The gamma interferon (gamma-IFN) concentration and the adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity were evaluated in 30 patients with tuberculous peritonitis, 21 patients with ascites due to a malignant disorder, and 41 patients with cirrhosis. The gamma-IFN concentrations were significantly higher (p < 0.0001) in tuberculous peritonitis patients (mean: 6.70 U/ml) than in the malignant (mean: 3.10 U/ml)...

The locations of most gamma-ray bursts are known only to several degrees. As a consequence, to detect repeated outbursts from gamma-ray burst sources in the largest gamma-ray burst catalogs, one must apply statistical tests for clustering. I show that the two-point correlation function is superior to the nearest neighbor test for detecting repetition whenever the average angle of separation bet...

A real-time PCR assay for the measurement of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) mRNA in European badger (Meles meles) blood cultures was developed. The levels of IFN-gamma mRNA in blood cultures stimulated with either bovine or avian tuberculin or specific mycobacterial antigens were compared with those in a nonstimulated control blood culture as the basis for determining the tuberculosis (TB) status...

OBJECTIVE The Leksell Gamma Knife® (LGK) is based on a single-fraction high dose treatment strategy. Therefore, independent verification of the Leksell GammaPlan® (LGP) is important for ensuring patient safety and minimizing the risk of treatment errors. Although several verification techniques have been previously developed and reported, no method has ever been tested statistically on multiple...

The Gamma test is a simple technique for assessing the extent to which a given set of M data points can be modelled by an unknown smooth non-linear function f . If the underlying model is of the form y = f(x)+r where r is a random variable representing that part of the data which cannot be accounted for by the smooth function f , the Gamma test produces an estimate ΓM for the variance Var(r). T...

The clinical application of the flattening filter-free photon beam (FFF) has enjoyed greater use due to its advantage of reduced treatment time because of the increased dose rate. Its unique beam characteristics, along with the very high-dose rate, require a thorough knowledge of the capability and accuracy in FFF beam modeling, planning, and delivery. This work verifies the feasibility of mode...

In this paper we give an account of a new change of perspective in nonlinear modelling and prediction as applied to smooth systems. The core element of these developments is the Gamma test a non-linear modelling and analysis tool which allows us to examine the nature of a hypothetical input/output relationship in a numerical data-set. In essence, the Gamma test allows us to efficiently calculat...

BACKGROUND Conventional tests are not always helpful in making a diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy. Many studies have investigated the usefulness of interferon (IFN)-gamma measurements in pleural fluid for the early diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy. We conducted a metaanalysis to determine the accuracy of IFN-gamma measurements in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy. METHODS After a system...

The actual potential of the next generation of Gamma Ray Telescopes in improving the existing tests of an effective Quantum Gravity scale from the study of the propagation delay for gamma rays of different energies coming from a distant astrophysical source is discussed. It is shown that the existence of a cosmological Gamma Ray Horizon, will impose very demanding conditions on the observations...

Background: Interactions of free radicals from ionizing radiation with DNA can induce DNA damage and lead to mutagenesis and carsinogenesis. With respect to radiation damage to human, it is important to protect humans from side effects induced by ionizing radiation.In the present study, the effects of arbutin were investigated by using the micronucleus test for anti-clastogenic activity, to cal...