Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
NEMA NU 2-2007 performance measurements of the Siemens Inveon™ preclinical small animal PET system

National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) NU 2-2007 performance measurements were conducted on the Inveon™ preclinical small animal PET system developed by Siemens Medical Solutions. The scanner uses 1.51 × 1.51 × 10 mm LSO crystals grouped in 20 × 20 blocks; a tapered light guide couples the LSO crystals of a block to a position-sensitive photomultiplier tube. There are 80 rings with 320 crystals per ring and the ring diameter is 161 mm. The transaxial and axial fields of view (FOVs) are 100 and 127 mm, respectively. The scanner can be docked to a CT scanner; the performance characteristics of the CT component are not included herein. Performance measurements of spatial resolution, sensitivity, scatter fraction and count rate performance were obtained for different energy windows and coincidence timing window widths. For brevity, the results described here are for an energy window of 350–650 keV and a coincidence timing window of 3.43 ns. The spatial resolution at the center of the transaxial and axial FOVs was 1.56, 1.62 and 2.12 mm in the tangential, radial and axial directions, respectively, and the system sensitivity was 36.2 cps kBq−1 for a line source (7.2% for a point source). For mouse- and rat-sized phantoms, the scatter fraction was 5.7% and 14.6%, respectively. The peak noise equivalent count rate with a noisy randoms estimate was 1475 kcps at 130 MBq for the mouse-sized phantom and 583 kcps at 74 MBq for the rat-sized phantom. The performance measurements indicate that the Inveon™ PET scanner is a high-resolution tomograph with excellent sensitivity that is capable of imaging at a high count rate.
Effect of Amblyopia on the Developmental Eye Movement Test in Children

Purpose. To investigate the functional impact of amblyopia in children, the performance of amblyopic and age-matched control children on a clinical test of eye movements was compared. The influence of visual factors on test outcome measures was explored. Methods. Eye movements were assessed with the Developmental Eye Movement (DEM) test, in a group of children with amblyopia (n = 39; age, 9.1 ± 0.9 years) of different causes (infantile esotropia, n = 7; acquired strabismus, n = 10; anisometropia, n = 8; mixed, n = 8; deprivation, n = 6) and in an age-matched control group (n = 42; age, 9.3 ± 0.4 years). LogMAR visual acuity (VA), stereoacuity, and refractive error were also recorded in both groups. Results. No significant difference was found between the amblyopic and age-matched control group for any of the outcome measures of the DEM (vertical time, horizontal time, number of errors and ratio(horizontal time/vertical time)). The DEM measures were not significantly related to VA in either eye, level of binocular function (stereoacuity), history of strabismus, or refractive error. Conclusions. The performance of amblyopic children on the DEM, a commonly used clinical measure of eye movements, has not previously been reported. Under habitual binocular viewing conditions, amblyopia has no effect on DEM outcome scores despite significant impairment of binocular vision and decreased VA in both the better and worse eye.
Sélection des mollusques : bilan et nouvelles perspectives concernant la croissance, la qualité et les résistances aux maladies

Dans le cas des mollusques, l'application de programmes de selection avec evaluation precise de la variabilite genetique disponible et estimation de l'heritabilite des caracteres ainsi que de leurs correlations se heurte encore a deux obstacles principaux: l'un, specifique, derive de l'existence de systeme de reproduction parfois complexe et encore imparfaitement maitrise comme c'est le cas chez l'huitre plate Ostrea edulis ; l'autre, plus general, est directement dicte par l'importance des infrastructures necessaires au maintien en elevage d'un grand nombre de familles differenciees en conditions controlees. Malgre ces handicaps, un certain nombre de programmes ont ete developpes ces vingt dernieres annees avec des resultats encourageants.
RNase G (CafA protein) and RNase E are both required for the 5′ maturation of 16S ribosomal RNA

In Escherichia coli, rRNA operons are transcribed as 30S precursor molecules that must be extensively processed to generate mature 16S, 23S and 5S rRNA. While it is known that RNase III cleaves the primary transcript to separate the individual rRNAs, there is little information about the secondary processing reactions needed to form their mature 3′ and 5′ termini. We have now found that inactivation of the endoribonuclease RNase E slows down in vivo maturation of 16S RNA from the 17S RNase III cleavage product. Moreover, in the absence of CafA protein, a homolog of RNase E, formation of 16S RNA also slows down, but in this case a 16.3S intermediate accumulates. When both RNase E and CafA are inactivated, 5′ maturation of 16S rRNA is completely blocked. In contrast, 3′ maturation is essentially unaffected. The 5′ unprocessed precursor that accumulates in the double mutant can be assembled into 30S and 70S ribosomes. Precursors also can be processed in vitro by RNase E and CafA. These data indicate that both RNase E and CafA protein are required for a two step, sequential maturation of the 5′ end of 16S rRNA, and that CafA protein is a new ribonuclease. We propose that it be renamed RNase G.
Gastrulation and Angiogenesis, Not Endothelial Specification, Is Sensitive to Partial Deficiency in Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A in Mice1

Abstract Mouse embryogenesis is dose sensitive to vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), and mouse embryos partially deficient in VEGF-A die in utero because of severe vascular defects. In this study, we investigate the possible causes that underlie this phenomenon. Although the development of vascular defects in VEGF-A-deficient embryos seems to suggest that endothelial differentiation depends on the presence of a sufficient level of VEGF-A, we were surprised to find that endothelial differentiation per se is insensitive to a significant loss of VEGF-A activity. Instead, the development of the multipotent mesenchymal cells, from which endothelial progenitors arise in the yolk sac, is most highly dependent on VEGF-A. As a result of VEGF-A deficiency, dramatically fewer multipotent mesenchymal cells are generated in the prospective yolk sac. However, among the small number of mesenchymal cells that do enter the prospective yolk sac, endothelial differentiation occurs at a normal frequency. In the embryo proper, vasculogenesis is initiated actively in spite of a significant VEGF-A deficiency, but the subsequent steps of vascular development are defective. We conclude that a full-level VEGF-A activity is not critical for endothelial specification but is important for two distinct processes before and after endothelial specification: the development of the yolk sac mesenchyme and angiogenic sprouting of blood vessels.
The natural course of hepatitis C virus infection 18 years after an epidemic outbreak of non-A, non-B hepatitis in a plasmapheresis centre

BACKGROUND The natural history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is variable and factors determining the course of the illness are unclear. AIMS To determine the natural course of HCV infection in a well characterised group of patients 18 years after an epidemic outbreak of non-A, non-B hepatitis at a plasmapheresis centre. METHODS Between 1994 and 1996, 20 of 30 affected individuals were studied. HCV infection was confirmed using second and third generation ELISA test kits. HCV RNA was detected by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method and HCV genotyping was performed by analysing amplicons from the conserved 5′-non-translated region generated by nested PCR. Thirty two liver biopsies were carried out in 14 patients. RESULTS HCV antibodies were detected in all subjects. Eighteen patients had abnormal liver enzymes and 17 were HCV RNA positive, all of whom were infected with genotype 1a. Ninety per cent of this cohort showed evidence of chronic HCV infection with 50% having progressive liver disease and 20% cirrhosis 18 years after acute onset of non-A, non-B hepatitis. Considerable variation in disease outcome occurred between individuals and no correlation with clinical features of the acute illness was found. CONCLUSIONS Variability in the consequences of HCV infection in cases infected with the same virus suggests that host factors are important in determining disease outcome. The factors which determine differences in the natural history of the disease still remain to be elucidated.
Altérations précoces des réseaux moteurs spinaux chez la souris SOD1, modèle de la Sclérose Latérale Amyotrophique

Les etudes basees sur l’utilisation de modeles murins de la Sclerose Laterale Amyotrophique (SLA) portent tres souvent sur des stades symptomatiques ou pre-symptomatiques. Des donnees existent cependant montrant que des alterations morphologiques des motoneurones existent aux stades post-nataux, suggerant que la SLA pourrait etre une maladie neurodeveloppementale. Dans ce travail de these base sur l’utilisation du modele murin SOD1G93A de la SLA, nous avons cherche a savoir si des le developpement des reseaux moteurs, des perturbations existaient notamment au niveau de la mise en place des inhibitions, c'est-a-dire au niveau de l’homeostasie chlorure. En effet, nous pensons qu’une mauvaise construction du reseau pendant la vie embryonnaire serait la cause des dysfonctionnements observes lors de la survenue de la SLA. Nos donnees mettent en evidence que la morphologie des motoneurones est modifiee chez les embryons SOD1G93A au stade de developpement E17,5 par rapport aux embryons WT et que cette modification de morphologie induit une hyperexcitabilite. De plus, nous montrons une alteration du potentiel d’equilibre des ions chlorure (ECl) due a une modification de l’equilibre de la balance des co-transporteurs NKCC1/KCC2. Enfin, nous avons cherche a savoir si une modification du ECl avait une consequence fonctionnelle au niveau de la mise en place de l’activite locomotrice exprimee par le reseau spinal lombaire. En conclusion, les travaux de cette these demontrent pour la premiere fois un deficit developpemental au niveau du modele murin SOD1G93A et ouvre des perspectives sur la recherche des mecanismes de compensations operant jusqu’a la survenue du phenotype de la maladie.
Imagerie sismique des milieux visco-acoustiques et visco-élastiques à deux dimensions par stéréotomographie et inversion des formes d'ondes : applications au champ pétrolier de Valhall

La geophysique interne est une discipline riche en enseignements sur la structure de la Terre a differentes echelles, et sur les phenomenes passes lies a sa lente evolution. Elle constitue de plus un enjeu present et d'avenir de premiere importance dans notre societe, a l'heure ou les ressources de toutes sortes se font de plus en plus rares, et dans le cadre d'une meilleure gestion de l'amenagement du territoire. La methode d'inversion des formes d'ondes completes, fondee sur un processus d'optimisation local, se distingue des autres methodes d'imagerie sismique par sa vocation a extraire de maniere aussi complete que possible l'integralite de l'information sismique, afin de construire une image quantitative haute resolution d'un ou plusieurs parametres physiques. Je discute dans ma these de plusieurs problematiques liees a cette methode, en les illustrant par des applications a des donnees multicomposantes enregistrees par des câbles de fond de mer (OBC) sur le champ petrolier de Valhall en mer du nord. Je discute tout d'abord de l'empreinte de l'anisotropie engendree par des milieux transverses isotropes a axe de symetrie vertical sur les donnees du champ de Valhall. J'illustre cette empreinte sur les resultats de l'imagerie en comparant les modeles du sous-sol obtenus lorsque l'anisotropie est prise en compte ou pas dans la modelisation sismique. Je mets en evidence un biais dans les vitesses reconstruites par une methode d'inversion isotrope, ce biais induisant un mauvais positionnement des reflecteurs en profondeur. %Les vitesses n'ont pas la meme signification pres de la surface et en profondeur, ou elles sont representatives des vitesses horizontales et NMO respectivement. J'aborde ensuite le probleme de la construction du modele initial necessaire a l'inversion des formes d'ondes a partir de donnees a grands deports. L'approche selectionnee est une extension de la stereotomographie, une methode de tomographie de pente, ou les attributs temps de trajet+pente des ondes refractees et reflechies sont inversees au sein d'un algorithme hierarchique multi-echelle. Le potentiel de la methode est discute a partir d'un cas synthetique representatif du champ petrolier de Valhall, avant l'application aux donnees reelles du champ de Valhall.
Orchestration of Neuronal Differentiation and Progenitor Pool Expansion in the Developing Cortex by SoxC Genes

As the cerebral cortex forms, specialized molecular cascades direct the expansion of progenitor pools, the differentiation of neurons, or the maturation of discrete neuronal subtypes, together ensuring that the correct amounts and classes of neurons are generated. In several neural systems, the SoxC transcriptional regulators, particularly Sox11 and Sox4, have been characterized as functioning exclusively and redundantly in promoting neuronal differentiation. Using the mouse cerebral cortex as a model, Sox11 and Sox4 were examined in the formation of the most complex part of the mammalian brain. Anticipated prodifferentiation roles were observed. Distinct expression patterns and mutant phenotypes, however, reveal that Sox11 and Sox4 are not redundant in the cortex, but rather act in overlapping and discrete populations of neurons. In particular, Sox11 acts in early-born neurons; binding to its partner protein, Neurogenin1, leads to selective targeting and transactivation of a downstream gene, NeuroD1. In addition to neuronal expression, Sox4 was unexpectedly expressed in intermediate progenitor cells, the transit amplifying cell of the cerebral cortex. Sox4 mutant analyses reveal a requirement for Sox4 in IPC specification and maintenance. In intermediate progenitors, Sox4 partners with the proneural gene Neurogenin2 to activate Tbrain2 and then with Tbrain2 to maintain this cell fate. This work reveals an intricately structured molecular architecture for SoxC molecules, with Sox11 acting in a select set of cortical neurons and Sox4 playing an unanticipated role in designating secondary progenitors.
Mechanical evaluation and fem analysis of stress in fixed partial dentures zirconium-ceramic.

OBJECTIVE Over the last several years, the Finite Element Analysis (FEM) has been widely recognized as a reference method in different fields of study, to simulate the distribution of mechanical stress, in order to evaluate the relative distribution of loads of different nature. The aim of this study is to investigate through the FEM analysis the stress distribution in fixed prostheses that have a core in Zirconia and a ceramic veneer supported by implants. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this work we investigated the mechanical flexural strength of a ceramic material (Noritake(®)) and a of zirconium framework (Zircodent(®)) and the effects of the manufacturing processes of the material commonly performed during the production of fixed prostheses with CAD/CAM technology. Specifically three point bending mechanical tests were performed (three-point-bending) (1-3), using a machine from Test Equipment Instron 5566(®), on two structures in zirconium framework-ceramic (structures supported by two implant abutments with pontic elements 1 and 2). A further in-depth analysis on the mechanical behavior in flexure of the specimens was conducted carrying out FEM studies in order to compare analog and digital data. RESULTS The analysis of the data obtained showed that the stresses are distributed in a different way according to the intrinsic elasticity of the structure. The analysis of FPD with four elements, the stresses are mainly concentrated on the surface of the load, while, in the FPD of three elements, much more rigid, the stresses are concentrated near the inner margins of the abutments. The concentration of many stresses in this point could be correlated to chipping (4) that is found in the outer edges of the structure, as a direct result of the ceramic brittleness which opposes the resilience of the structure subjected to bending. CONCLUSIONS The analysis of the UY linear displacement confirms previous data, showing, in a numerical way, that the presence of the ceramic is related to the lowering of the structure. So, the reference values are those of the linear lowering obtained in the Mechanical Test and in our FEM analysis. zirconium framework with four elements 4,227 10(-2)mm.zirconium framework with ceramic structure with four elements 2,266 10(-2) mm.That suggests that the presence of ceramics halves the flexion capabilities of the prosthetic materials.
Colony-stimulating Factor-1 Stimulates the Formation of Multimeric Cytosolic Complexes of Signaling Proteins and Cytoskeletal Components in Macrophages*

Stimulation of macrophages with colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) results in the protein tyrosine phosphorylation of the CSF-1 receptor (CSF-1R) and many other, primarily cytosolic, proteins. Stimulation by CSF-1 at 4 °C was used to facilitate the purification and identification of the proteins of the cytosolic anti-phosphotyrosine (PY)-reactive fraction (αPY-RF) involved in downstream signaling pathways. Confocal microscopy revealed that the PY proteins are in close proximity to the CSF-1R at the plasma membrane. The αPY-RF contained pre-existing complexes of PY proteins and non-PY proteins which generally increased in size and PY protein content following CSF-1 stimulation. PY proteins identified by microsequencing and Western blotting include Cbl, STAT3, STAT5a, STAT5b, SHP-1, Shc, and two novel proteins pp57 and pp37. Other proteins included cytoskeletal/contractile proteins (paxillin, vimentin, elongation factor-1α, F-actin, tropomyosin, and myosin regulatory light chain), Ras family signaling proteins (p85 (phosphoinositide 3-kinase), Vav, Ras-GTPase-activating protein SH3 domain-binding protein, and Grb2), DnaJ-like protein, and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. CSF-1 induced the de novo recruitment of Cbl, STAT3, STAT5a, STAT5b, p85, SHP-1, Shc, vimentin, and Grb2 to complexes and caused pre-existing complexes involving Vav, elongation factor-1α, and F-actin to increase in size. These studies indicate that CSF-1-induced protein tyrosine phosphorylation is associated with the reorganization of complexes of cytoskeletal, signaling, and other proteins that mediate CSF-1-regulated motility and growth.
Regulation of the Drosophila lin‐41 homologue dappled by let‐7 reveals conservation of a regulatory mechanism within the LIN‐41 subclade

Drosophila Dappled (DPLD) is a member of the RBCC/TRIM superfamily, a protein family involved in numerous diverse processes such as developmental timing and asymmetric cell divisions. DPLD belongs to the LIN‐41 subclade, several members of which are micro RNA (miRNA) regulated. We re‐examined the LIN‐41 subclade members and their relation to other RBCC/TRIMs and dpld paralogs, and identified a new Drosophila muscle specific RBCC/TRIM: Another B‐Box Affiliate, ABBA. In silico predictions of candidate miRNA regulators of dpld identified let‐7 as the strongest candidate. Overexpression of dpld led to abnormal eye development, indicating that strict regulation of dpld mRNA levels is crucial for normal eye development. This phenotype was sensitive to let‐7 dosage, suggesting let‐7 regulation of dpld in the eye disc. A cell‐based assay verified let‐7 miRNA down‐regulation of dpld expression by means of its 3′‐untranslated region. Thus, dpld seems also to be miRNA regulated, suggesting that miRNAs represent an ancient mechanism of LIN‐41 regulation. Developmental Dynamics 237:196–208, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Measuring violence against women amidst war and displacement in northern Uganda using the “neighbourhood method”

Background Gender-based violence is viewed as a significant problem in conflict-affected regions throughout the world. However, humanitarian organizations typically have been unable to reliably estimate the incidence of rape, intimate partner violence and other forms of sexual abuse in such settings. Such estimates are required to inform programming in contexts such as northern Uganda. Methods We sought to establish incidence rates for gender-based violence in internally-displaced-persons camps in northern Uganda. The assessments involved a “neighbourhood methodology,” in which adult female heads of household reported about their own, their sisters' and their neighbours' experiences. 299 households were selected for interview across four camps by using systematic random sampling. Findings Interviews were completed by 204 respondents (5 women having declined interview and 90 not having been successfully contacted). These respondents reported on themselves, a total of 268 sisters and 1206 neighbours. Reports with respect to these alternative populations produced estimates of overall incidence of intimate partner violence in the past year of 51.7% (95% CI 44.8 to 58.7; respondents), 44.0% (95% CI 41.2 to 46.9; respondents' sisters) and 36.5% (95% CI 30.7 to 42.3; respondents' neighbours). In the same period, estimates of incidence of forced sex by husbands were 41.0% (95% CI 34.2% to 47.8%), 22.1% (95% CI 17.0 to 27.2) and 25.1% (95% CI 22.5 to 27.6), respectively, with incidence of rape by a perpetrator other than an intimate partner estimated at 5.0% (95% CI 2.0% to 8.0%), 4.2% (95% CI 1.8 to 6.6) and 4.3% (95% CI 3.1 to 5.5), respectively. Interpretation Gender-based violence—particularly intimate partner violence—is commonplace in postconflict Uganda. The neighbourhood method provides a promising approach to estimating human right violations in humanitarian settings.
Enhancement authentication protocol using zero‐knowledge proofs and chaotic maps

Application of authentication protocol and key exchange scheme are major research issues in current internet, and entity identification (users or servers) accuracy and security are thereby safeguarded by various types of verification programs. Therefore, in the last 10 years, it was accompanied with productive discussions, but those discussions mainly focus on single issues, and because of the lack of security, there still existed improvements. The concept of zero‐knowledge proofs is well suited for the identification and signing within network system, which has been widely used since proposed in 1985. However, common identification methods are only fit for individual user. In an increasingly complex network environment of today, information is usually conveyed through many unidentified servers, as a result, we have to encrypt messages by adopting different kinds of session keys. As for the chaotic maps technology, it also serves as a new encryption technology, widely adopted in communication protocols and key agreements over the years. As a consequence, in this study, we are going to propose an authentication protocol with key exchange function by taking advantage of characters of zero‐knowledge proofs and chaotic maps, as well as adopt the BAN‐logic to prove the security of this protocol. This study also compares the results of the security analysis of our protocol and related works. As a result, our proposed protocol has more security than others. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.