) and 3D acquisition for whole-body (18)F-FDG applications, a series of patient studies were performed using a lutetium oxyorthosilicate (LSO)-based tomograph. METHODS Comparative 2D and 3D images were acquired for 27 oncology patients using an LSO-based tomograph. Data acquisition (350-650 keV, 6 ns) started 99 +/- 12 min (mean +/- SD) after injection of 624 +/- 76 MBq (18)F-FDG. Bias caused by tracer redistribution and decay was eliminated by acquiring dynamic data over a single-bed position using a protocol that alternated between septa-in and septa-out modes (2D, 3D, 2D, 3D, 2D, 3D). Frames were combined to form 8 statistically independent sinograms: four 2D replicates (105 s) and four 3D replicates (90 s). The different frame durations in 2D and 3D compensated for the different number of overlapping bed positions required for an 85-cm whole-body study. Images were reconstructed with either 2D or fully 3D ordered-subsets expectation maximization (2 iterations and 8 subsets; 2D 6-mm gaussian, 3D 5- and 6-mm gaussian). Image target-to-background ratio was assessed by dividing the lesion maximum by the mean within a neighboring background region. Image noise was assessed by applying background regions of interest to the replicate images and calculating the within-patient coefficient of variation. RESULTS The difference in target-to-background ratio between the 2D and 3D images, when they were filtered with 6-mm and 5-mm gaussian filters, respectively, was not highly statistically significant (P = 0.16). The mean ratio of 3D to 2D image values was 0.94 with 95% limits of agreement of 0.63-1.41. The within-patient coefficients of variation for the 2D and 3D images were 13% +/- 15% and 9% +/- 10%, respectively (P = 0.0005). CONCLUSION Under conditions of matched target to-to-background ratios, the 3D mode was found to produce images with significantly less variability than the 2D mode. These data provide support for the use of 3D acquisition with LSO detectors to reduce scan times in whole-body (18)F-FDG applications.
Transposon Tn916 mutagenesis in Clostridium botulinum

The study of toxinogenesis and other properties in Clostridium botulinum is limited by the absence of genetic methods that enable construction of defined mutants. In this study, tetracycline-resistant transposon Tn916 in Enterococcus faecalis was conjugatively transferred in filter matings to group I Clostridium botulinum strains Hall A and 113B. The Tn916 transfer frequencies to C. botulinum ranged from 10(-8) to 10(-5) Tcr transconjugant per recipient depending on the donor strain. Southern blot analyses of EcoRI or HindIII chromosomal digests extracted from randomly selected Tcr transconjugants showed that the transposon inserted at different sites in the recipient chromosome, and the copy number of Tn916 varied from one to three. Tn916 insertion gave several different auxotrophic mutants. This approach should be useful for the study of genes important in growth, survival, and toxinogenesis in C. botulinum.
Persistent Profits & Transitory Losses: Role of IT Innovation Capability

Motivated by the current recession, the realization that uncertainty will remain even when the economy recovers, and the fact that frequent performance slumps are becoming the norm in our hypercompetitive environment, we take up the following question: Does a company’s IT innovation capability (ITIC) strategy lead to value creation and affect its ability to recover from losses? Using a sample of large US firms during the recession of the early 2000s, we find that a systematic approach to ITIC not only leads to value creation (competitive advantage), but also substantially improves a firm’s ability to recover from negative earnings. Our overall results suggest that firms adopting a systematic approach to ITIC are better prepared to deal with the modern hypercompetitive environment than their non-systematic ITIC competitors.
Structural and vascular permeability abnormalities associated with lacunes of the human brain

Histopathological and immune‐histochemical studies were carried out in four cases with multiple lacunes of the central grey matter and in control cases without such lesions. Routine light microscopic techniques were applied on paraffin‐embedded material to identify lesions that may represent developing lacunes. In addition, polyclonal antisera to human albumin, IgG, fibrinogen and fibronectin were chosen as markers for extravasated plasma proteins. The brain tissue between lacunes contained several forms of focal injuries which may represent precursors of lacunes. Such lesions included foci of status spongiosus and status cribrosus, regions with dilated extracellular spaces and astrocytic gliosis, and multi‐locular cysts. These “lacune‐associated lesions” often included albumin immune‐reactivity in extracellular spaces, nerve cell bodies and astrocytes. Less frequently signs of extravasated IgG, fibrinogen and fibronectin were identified. Thus, lacunes of the human brain frequently showed signs of antigenic sites to albumin. The extracellular deposits probably represent extravasated material from the blood. Vasogenic and cytotoxic oedema combined with other factors probably play important roles during the formation of some of the lacunes.
Molecular Epidemiology of Preeclampsia

Numerous articles have been published that address the possible genetic influences on the development of preeclampsia (PE). However, to our knowledge, a complete review of the results has not yet been completed. We undertook a MEDLINE search to identify English-language articles published after January 1, 1990 that examined the possible role of specific genes in the etiology of PE. After a brief introduction and a concise review of the prevailing etiologic hypotheses, we have categorized the candidate genes into six categories, based on their hypothesized role in PE etiology. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature, comment on its quality, and provide a reference for researchers interested in the molecular epidemiology of preeclampsia. Target Audience: Obstetricians & Gynecologists, Family Physicians Learning Objectives: After completion of this article, the reader will be able to list the prevailing etiologic hypotheses of preeclampsia, to outline the published data on possible genetic influence on the development of preeclampsia, and to clearly state the definition of preeclampsia.
Authorization mechanisms for mobile commerce implementations in enhanced prepaid solutions

Mobile commerce (m-commerce) provides an exciting set of new capabilities that service providers can leverage to grow their revenue base while attracting new services that enhance the end-user experience. With these new opportunities the risk of new security threats that need to be addressed also arises. In this paper, security issues — in particular, those dealing with service and subscriber authorizations — in enhanced prepaid implementations for m-commerce — are discussed. These products typically provide an enriched rating engine and a highly configurable feature set for service and content charging in wireless networks. Client application and subscriber-level authentication and authorization are key mechanisms that serve to regulate access to, and usage of, content-based transactions in m-commerce. Solution architectures and a discussion of authorization criteria are presented.
G Protein-coupled Endothelial Receptor for Atypical Cannabinoid Ligands Modulates a Ca2+-dependent K+ Current*

The cannabinoid analog “abnormal cannabidiol” (abn-cbd) causes endothelium-dependent vasodilation in rat isolated mesenteric arteries through a G protein-coupled receptor distinct from CB1 or CB2. We examined the actions of abn-cbd on the electrophysiology of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), using the whole cell version of the patch clamp technique. Voltage steps produced noninactivating outward currents, which were abolished by iberiotoxin or by chelation of intracellular calcium. The presence of a BKCa channel in HUVEC was documented by reverse transcriptase-PCR. Abn-cbd concentration dependently potentiated the outward current produced by a single voltage step. This potentiation was abolished by the cannabidiol analog O-1918 or by pertussis toxin but was unaffected by CB1 or CB2 antagonists. HU-210, a CB1/CB2 receptor agonist, had no effect on the outward current. Clamping [Ca2+]i did not prevent abn-cbd-induced increases in outward current. cGMP potentiated the outward current, and abn-cbd increased the cellular levels of cGMP. The increase in outward current produced by abn-cbd was blocked by KT-5823, an inhibitor of protein kinase G, or 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxaline-1-one (ODQ), an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase. We conclude that a Ca2+-activated K+ current in HUVEC is potentiated by activation of a Gi/Go-coupled receptor distinct from CB1 or CB2, which signals through cGMP and protein kinase G to increase channel availability or the sensitivity of the channel to voltage and/or Ca2+. Because iberiotoxin also inhibited abn-cbd-induced relaxation of intact, but not of endothelium-denuded, rat mesenteric artery segments, modulation of endothelial BKCa channels may underlie the mesenteric vasodilator action of abn-cbd.
The Positive and Negative Social Capital

Social capital can be useful when cooperation for mutual benefit can be facilitated by social network and norms of reciprocity (Putnam, 2000:21). In this context, both individuals and organisations agree to mobilise joint resources to achieve common outcomes which are more efficient and productive. However, the concept of social capital is not always positive.This article will discuss positive and negative social capital.
Individual lipid encapsulated microbubble radial oscillations: Effects of fluid viscosity.

Ultrasound-stimulated microbubble dynamics have been shown to be dependent on intrinsic bubble properties, including size and shell characteristics. The effect of the surrounding environment on microbubble response, however, has been less investigated. In particular, microbubble optimization studies are generally conducted in water/saline, characterized by a 1 cP viscosity, for application in the vasculature (i.e., 4 cP). In this study, ultra-high speed microscopy was employed to investigate fluid viscosity effects on phospholipid encapsulated microbubble oscillations at 1 MHz, using a single, eight-cycle pulse at peak negative pressures of 100 and 250 kPa. Microbubble oscillations were shown to be affected by fluid viscosity in a size- and pressure-dependent manner. In general, the oscillation amplitudes exhibited by microbubbles between 3 and 6 μm in 1 cP fluid were larger than in 4 cP fluid, reaching a maximum of 1.7-fold at 100 kPa for microbubbles 3.8 μm in diameter and 1.35-fold at 250 kPa for microbubbles 4.8 μm in diameter. Simulation results were in broad agreement at 250 kPa, however generally underestimated the effect of fluid viscosity at 100 kPa. This is the first experimental demonstration documenting the effects of surrounding fluid viscosity on microbubble oscillations, resulting in behavior not entirely predicted by current microbubble models.
Zero returns to compulsory schooling: Is it certification or skills that matters?

This paper evaluates the effects of the raising of the minimum school leaving age (ROSLA) from 14 to 15 in the Netherlands in 1971. The policy goal was to increase the number of high school graduates. The analysis shows that the change led to a decrease in the high school dropout rate of approximately 20%. However, there were no benefits in terms of employment or higher wages. I investigate several explanations for this finding and present suggestive evidence in support of the skill-based explanation that no more labor-market relevant skills were learned during this extra year of school compared to those skills previously learned out of school.
Emergency room visits for respiratory illnesses among the elderly in Montreal: association with low level ozone exposure.

Population-based studies of hospital usage have been used to identify the ongoing adverse impacts of photochemical air pollutants on respiratory health. In this study we examined the relationship between the number of daily emergency room (ER) visits for respiratory illnesses (25 hospitals) and outdoor air pollution in Montreal, Quebec (June-August, 1989-1990). Air pollutants measured included 1- and 8-h maximum ozone (O3) and estimated particulate matter < 2.5 microns in aerometric diameter (PM2.5). Seasonal and day-of-week trends, autocorrelation, temperature, and relative humidity were controlled for in-time series regressions. Although O3 levels never exceeded the U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) of 120 ppb (maximum day, 106 ppb), statistically significant (P < 0.01) relationships were found between respiratory ER visits for patients over the age of 64 and both 1- and 8-h maximum O3 measured 1 day prior to the ER visit day during the 1989 summer: ER visits were 18.7% higher than average (95% Cl, 6.5-30.9%) for a mean increase of 44 ppb O3 (1-h maximum), and 21.8% higher than average (95% Cl, 9.7-33.8%) for a mean increase of 38 ppb O3 (8-h maximum). There was an association between respiratory ER visits for the elderly and estimated PM2.5 lagged 1 day (0.1 visit/microgram/m3 PM2.5, P < 0.07), but this was confounded by both temperature and O3. The only finding for a reference group of nonrespiratory conditions was an inverse association between ER visits for infants and O3, but this was confounded by weather. These findings confirm the impression that while air quality standards may protect the respiratory health of the general population, this is not the case for susceptible subgroups such as the elderly.
Increased production of 4 kDa amyloid beta peptide in serum deprived human primary neuron cultures: possible involvement of apoptosis

The etiology of the amyloid beta peptide in sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD) is not known. Amyloid beta peptide (A beta), a proteolytic product of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), is deposited in the senile plaques and cerebrovascular tissues of individuals with either sporadic or familial AD (FAD). Increased A beta production from mutant APPs in FAD fosters the hypothesis that overexpression of A beta plays a primary role in the pathogenesis of AD. The absence of APP mutations in sporadic AD which displays identical pathological features than FAD such as synapse and neuronal loss, senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, suggests other causes for overexpression and/or deposition of A beta. To investigate the effect of neuronal death on APP metabolism and A beta secretion, human primary neuron cultures were induced to undergo apoptosis by serum deprivation. Serum deprived neurons display shrunken and rounded morphology, contain condensed chromatine and fragmented DNA, which are characteristic of apoptosis. In serum deprived neurons, metabolism of APP through the nonamyloidogenic secretory pathway is decreased to 20% from 40% in control cultures whereas 4kDa A beta is increased three- to fourfold. The results suggest that human neurons undergoing apoptosis generate excess A beta and indicates a possible mechanism for increased A beta in the absence of APP mutations.
Identification of Two Novel Regulatory Elements within the 5′-Untranslated Region of the Human Sγ-Globin Gene (*)

Interaction between the stage selector element (SSE) in the proximal γ-globin promoter and hypersensitivity site 2 in the locus control region partly mediates the competitive silencing of the β-globin promoter in the fetal developmental stage. We have now demonstrated that a second SSE-like element in the 5′-untranslated region of the γ-gene also contributes to this competitive silencing of the β-gene. Utilizing transient transfection assays in the fetal erythroid cell line, K562, we have shown that the core enhancer of hypersensitivity site 2 can preferentially interact with the proximal γ-promoter in the absence of the SSE, completely silencing a linked β-promoter. Mutation of a 20-base pair sequence of the γ-gene 5′-untranslated region (UTR) led to derepression of β-promoter activity. A marked activation of γ-promoter activity was also observed with this mutation, suggesting the presence of a repressor. Fine mutagenesis dissected these activities to different regions of the 5′-UTR. The stage selector activity was localized to a region centered on nucleotides +13 to +15. Electromobility shift assays utilizing this sequence demonstrated binding of a fetal and erythroid-specific protein. The repressor activity of the 5′-UTR was localized to tandem GATA-like sites, which appear to bind a complex of two proteins, one of which is the erythroid transcription factor GATA-1. These results indicate that the 5′-UTR of the γ-gene contains sequences that may be important for its transcriptional and developmental regulation.
Hand‐assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy for pediatric kidney allograft recipients

Abstract: Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN) is the method of choice for procuring kidneys from living donors at many transplant centers. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility as well as outcome of LDN in pediatric recipients. Twenty‐two pediatric patients, 18‐yr old or younger received kidneys procured by a hand‐assisted LDN technique. The mean operative time was no different (p = 0.9) and the mean length of stay was more than 1 day shorter in the LDN group (p = 0.0001) compared with the 13 pediatric patients who received kidneys by standard open nephrectomy. Body mass index (BMI), number of donor kidney vessels, or laterality of the kidney did not impact the donor operation or outcome. Actuarial 1‐yr patient survival was 100% and allograft survival was 95%, which are equivalent to registry data. There were no donor mortalities and there were five morbidities. None required hospitalization. There were no conversions from LDN to open nephrectomy. One kidney was lost because of overwhelming infection necessitating withdrawal of immunosuppression. In conclusion, hand‐assisted LDN is a safe method of procuring kidneys from potential donors with no significant negative outcomes to the pediatric recipients.
Visual distraction when driving and its influence on driver response to a forward collision warning system

The objective of this research was to clarify effects of driver visual distraction on alarm effectiveness and necessity for FCWS by comparing results obtained in two driving simulator studies. Results show that the presence of alarms induced decreases in collision risk when drivers were distracted. Contrary alarms could not lead to a decrease of risk when drivers were not distracted although alarms were given with the same timing. Moreover, subjective ratings of unnecessary alarms varied according to whether driver distraction occurred.
Barium proctography vs magnetic resonance proctography for pelvic floor disorders: a comparative study

Aim Accurate and reliable imaging of pelvic floor dynamics is important for tailoring treatment in pelvic floor disorders; however, two imaging modalities are available. Barium proctography (BaP) is widely used, but involves a significant radiation dose. Magnetic resonance (MR) proctography allows visualization of all pelvic midline structures but patients are supine. This project investigates whether there are measurable differences between BaP and MR proctography. Patient preference for the tests was also investigated.
Embryonic Stem Cells: Potential Source for Ocular Repair

Many ocular diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration, reflect damage to specific cells that are not normally repaired or replaced. Preliminary results of animal studies suggest that these degenerative diseases may be treatable by transplantation of healthy fetal cells. However, obtaining a sufficient number of suitable donor cells remains a problem. The isolation of human embryonic stem (ES) cells has drawn much attention because of their potential clinical application for patients with these degenerative diseases. Because ES cells have the potential to generate all adult cell types, ocular diseases resulting from the failure of specific cell types would be potentially treatable through the transplantation of differentiated cells derived from ES cells. In addition, because ES cells can proliferate indefinitely in their undifferentiated state, they are expected to alleviate the problem of the shortage of donor cells for cell-replacement therapy. Recently, reproducible and efficient differentiation methods for the generation of lens cells, retinal neurons, and retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells from ES cells have been developed. This review focuses especially on these ocular cells differentiated from ES cells. We will also discuss the potential therapeutic uses of ES cells for the treatment of ocular diseases.
Internet Use and Social Capital: The Strength of Virtual Ties

This paper aims to understand how Internet users may improve their social capital by investing in online social activities. We argue that the Internet can be a convenient and efficient means of maintaining existing social ties and/or of creating new ties. We seek to identify the determinants of online investments in social capital and the nature of the interaction with traditional forms of investment in social capital. Using a Luxembourg household survey, the econometric results reveal a significant positive impact of volunteer activities and trust (two measures of social capital) on online investments to maintain social capital, but more ambiguous results are found between online investments and face-to-face contacts with friends. By contrast, online investments to create new ties are poorly related to the Internet users' existing social capital, but depend on the opportunity cost of time.