Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Copper-62-pyruvaldehyde bis(N4-methyl-thiosemicarbazone) PET imaging in the detection of coronary artery disease in humans

BackgroundCopper-62 (II)-pyruvaldehyde bis(N4-methyl-thiosemicarbazone) (PTSM) has been proposed for cardiac imaging with positron emission tomography (PET). This study evaluated the agreement between Cu-62-PTSM and coronary angiography in the detection of occlusive coronary artery disease. The normalcy rate for Cu-62-PTSM PET in a group of healthy volunteers was also assessed.Methods and ResultsForty-five subjects completed the study. Twenty-eight patients underwent stress technetium-99m sestamibi single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging and cardiac catheterization followed by Cu-62-PTSM rest/dipyridamole stress PET scans, and 17 volunteers underwent Cu-62-PTSM rest/dipyridamole stress PET scans. Cu-62-PTSM myocardial perfusion defects were identified in 100% of patients with 3-vessel disease (n = 8), 100% of patients with 2-vessel disease (n = 9), and 67% of patients with single-vessel disease (n = 6). When considering individual vessels, Cu-62-PTSM perfusion defects were seen in 72% of patients with occlusive disease in the left anterior descending artery territory, 67% in the left circumflex artery territory, and 60% in the right coronary artery territory, respectively. All 17 healthy volunteers had Cu-62-PTSM scans interpreted as normal, for a normalcy rate of 100%. ConclusionsPerfusion abnormalities are demonstrated by means of Cu-62-PTSM PET in 91% of patients with occlusive coronary artery disease seen at the time of cardiac catheterization, and it shows an excellent normalcy rate of 100%.
Isolation of Geobacter species from diverse sedimentary environments

In an attempt to better understand the microorganisms responsible for Fe(III) reduction in sedimentary environments, Fe(III)-reducing microorganisms were enriched for and isolated from freshwater aquatic sediments, a pristine deep aquifer, and a petroleum-contaminated shallow aquifer. Enrichments were initiated with acetate or toluene as the electron donor and Fe(III) as the electron acceptor. Isolations were made with acetate or benzoate. Five new strains which could obtain energy for growth by dissimilatory Fe(III) reduction were isolated. All five isolates are gram-negative strict anaerobes which grow with acetate as the electron donor and Fe(III) as the electron acceptor. Analysis of the 16S rRNA sequence of the isolated organisms demonstrated that they all belonged to the genus Geobacter in the delta subdivision of the Proteobacteria. Unlike the type strain, Geobacter metallireducens, three of the five isolates could use H2 as an electron donor for Fe(III) reduction. The deep subsurface isolate is the first Fe(III) reducer shown to completely oxidize lactate to carbon dioxide, while one of the freshwater sediment isolates is only the second Fe(III) reducer known that can oxidize toluene. The isolation of these organisms demonstrates that Geobacter species are widely distributed in a diversity of sedimentary environments in which Fe(III) reduction is an important process.
Relationship Between Connexins and Atrial Activation During Human Atrial Fibrillation

Introduction: Gap junctional connexin proteins (connexin40 [Cx40], connexin43 [Cx43]) are a determinant of myocardial conduction and are implicated in the development of atrial fibrillation (AF). We hypothesized that atrial activation pattern during AF is related to connexin expression and that this relationship is altered by AF‐induced remodeling in the fibrillating atria of chronic AF.
Graph-based Diagnostic Medical Decision Support System

Medical diagnosis through differential diagnosis is a matter of life and death that occurs every day. This paper attempts to simulate differential diagnosis using a newly developed machine learning training and query algorithm utilizing a graphbased model. The paper also presents a method for creating synthetic medical records on which to train the model as well as the results of such training. Keywords—decision support system, differential diagnosis, graph, machine learning, healthcare
The clinical and pharmacoeconomic analysis of invasive aspergillosis in adult patients with haematological diseases

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) poses major management problems for clinicians caring for patients with haematological diseases. The clinical courses of patients with IPA who had been hospitalised in Hematology Unit, Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit and Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Unit between 1998 and 2005, the efficacy and adverse effects and costs of antifungal drugs (conventional amphotericin B deoxycholate, liposomal amphotericin B, amphotericin B lipid complex and caspofungin) used in the therapy of these patients were analysed in this study. Ninety‐three patients with IPA were reviewed retrospectively. Mean age of the patients was 40.4 ± 15.1 years (range 14–70 years). Fifty‐eight male patients and 35 female patients were included in the study. Manageable hypopotassemia, nausea/vomiting and headache were the most commonly observed side‐effects during antifungal (AF) therapy. While it was not found to be statistically significant with regard to the mean time to resolution of fever (P = 0.8), it was found to be statistically significant with regard to radiological regression at 30th day, and mean duration of therapy between patients who were dead or alive (P < 0.05, P < 0.001). Total cost of AF therapy for 93 patients was found to be US$4 461 824 (minimum US$387‐maximum US$279 023). Of this amount, US$4 272 845 represents the payment for AF drugs, US$188 979 the payment for other expenditures. Mean cost of therapy for a patient with IPA was found to be US$49 336. Although it seemed to be difficult, investigations should primarily focus on providing standardisation of parameters relating to the duration of AF therapy. Despite the less‐than‐optimal safety profile of CAB, it often remains to be the preferred first line option for the treatment of fungal infections because of its broad spectrum, activity and low acquisition cost.
The Shape of Low Excursions of the Envelope of a Signal Plus Noise

Like low excursions of the envelope of narrowband noise, those of the sum of a signal plus narrowband noise are hyperbolic in shape if the signal-to-noise ratio r is not high. When r/spl Gt/1, low excursions of the envelope are hyperbolic if the signal is frequency-modulated but have a quartic shape with one or two minima if it is not. This article illuminates various aspects of FM clicks.
A comparative study of Impulse Noise Reduction methods in Digital images

— Noise hides the important details of images. An efficient noise removal method is an important issue in image processing. Several filters have already been developed in fact special filter is designed to remove only one particular type of noise like Traditional median filter successfully remove the low density impulse noise but fail to remove the high density impulse noise. This paper consists of detailed survey of various impulse noise reduction techniques. We first analyse and then compare the various filter performance such as MSE, PSNR and study its drawback and limitations.
Broadband, polarization-insensitive superconducting single-photon detectors based on waveguide-integrated ultra-narrow nanowires

We report on our design and simulation of superconducting single-photon detectors, based on ultra-narrow nanowire (30 nm) integrated with waveguides, to achieve broadband (wavelength: 1.2 micrometer to 1.7 micrometer) absorptance >0.99 for two orthogonal polarizations.
International Research Conference on Food , Nutrition , and Cancer Polyphenols , Inflammatory Response , and Cancer Prevention : Chlorination of Isoflavones by Human Neutrophils 1 , 2

An important aspect of the risk of cancer is the involvement of the inflammatory response. Currently, antiinflammatory agents are used in chemopreventive strategies. For example, aspirin is recommended for the prevention of colon cancer as well as breast and other cancers. The inflammatory response involves the production of cytokines and proinflammatory oxidants such as hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and peroxynitrite (ONO2 ) produced by neutrophils and macrophages, respectively. These oxidants react with phenolic tyrosine residues on proteins to form chloroand nitrotyrosine. Diets rich in polyphenols (green tea catechins, soy isoflavones) have also been shown to be chemopreventive. The aromatic nature of polyphenols makes them potential targets of HOCl and ONO2 . These reactions may create novel pharmacophores at the site of inflammation. Previous studies in the neutrophil-like cell line, differentiated HL-60 cells, demonstrated the formation of chlorinated and nitrated isoflavones. In this study we have examined whether similar reactions occur in freshly isolated human neutrophils. After induction of a respiratory burst with a phorbol ester, isoflavones and their metabolites were identified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and then quantitatively measured by LC-mass spectrometry using multiple-reaction ion monitoring. The data obtained indicate that both chlorinated and nitrated genistein are formed by human neutrophils. The extent of chlorination of genistein was markedly increased by the phorbol ester whereas the low level of nitration of genistein was constitutive and unaffected. These data imply a potential role for modified forms of genistein that would be produced in the inflammatory environment in and around a tumor. J. Nutr. 133: 3773S–3777S, 2003.
ON THE ARITHMETIC NORMALITY OF THE GRASSMANN VARIETY.

(i) Since {X} 0 ({1.'} + { A21 + ***) = {XI 0 1,{ + {X} o {. 21 + *. , then, if {X} 0 [jA] = ,[v], where X is a partition of an integer m, {*I ® [A] = E(v*) if m is even, and {X*1 0* (t*) = E(v*) ifm is odd. (ii) If [X] 0 [is] = E[P], X is a partition of m, then (X*) 0 [is] = Z(*) (m even) and (X*) 0 (,u*) = Z(v*) (m odd). (iii) If (X) 0 [is] = El v}, X a partition of m, then [X*] 0 [isl = Z 1 v*} (m even) and [X*] 0 (A*) = El *1 (m odd). 1 F. D. Murnaghan, PROC. NATL. AcAD. Sci., 38, 966-973 (1952). 2 D. E. Littlewood, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. , ser. A, No. 809, 239, 387-417 (1944). 3 D. E. Littlewood, ibid., No. 807, pp. 305-65.
Multi-Pitch Streaming : Based on Clustering Algorithms

Multi-pitch analysis is an important subjects in audio signal processing, while at the same time it is also a very challenging issue. In this paper, we are mainly focusing on the multi-pitch streaming part, while in order to perform the streaming process, we need first estimate the pitch values in individual time frame. Thus a multi-pitch estimation process is also provided here. Recently both multi-pitch estimation and multi-pitch streaming are receiving many research interests and several advances in these two areas were made. In this paper we will describe two categories of multipitch estimation or MPE methods. And then we are going to introduce the basic concept of clustering as well as several clustering algorithms based on this concept. For each clustering algorithm presented, a recently proposed multipitch streaming method using this clustering algorithm will be detailed discussed. Experimental results and some defects of these methods will also be provided.
Embryologic development and monozygotic twinning.

In 1875, Sir Francis Galton was the first to propose that by comparing the concordance of a specific trait or disorder in monozygotic (MZ) twins (assumed to be genetically identical) and dizygotic (DZ) twins (which were assumed to be as similar or as different as any other pair of sibs), it would be possible to distinguish between environmental and heritable effects. DZ twins are derived from the fertilization of two eggs by two sperm. MZ twins are the result of the fertilization of one egg by one sperm that then divides to form two embryos. Genetic research has made amazing progress since 1875. Advances in molecular DNA techniques and developmental genetics have made it possible to differentiate unequivocally between MZ and DZ twins [1, 14]. It is in this new light that this manuscript will review the recent knowledge about twins and the twinning process. The incidence of DZ twins differs between population [11, 18]. A DZ twin birth in North America is estimated to occur 9–11 times in every 1000 live births or 1 in 100 births; i.e. 1 in every 50 people is a DZ twin. The DZ twinning rate is closely related to maternal age, parity, height, weight and gonadotropin levels. An increased DZ twinning rate is seen with increasing maternal age and peaks around 35–39 years; higher parity is also associated with a higher DZ twinning rate [19]. Tall heavy women are more likely to give birth to DZ twins than short thin women. A higher incidence of DZ twins has also been reported with the use of new reproductive techniques.
Visual deficits in children born at less than 32 weeks' gestation with and without major ocular pathology and cerebral damage.

AIMS--A study was carried out to compare the visual abilities of prematurely born children with those of matched full term controls. METHODS--The vision of 68 children born at less than 32 weeks' gestation and aged between 5 and 7 1/2 years at the time of testing was compared with that of a control group of children born at full term, and matched for sex and age from due date. RESULTS--The premature children had significantly poorer distance and near visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and stereopsis, and a high incidence of colour vision defects (predominantly tritan type). These differences were associated with the high incidence of ocular pathology experienced by 31 (45%) of the premature children compared with only nine (13%) of the controls. When excluding children with ocular and cerebral pathology, 32 matched pairs of premature and control children remained. The 32 premature children did not differ from their controls in terms of distance and near acuities or stereopsis, but they did have significantly poor contrast sensitivity in both their 'best' and 'worst' eyes. None of the 32 control children had colour vision defects, compared with seven of the matched premature children. CONCLUSION--This adds support to previous speculation that the preterm eye is at risk of subtle visual impairment independent of the occurrence of refractive error, manifest squint, disorders of the fundus and media, and cerebral damage.
Characterization of planar hybrid dielectric-loaded plasmonic nano-waveguides used for nano-photonic circuits

Key challenge in the design of plasmonic nano-waveguide is to simultaneously achieve high confinement and low propagation loss. This paper presents that a planar hybrid dielectric-loaded plasmonic nano-waveguide (HDLW) could be a promising candidate to build high-performance plasmonic components. Our studies show that the HDLW can achieve better trade-off between the field intensity confinement and the propagation length than a metal-insulator-metal nanoslot waveguide does. Consequently, a 90°-circular bend built with the HDLW can achieve a total loss of 0.3 dB with a small bending radius of 2µm. A ring resonator formed with the HDLW shows the excellent performance: with a ring radius of 5 µm, this resonator exhibits a large free spectral range (22 nm), a narrow bandwidth (4 nm), and high extinction ration (20 dB). The superior performance of these plasmonic components makes them promising building blocks for nanophotonic integrated circuits.
Broadband, nonuniform stripline directional couplers for use in VNA testsets

Scattering parameter testsets of vector network analyzer (VNA) base instruments require backward wave directional couplers with sufficiently high directivity. This paper describes a synthesis procedure of symmetric, nonuniform couplers based on common multilayer printed circuit board (PCB) technology. The utilized offset coupled striplines (STL) are characterized by 2D electromagnetic (EM) field simulations in the frequency domain. Two loose directional couplers with directivity values greater than 15 dB from 0.003 MHz to 40 GHz resp. 29 GHz and greater than 5 dB up to 50 GHz resp. 70 GHz are proposed. The necessity of well matched transitions from STL to microstrip line (MSL) is outlined and two possible realizations are discussed. Measurement data of the manufactured couplers is presented, the arising deviations are clearly mapped to specific manufacturing tolerances. The minimum requirements for the applied PCB technology that guarantee successful designs are highlighted.
Pulsar Scintillation and the Local Bubble

We present the results from an extensive scintillation study of 20 pulsars in the dispersion measure range 3-35 pc cm-3, carried out using the Ooty Radio Telescope at 327 MHz, to investigate the distribution of ionized material in the local interstellar medium (LISM). Observations were made during the period 1993 January-1995 August, in which the dynamic scintillation spectra of these pulsars were regularly monitored over 10-90 epochs spanning ~100 days. Reliable and accurate estimates of strengths of scattering have been deduced from the scintillation parameters, averaged out for their long-term fluctuations arising from refractive scintillation effects. Our analysis reveals several anomalies in the scattering strength, which suggest that the distribution of scattering material in the solar neighborhood is not uniform. We have modeled these anomalous scattering effects in terms of inhomogeneities in the distribution of electron density fluctuations in the LISM. Our model suggests the presence of a low-density bubble surrounded by a shell of much higher density fluctuations. We are able to put some constraints on geometrical and scattering properties of such a structure and find it to be morphologically similar to the Local Bubble known from other studies.
Identification of MIMO ARX models from small samples using sparse matrix optimization

System identification (SI) using small samples is a problem of interest in several applications. However, parameter estimation in these situations is a challenge since classical identification techniques (based on prediction-error methods) are guaranteed to be efficient and consistent only under asymptotic (large sample) conditions. In addition these techniques need the knowledge of delay and order of the process prior to estimation of parameters which is difficult to obtain especially when dealing with multi-input multi-output (MIMO) systems. This paper presents a method for identifying MIMO models which have auto-regressive with exogenous (ARX) input structure without the knowledge of delay and order of the process, using the ideas of sparse matrix optimization (SMO). The formulation of the proposed method consists of a constrained one norm minimization on the parameter matrix to induce sparsity. Three case studies, including one on real time data, are discussed to present the efficacy of the proposed method. Results show that the estimates obtained using the proposed algorithm have lower variance than the traditional least square estimates.
Measurements of mode field diameter and effective area for photonic crystal fibers by far field scanning technique

We have demonstrated that the correction factor k<inf>n</inf> =A<inf>eff</inf>/(Πw<sup>2</sup>), is above 1.20 for photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) with structural parameters in the range of d/⁁ ≅ 0.40–0.90. By using the far field scanning (FFS) technique and the finite difference method (FDM), the results of experimental measurements and numerical simulations differed by only 0.8% to 3.0% for two types of PCFs. The finding that k<inf>n</inf>≠1.0 for PCFs indicates that their electrical field distribution is non-Gaussian and cannot be determined by assuming a conventional step-index structure distribution for PCFs.
Thin‐film solar cells: an overview

Thin film solar cells (TFSC) are a promising approach for terrestrial and space photovoltaics and offer a wide variety of choices in terms of the device design and fabrication. A variety of substrates (flexible or rigid, metal or insulator) can be used for deposition of different layers (contact, buffer, absorber, reflector, etc.) using different techniques (PVD, CVD, ECD, plasma‐based, hybrid, etc.). Such versatility allows tailoring and engineering of the layers in order to improve device performance. For large‐area devices required for realistic applications, thin‐film device fabrication becomes complex and requires proper control over the entire process sequence. Proper understanding of thin‐film deposition processes can help in achieving high‐efficiency devices over large areas, as has been demonstrated commercially for different cells. Research and development in new, exotic and simple materials and devices, and innovative, but simple manufacturing processes need to be pursued in a focussed manner. Which cell(s) and which technologies will ultimately succeed commercially continue to be anybody's guess, but it would surely be determined by the simplicity of manufacturability and the cost per reliable watt. Cheap and moderately efficient TFSC are expected to receive a due commercial place under the sun. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Propofol stimulates nitric oxide release from cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells

Propofol, an intravenous anaesthetic agent, causes marked vasodilatation in vivo. In the present study the effects of propofol on the release of nitric oxide (NO) from vascular endothelial cells was determined in vitro. Application of propofol to co‐cultures of porcine aortic endothelial and smooth muscle cells resulted in a rapid increase in cyclic GMP formation. This increase was significantly inhibited following pretreatment of the cells with either NG‐nitro‐l‐arginine (l‐NOARG) or in the presence of haemoglobin. When applied to smooth muscle cells alone, propofol did not result in an increase in cyclic GMP levels. These results demonstrate that propofol stimulates the production and release of NO from cultured endothelial cells and suggest that the vasodilatation and hypotension observed when propofol is given in vivo may be due to NO release.
Preconditioned GSOR iterative method for a class of complex symmetric system of linear equations

In this paper, we present a preconditioned variant of the generalized successive overrelaxation (GSOR) iterative method for solving a broad class of complex symmetric linear systems. We study conditions under which the spectral radius of the iteration matrix of the preconditioned GSOR method is smaller than that of the GSOR method and determine the optimal values of iteration parameters. Numerical experiments are given to verify the validity of the presented theoretical results and the effectiveness of the preconditioned GSOR method. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Physical exercise increases adult hippocampal neurogenesis in male rats provided it is aerobic and sustained

Aerobic exercise, such as running, enhances adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) in rodents. Little is known about the effects of high‐intensity interval training (HIT) or of purely anaerobic resistance training on AHN. Here, compared with a sedentary lifestyle, we report a very modest effect of HIT and no effect of resistance training on AHN in adult male rats. We found the most AHN in rats that were selectively bred for an innately high response to aerobic exercise that also run voluntarily and increase maximal running capacity. Our results confirm that sustained aerobic exercise is key in improving AHN.