Cluster-oriented Detection of Microcalcifications in Simulated Low-Dose Mammography

Abstract. The problem of assessing the potential for dose reduction in X-ray mammography has been addressed in the paper [1] via numerical simulation, using the detection of microcalcifications as a benchmark to measure the loss of image quality in the dose-reduced images. In this paper we present an extension of the original algorithm, which prefers clusters over single microcalcifications, and show test results indicating that the modification makes the algorithm more robust with respect to the image degradations due to dose reduction

Cluster-oriented Detection of Microcalcifications in Simulated Low-Dose Mammography

Abstract. The problem of assessing the potential for dose reduction in X-ray mammography has been addressed in the paper [1] via numerical simulation, using the detection of microcalcifications as a benchmark to measure the loss of image quality in the dose-reduced images. In this paper we present an extension of the original algorithm, which prefers clusters over single microcalcifications, and show test results indicating that the modification makes the algorithm more robust with respect to the image degradations due to dose reduction.

In Vitro Activity against Staphylococcus aureus of a Novel Antimicrobial Agent, PRF-119, a Recombinant Chimeric Bacteriophage Endolysin▿†

Antistaphylococcal activity of the novel chimeric endolysin PRF-119 was evaluated with the microdilution method. The MIC50 and MIC90 of 398 methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus isolates were 0.098 μg/ml and 0.391 μg/ml, respectively (range, 0.024 to 0.780 μg/ml). Both the MIC50 and MIC90 values of 776 methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates were 0.391 μg/ml (range, 0.024 to 1.563 μg/ml). All 192 clinical isolates of coagulase-negative staphylococci exhibited MIC values of >50 μg/ml. In conclusion, PRF-119 exhibited very good activity specifically against S. aureus