Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The potential role of in vivo optical coherence tomography for evaluating oral soft tissue: A systematic review

BACKGROUND The introduction of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in dentistry enabled the integration of already existing clinical and laboratory investigations in the study of the oral cavity. This systematic review presents an overview of the literature, to evaluate the usefulness of in vivo OCT for diagnosing oral soft tissues lesions, to compare the OCT results with traditional histology, and to identify limitations in prior studies so as to improve OCT applications. METHODS We performed a review of the literature using different search engines (PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library) employing MeSH terms such as "optical coherence tomography" and "OCT" in conjunction with other terms. We utilized the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes, and Study design (PICOS) method to define our study eligibility criteria. RESULTS Initial results were 3155. In conclusion, there were only 27 studies which met our selection criteria. We decided to allocate the 27 selected items into three groups: healthy mucosa; benign, premalignant, and malignant lesions; and oral manifestations of systemic therapies or pathological conditions. CONCLUSIONS Although the OCT is an easy-to-perform test and it offers an attractive diagnostic and monitoring prospect for soft tissues of the oral cavity, further studies are needed to complete the current knowledge of this imaging technique.
Executive functions as endophenotypes in ADHD: evidence from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Battery (CANTAB).

BACKGROUND Little is known about executive functions among unaffected siblings of children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and there is lack of such information from non-Western countries. We examined verbal and nonverbal executive functions in adolescents with ADHD, unaffected siblings and controls to test whether executive functions could be potential endophenotypes for ADHD. METHODS We assessed 279 adolescents (age range: 11-17 years) with a childhood diagnosis of DSM-IV ADHD, 136 biological siblings (108 unaffected, 79.4%), and 173 unaffected controls by using psychiatric interviews, the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - 3rd edition (WISC-III), including digit spans, and the tasks involving executive functions of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB): Intra-dimensional/Extra-dimensional Shifts (IED), Spatial Span (SSP), Spatial Working Memory (SWM), and Stockings of Cambridge (SOC). RESULTS Compared with the controls, adolescents with ADHD and unaffected siblings had a significantly shorter backward digit span, more extra-dimensional shift errors in the IED, shorter spatial span length in the SSP, more total errors and poorer strategy use in the SWM, and fewer problems solved in the minimum number of moves and shorter initial thinking time in the SOC. The magnitudes of the differences in the SWM and SOC increased with increased task difficulties. In general, neither persistent ADHD nor comorbidity was associated with increased deficits in executive functions among adolescents with ADHD. CONCLUSIONS The lack of much difference in executive dysfunctions between unaffected siblings and ADHD adolescents suggests that executive dysfunctions may be useful cognitive endophenotypes for ADHD genetic studies.
CXCL12 suppresses cisplatin-induced apoptosis through activation of JAK2/STAT3 signaling in human non-small-cell lung cancer cells

Aims Poor efficacy of chemotherapy drugs in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the key reason for the failure of treatment, but the mechanism of this remains largely unknown. Stromal cell-derived factor 1-alpha (SDF-1α/CXCL12) is a small chemotactic cytokine protein that plays an important role in tumor progression. In this study, we investigated the anti-apoptotic mechanism of the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in response to cisplatin, a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug, in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. Methods CXCL12 blocks cisplatin-induced apoptosis in A549, and the results were shown by propidium iodide/annexin V staining in vitro. The mechanism of CXCL12 stimulating phosphorylation of STAT3 through CXCR4/JAK2 was demonstrated by immunofluorescence and Western blotting. The expression of CXCL12 and p-STAT3 in clinical specimens was examined by immunohistochemistry. Results CXCL12 significantly decreased the ratio of apoptotic cells and stimulation of phospho-signal transducer and activator of transcription (p-STAT)-3 in a time-dependent manner through interaction with CXCR4. Among the signaling molecules downstream of CXCR4, the JAK2/STAT3 pathway plays a predominant role in the anti-apoptotic effect of CXCL12. Analysis of clinical specimens revealed that increased CXCL12 and p-STAT3 expression correlates with enhanced lung cancer progression. Conclusion These data suggest that CXCR4 contributes to CXCL12-mediated anti-apoptosis by activating JAK2/STAT3 pathway in NSCLC cells. Therefore, targeting CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling pathway reveals a potential therapeutic approach for NSCLC.
Therapeutic strategies to improve control of hypertension

Blood pressure is poorly controlled in most European countries and the control rate is even lower in high-risk patients such as patients with chronic kidney disease, diabetic patients or previous coronary heart disease. Several factors have been associated with poor control, some of which involve the characteristic of the patients themselves, such as socioeconomic factors, or unsuitable life-styles, other factors related to hypertension or to associated comorbidity, but there are also factors directly associated with antihypertensive therapy, mainly involving adherence problems, therapeutic inertia and therapeutic strategies unsuited to difficult-to-control hypertensive patients. It is common knowledge that only 30% of hypertensive patients can be controlled using monotherapy; all the rest require a combination of two or more antihypertensive drugs, and this can be a barrier to good adherence and log-term persistence in patients who also often need to use other drugs, such as antidiabetic agents, statins or antiplatelet agents. The fixed combinations of three antihypertensive agents currently available can facilitate long-term control of these patients in clinical practice. If well tolerated, a long-term therapeutic regimen that includes a diuretic, an ACE inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker, and a calcium channel blocker is the recommended optimal triple therapy.
Routes of Delivery for CpG and Anti-CD137 for the Treatment of Orthotopic Kidney Tumors in Mice

We have found previously that the tumor cell lines, Renca (a renal cancer) and MC38 (a colon tumor) which had been injected subcutaneously in mice, could be successfully treated with a combination therapy of an oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG1826) (injected intratumorally) and anti-CD137 antibody (injected intraperitoneally). Thus the combination treatment was expected to initiate a “danger” signal via TLR9 on immune cells, and the anti-CD137 was expected to further activate T cells. In the present study, we found that several other tumor types injected subcutaneously could also be successfully treated with this combination therapy. In addition, we wished to determine if the treatment could work as effectively in an orthotopic metastatic model, which is more physiologically relevant to cancer in humans. Renca was selected as we were familiar with injecting this orthotopically into the outer cortex of the kidney in mice, and it spontaneously metastasizes to lung and abdominal sites. We tested various routes of delivery of CpG combined with intraperitoneal delivery of anti-CD137. Orthotopic tumors were injected with CpG intratumorally, using ultrasound-guided delivery on multiple occasions, combined with anti-CD137 intraperitoneally. A reduction in primary tumor size was observed following intratumoral injection of CpG compared to other treatments. We found that there was a statistically significant increase in survival of mice with orthotopic Renca tumor following intratumoral injection of CpG. However, we determined that the most effective route of delivery of CpG was intravenous, which led to further significantly enhanced survival of mice when combined with anti-CD137 intraperitoneally, likely due to inhibition of metastatic disease. Our data supports future development of this combination therapy for cancer.
Exploring Academic Motivation, Academic Self-Efficacy and Attitudes toward Teaching in Pre-Service Early Childhood Education Teachers.

This study is designed to explore academic motivation, academic self-efficacy and attitudes toward teaching in pre-service early childhood education teachers and to investigate the relationships among those variables. Data were gathered through questionnaires administered to 251 pre-service early childhood education teachers. Results indicated that academic motivation was significantly related to academic self efficacy. Although participants had high levels of positive attitudes toward teaching, those attitudes neither related to the academic motivation nor to the academic self efficacy. In addition, regression analyses revealed that academic self-efficacy was the only meaningful predictor of academic motivation.
Collaboration of junior students and residents in a teacher course for senior medical students

Background: This paper describes the curriculum and impact of an innovative resident-as-teacher course at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. The intent of the course is to prepare students across undergraduate and graduate medical education for their roles as teacher, learner and leader during residency. Method: The elective introduces teaching skills curricula during year two of medical school and integrates it into residency years. The course was developed with the premise that integrating facets of graduate and undergraduate medical education offers students diverse perspectives of the teaching/learning process. Students completed a pre-/post-course questionnaire and an end-of-course evaluation, from which data were gathered to determine course impact. Results: Students reported increased confidence levels in their teaching skills from pre- to post-test. Post-test data indicated that 88% of students ‘agreed’ and 12% ‘strongly agreed’ that the course equipped them with ‘skills which will enable [them] to provide teaching that supports effective learning’, an increase from pre-test data which indicated that 50% ‘agreed’ and 50% ‘disagreed’. Conclusion: Results indicate the course did effect a change in students’ attitudes to teaching as evident from comments such as, ‘I will be a better teacher because I have been given the appropriate tools’.
The XMM Cluster Survey: evolution of the velocity dispersion–temperature relation over half a Hubble time

We measure the evolution of the velocity dispersion-temperature (sigma(v)-T-X) relation up to z = 1 using a sample of 38 galaxy clusters drawn from the XMM Cluster Survey. This work improves upon previous studies by the use of a homogeneous cluster sample and in terms of the number of high-redshift clusters included. We present here new redshift and velocity dispersion measurements for 12 z > 0.5 clusters observed with the Gemini Multi Object Spectographs instruments on the Gemini telescopes. Using an orthogonal regression method, we find that the slope of the relation is steeper than that expected if clusters were self-similar, and that the evolution of the normalization is slightly negative, but not significantly different from zero (sigma(v) alpha T0.86+/-0.14E(z)(-0.37+/-0.33)). We verify our results by applying our methods to cosmological hydrodynamical simulations. The lack of evolution seen in our data is consistent with simulations that include both feedback and radiative cooling.
Analyzing failures and attacks in Map & Encap protocols

This paper examines failures and attacks in Map & Encap routing protocols. In Map & Encap, a packet is routed to an encapsulator, which maps the destination address to a decapsulator, and encapsulates the packet. This important and growing class of protocols, ranging from widely used MPLS VPNs to future routing architectures such as LISP, introduce new problems and challenges for handling failures and attacks. To capture fundamental components, we introduce a Simple Map & Encap Protocol (SMEP). Some failure handling approaches from traditional routing protocols also apply in SMEP, but these approaches alone are insufficient. SMEP design choices, and mapping dissemination in particular, have a large impact on whether new techniques are needed. In some cases, the control plane alone cannot adequately handle failures without support from the data plane and attacks can be much harder to diagnose. The results identify new potential failures and attacks and can help designers improve Map & Encap protocol robustness. We illustrate the benefits of our work by analyzing two very different types of Map & Encap protocols, MPLS-VPN and LISP.
Long-term change in dental prevention and check-up intervals in public dental service in Helsinki, Finland

Helminen S.K. J. Long-term change in dental prevention and check-up intervals in public dental service in Helsinki, Finland. Department of Oral Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland, 2003. 88 pp. ISBN 952-91-5822-X. The aim of the present study was to track changes in dental state from 1976 to 1999, in Helsinki, Finland, and to evaluate dental prevention measures and the success with which they have been targeted at high-risk groups by Helsinki City Health Department. The study design was longitudinal, dental prevention being evaluated on the basis of five cross-sectional and one follow-up study. Data on dental state and treatments were collected from patient records and from official automatic data processing files. During the first 10 years, from 1976-1986 there was a substantial decrease in caries occurrence. In 1986, no focusing on risk patients was found. In 1989-91, the percentage of dental prevention in the treatment mix was directly proportional to a decrease in caries prevalence. In 1999, a positive change was observed in the targeting of caries prevention to 0to 18-year-old patients. The patients in orthodontic care were receiving more caries prevention. The proposed check-up intervals corresponded to the dental state of children. The dentists’ age and gender had no impact on the time spent for repeated caries prevention. Young adults’ check-up intervals appeared to function optimally. On the other hand, the feasibility of the DT and CPITN indices as administrative measures of treatment needs in young adults seemed to be minor. On the whole, the targeting of dental prevention has improved since 1976 and 1986. However recommendations are made for 1) additional training in calibration and usage of a computer-aided program to aid dentists in providing more accurate dental prevention, 2) economic incentives and 3) an administratively more practical dental index. In addition, the cost-effectiveness of the methods used in Helsinki should be studied and compared to methods used elsewhere.
The Effects of Locational Factors on the Performance of Innovation Networks in the German Energy Sector

Locational factors, like the quantity and quality of skilled labour, demanding customers, competitors, supporting industries, and research institutions, are assumed to have an influence on the competitiveness of a region and the performance of the regional actors. However, few studies focus on this topic from an innovation network perspective in the energy sector. Our study tries to close this gap: a sample of 128 German innovation networks of companies and research institutes in the energy sector is used to analyse the effects of locational factors on the performance (effectiveness) of innovation projects. Based on the distinctions in Porter’s Diamond Model, we find that two locational factors—the quality and quantity of the demand conditions and skilled labour—have positive effects. In contrast to the widespread assumption in the literature we could not find evidence for positive impacts on the quality and quantity of the competitive environment. In fact, the effect on performance was negative.
Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Parkinson's Disease Treated with a Monoamine Oxidase Type‐B inhibitor: A Cross‐Sectional, Cohort Study

To evaluate the long‐term risk of developing cognitive symptoms (e.g., dementia, hallucinations), dyskinesia, falls, and freezing of gait (FoG) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) who received monoamine oxidase type B inhibitors (MAOB‐Is) compared with patients who had never received MAOB‐Is.
Efficiency, products and mechanisms of ethyl acetate oxidative degradation in air non-thermal plasma

Ethyl acetate (EA) is a popular solvent and diluent in many products and one of the most ubiquitous organic pollutants of indoor air. Although EA’s ascertained toxicity is classified as low, exposure to its vapors at concentrations ⩾400 ppm causes serious problems in humans. EA is thus a frequent target in testing novel technologies for air purification. We report here an investigation of EA oxidative degradation in air at room temperature and atmospheric pressure induced by corona discharges. Three corona regimes, dc−, dc+ and pulsed +, were tested in the same reactor under various experimental conditions with regard to EA initial concentration (C0) and the presence of humidity in the system. The EA degradation process was monitored by gas chromatography (GC)–flame ionization detection, GC–mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis of the treated gas. These analyses yielded the concentration of residual EA (C) and those of its major products of oxidation (CO2, CO) and revealed a few organic reaction intermediates formed along the oxidation chain. The process energy efficiency was determined as energy constant, kE (kJ−1 l) and as energy yield, EY (g kW−1 h−1). The efficiency depends on the type of corona (pulsed + >dc− >dc+), on the presence of humidity in the air (improvement in the case of dc−, little or no effect for dc+) and on C0 (kE increases linearly with 1/C0). CO2 and CO were the major carbon containing products, confirming the strong oxidizing power of air non-thermal plasma. Acetic acid and acetaldehyde were detected in very small amounts as reaction intermediates. The experimental results obtained in this work support the conclusion that different reactive species are involved in the initial step of EA oxidation in the case of dc− and dc+ corona air non-thermal plasma.
Clustering of Clinical Strains ofHelicobacter pylori Analyzed by Two-Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis

ABSTRACT Strain variations of Helicobacter pylori have been tested by numerous methods and compared among different patient groups. The aim of this study was to investigate whether H. pyloriexpresses disease-specific proteins that can be detected by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE). H. pylori strains isolated from duodenal ulcer, gastric cancer, and gastritis patients were analyzed. Extensive variation in spot patterns was observed between the strains, but a dendrogram analysis revealed that some strains within each disease group clustered together. Eight proteins were sequenced and found in the H. pylori genome sequence. 2-D PAGE is a useful method for studies of protein expression and for highlighting the extensive strain variation that H. pylori exhibits.
Methodology for automated Petri Net model generation to support Reliability Modelling

As the complexity of engineering systems and processes increases, determining their optimal performance also becomes increasingly complex. There are various reliability methods available to model performance but generating the models can become a significant task that is cumbersome, error-prone and tedious. Hence, over the years, work has been undertaken into automatically generating reliability models in order to detect the most critical components and design errors at an early stage, supporting alternative designs. Earlier work lacks full automation resulting in semi-automated methods since they require user intervention to import system information to the algorithm, focus on specific domains and cannot accurately model systems or processes with control loops and dynamic features. This thesis develops a novel method that can generate reliability models for complex systems and processes, based on Petri Net models. The process has been fully automated with software developed that extracts the information required for the model from a topology diagram that describes the system or process considered and generates the corresponding mathematical and graphical representations of the Petri Net model. Such topology diagrams are used in industrial sectors, ranging from aerospace and automotive engineering to finance, defence, government, entertainment and telecommunications. Complex real-life scenarios are studied to demonstrate the application of the proposed method, followed by the verification, validation and simulation of the developed Petri Net models. Thus, the proposed method is seen to be a powerful tool to automatically obtain the PN modelling formalism from a topology diagram, commonly used in industry, by: - Handling and efficiently modelling systems and processes with a large number of components and activities respectively, dependent events and control loops. - Providing generic domain applicability. - Providing software independence by generating models readily understandable by the user without requiring further manipulation by any industrial software. Finally, the method documented in this thesis enables engineers to conduct reliability and performance analysis in a timely manner that ensures the results feed into the design process.
Comparison of the Early Clinical Outcomes between Combined Small-Incision Lenticule Extraction and Collagen Cross-Linking versus SMILE for Myopia

Background. To compare the early outcome of combined SMILE and collagen crosslinking (SMILE Xtra) with SMILE. Method. Prospective, comparative interventional study of 21 eyes receiving SMILE Xtra using a low energy protocol and 32 control eyes receiving SMILE only. The outcomes were compared at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. Results. Both groups had myopia with spherical equivalent refraction (SEQ) > 4.00 D. The SMILE Xtra group had thinner preoperative central corneal thickness and residual stromal bed thickness (p < 0.021). At 6 months, no eyes lost more than 1 line in corrected distance visual acuity. The safety index was 0.96 ± 0.06 and 1.00 ± 0.00 in SMILE Xtra and control, respectively (p < 0.001). 89% and 94% of eyes were within ±0.50 D of target refraction, respectively, with the mean error in SEQ correction being −0.17 ± 0.26 D for SMILE Xtra and +0.03 ± 0.25 D for control (p = 0.021). The efficacy index was 0.88 ± 0.13 and 0.97 ± 0.06, respectively (p = 0.005). Conclusion. SMILE Xtra had good overall safety profile and predictability at 6 months. However, when compared with control, the safety index and efficacy index were statistically significantly lower in the early postoperative period.