Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chronic Periodontal Disease May Influence the Pulp Sensitivity Response: Clinical Evaluation in Consecutive Patients

Purpose. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical response of the pulp in teeth with chronic periodontitis. Methods. Consecutive patients who had been admitted to the Clinics of Periodontology and fulfilled the criteria of inclusion were enrolled from January to December 2007. Ninety-eight single-root teeth from 27 patients with chronic periodontitis were evaluated clinically with regard to clinical attachment level (CAL), probing depth (PD), and gingival recession (REC). After periodontal measurements, Pulpal Sensitivity (PS) was evaluated with the use of a cooling stimulus test. Data was analyzed with Student's t test and contingency C coefficient. Results. Teeth that responded positively to PS test presented lower values of CAL (7.8 ± 2.8 mm), PD (5.0 ± 2.3 mm), and REC (2.8 ± 1.8 mm) in comparison to those that responded negatively (CAL = 12.0 ± 2.2 mm; PD = 7.9 ± 1.6 mm; REC = 4.1 ± 2.4 mm) (P < 0.01, Student's t test). In addition, significant correlations were observed between PS and periodontal parameters. Conclusions. Within the limits of this study, it could be suggested that the progression of periodontitis may significantly influence the negative pulpal response.
From adaptive secondary mirrors to extra-thin extra-large adaptive primary mirrors

The technique developed for controlling adaptive secondary mirrors ( 1:5 mm thick, 1 m size, 1000 actuators), is directly relevant for extremely thin mirrors of any size, including the segments of extra-large primary mirrors. Simulations and laboratory measurements on prototype adaptive secondary mirrors can be used to derive with good con dence the parameters for an adaptive extra-thin primary mirror. The key feature is the amount of damping needed to make the system controllable over a wide bandwidth, as necessary for adaptive correction. We describe here the approach, the basic equations and the resulting choices for the relevant parameters. We try to identify possible actuators and basic requirements for supporting thin adaptive primary mirrors. We propose a preliminary concept of an extra-large telescope for \wide eld" di raction limited work in the visual range. The concept is based on multiple adaptive mirrors, including a segmented adaptive primary mirror for very high orders, a small, low order, adaptive secondary to correct pointing and wind bu eting and a further high order adaptive stage, with two correctors conjugated to higher atmospheric layers, for multi-conjugate Adaptive Optics. A preliminary optical design of an optical con guration with a very fast (F/0.8) 40 m diameter primary and three moderate size mirrors shows that is possible to obtain a relatively wide eld at high Strehl ratio and to satisfy at the same time the conditions posed by multi-conjugation. We also show that the reduction of mass and of focal length that can be obtained with an adaptive primary, greatly simpli es the telescope design. We present a zero order design of a three axis telescope mount, the \ oating-ball", that we consider as an interesting possibility for a light weight, low cost ELT. The oating-ball design is compatible with a relatively simple, therefore probably a ordable, \sunower" dome that could provide the necessary weather protection when closed and good wind protection when open. A rough cost evaluation of the oating-ball telescope, done by scaling the cost of similar sub-systems of LBT, shows the potential positive impact of adaptive primaries on the telescope cost.
Nasal nitric oxide in a random sample of adults and its relationship to sensitization, cat allergen, rhinitis, and ambient nitric oxide

Background There is conflicting evidence whether nasal nitric oxide (NO) is associated with current rhinitis and with other possible predictors. Most studies have been performed in clinical cohorts and there is a lack of studies based on a general population sample. The aim of the present study was to investigate predictors for levels of nasal nitric oxide (NO) in a general population. Methods The population consisted of 357 subjects from Gothenburg participating in the follow-up of the European Respiratory Health Survey in 1999–2001. All subjects completed an extensive respiratory questionnaire. Nasal NO was measured from one nostril at a time with a sampling rate of 50 mL/s for 16 seconds and the nasal NO concentration was determined as the mean value within the plateau phase. Mattress dust samples were collected for cats and mites in a subsample of subjects. Ambient and exhaled NO was also measured. The predictors for nasal NO were analyzed in multiple linear regression models. Results There was no relation between the levels of nasal NO and reporting current rhinitis. Nasal NO was significantly increased among those with high levels of IgE against cats and current smokers had significantly lower nasal NO. There was also a positive association between ambient NO and nasal NO. There were no significant associations between nasal NO and sex, age, or height, or between nasal NO and measured levels of cat antigen. Conclusion In this general population sample we found no relation between current rhinitis and nasal NO levels. There was a clear association between sensitization to cat and nasal NO, but there was no relation to current exposure to cat allergen. Our data support that nasal NO has a limited value in monitoring upper airway inflammation.
Respiratory Issues in Beef and Pork Production: Recommendations From an Expert Panel

Abstract This paper summarizes “Respiratory Issues in Confined Feeding Operations,” a panel discussion at the Agricultural Safety and Health Council of America/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health conference, “Be Safe, Be Profitable: Protecting Workers in Agriculture,” Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, January 27–28, 2010. Occupational exposure to confined animal feeding operations is associated with cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Published data shows that 20% to 40% of hog confinement workers experience such symptoms, although most are able to continue working in this industry. Endotoxin is one component of hog barn dust that is associated with respiratory disease in workers. Endotoxin levels on cattle feedlots can also be in the range linked with occupational lung disease. The cattle industry has not yet prepared guidance documents for producers, in part because much less is known about the prevalence of lung disease in its workers. However, the pork industry provides information for pork producers on reducing their respiratory health risks through a multifaceted approach, including the use of respirators. Some jobs cannot be done safely without respiratory protection, such as entering manure pits. It is less clear for other jobs when respirators should be worn. Use of respiratory protection should be considered but not mandated for all persons working in close proximity to livestock in dusty conditions. A respiratory protection program may also serve as a cost effective biosecurity measure to protect animals from human pathogens such as influenza virus. Proper design and management of barn ventilation systems is critical for maintaining temperature and humidity levels for optimal animal growth; as well as decreasing the level of gases and respirable dusts. The pork and the cattle industries support occupational health and safety; however, the governmental guidance and recommendations for such programs are limited for the agricultural industries as a whole. The industries should lead the way in the effort to improve respiratory protection for workers. Overall, a team approach that includes input from managers, workers, and veterinarians is important for the reduction of respiratory hazards on livestock farms.
Parameter tests within cosmological simulations of galaxy formation

ABSTRA C T Numerical simulations of galaxy formation require a number of parameters. Some of these are intrinsic to the numerical integration scheme (e.g., the time-step), while others describe the physical model (e.g., the gas metallicity). In this paper we present results of a systematic exploration of the effects of varying a subset of these parameters on simulations of galaxy formation. We use N-body and ‘Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics’ techniques to follow the evolution of cold dark matter and gas in a small volume. We compare a fiducial model with 24 different simulations, in which one parameter at a time is varied, focusing on properties such as the relative fraction of hot and cold gas, and the abundance and masses of galaxies. We find that for reasonable choices of numerical values, many parameters have relatively little effect on the galaxies, with the notable exception of the parameters that control the resolution of the simulation and the efficiency with which gas cools.
New designs of reversible sequential devices

A clear protocol for synthesis of sequential reversible circuits from any particular gate library has been provided. Using that protocol, reversible circuits for SR latch, D latch, JK latch and T latch are designed from NCT gate library. All the circuits have been optimized with the help of existing local optimization algorithms (e.g. template matching, moving rule and deletion rule). It has been shown that the present proposals have lower gate complexities, lower number of garbage bits, lower quantum cost and lower number of feedback loops compared to the earlier proposals. For a fair comparison, the optimized sequential circuits have been compared with the earlier proposals for the same after converting the earlier proposed circuits into equivalent NCT circuits. Further, we have shown that the advantage in gate count obtained in some of the earlier proposals by introduction of New gates is an artifact and if it is allowed then every reversible circuit block can be reduced to a single gate. In this context, some important conceptual issues related to the designing and optimization of sequential reversible circuits have been addressed. A protocol for minimization of quantum cost of reversible circuit has also been proposed here.
Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Triterpene Saponins from Tea Seed Pomace (Camellia oleifera Abel) and Their Activities against Bacteria and Fungi

A method using LC-ESI-IT-TOF/MS and LC/UV-ELSD was established to qualitatively analyze triterpene saponins obtained from the tea seed pomace (Camellia oleifera Abel). In addition, the quantitative analysis of oleiferasaponin A1 using LC/UV was developed. The purified total saponins did not exhibit any inhibitory effects at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10 mg/mL against the tested bacteria, except for Staphyloccocus aureus and Escherichia coli. By contrast, higher inhibitory activity was seen against the tested fungi, especially against Bipolaris maydis. Following treatment with an MIC value of 250 μg/mL for 24 h, the mycelial morphology was markedly shriveled in appearance or showed flattened and empty hyphae, with fractured cell walls, ruptured plasmalemma and cytoplasmic coagulation or leakage. These structural changes hindered the growth of mycelia.
Herding towards a New Convention: On herds, shepherds, and lost sheep in the liberalization of the telecommunications and electricity industries

On herds, shepherds and lost sheep in the liberalization of the telecommunications and electricity industries Abstract While there is growing recognition of the role of emulation in the policy process in general and in policy transfer in particular there are only limited efforts to model it in a systematic way. This paper takes this challenge through a temporal analysis of the role of contagion in the diffusion of liberalization across countries and sectors. In many political situations one's choice is determined not only by one's own preferences and information but largely by signals of others. This paper suggests that this is the situation where many public officials found themselves when they had to consider the option of liberalizing their country's infrastructure. It offers a formal model where one's preferences, strategies and payoffs are dependent on others and where political and policy outcomes are the result of imitation and contagious behavior. The model aggregates three models that operate on different levels of analysis and rarely if at all are brought together. It rests first on herd models that were developed in the discipline of economics and supply micro-level analysis of the incentives for herding. Second, it rests on Granovetter's threshold model of captures the number or proportion of others that must make a decision before a given actor does so. Third, on diffusion models that were developed mostly by sociologists to capture macro-aspects of the spread of new technologies, information, drugs, fashions and the like. The model applies to any country that proceeded towards liberalization after taking cues from all or some of the earliest cases of liberalization. In doing so the model complements top-down and bottom-up explanations of the spread of liberalization across the world. On herds, shepherds, and lost sheep in the liberalization of the telecommunications and electricity industries " Worldly Wisdom teaches that it is better for reputation to fail conventionally than to succeed unconventionally " One of the most recent countries that jumped on the liberalization bandwagon is the Republic of the Maldives. This is an archipelago with land area of about 300 sq. km made up of 1,190 islands spread across total area of 100 times the land area. In mid-August 2001 the government of the Maldives proclaimed its commitment to competition in telecommunications. In this the Maldives is hardly exceptional and as a matter of fact it is one of the last to board the …
Prefronto–cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation improves visuospatial memory, executive functions, and neurological soft signs in patients with euthymic bipolar disorder

Objective The aim of the study was to improve neuropsychological functioning of euthymic patients with bipolar disorder (BD) using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied to cerebellar and prefrontal cortices. Methods Twenty-five BD outpatients underwent prefrontal (anodal) and cerebellar (cathodal) tDCS for 3 consecutive weeks. All participants were assessed through the Rey Complex Figure Test delay and copy and the Neurological Examination Scale at baseline and after therapy with tDCS. Results After tDCS treatment, patients showed significant improvements in visuospatial memory tasks. Patients with worse baseline cognitive performances also showed a significant improvement in executive functioning tasks. Neurological Examination Scale total score and motor coordination subscale significantly improved. Conclusion Prefrontal-excitatory and cerebellar-inhibitory stimulations in euthymic BD patients may lead to better neurocognitive performances. This improvement could result from the modulation of prefronto–thalamic–cerebellar circuit activity pattern, which can be disrupted in BD.
Transmission of Avian Influenza Viruses to and between Humans

Potential conflicts of interest: F.H. has received payment as a consultant and grant support from several pharmaceutical companies involved in the development of antiviral drugs and vaccines for influenza. The views expressed in this article are those of Dr. Croisi-er and do not necessarily reflect those of the World Health Organization. Reports of seropositivity for different avian influenza A viruses in exposed poultry workers, including the new findings reported by Puzelli et al. in this issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases [1], and the recent instances of cross-species transmission that caused human disease [2] raise fundamental questions regarding the routes of transmission of avian viruses to and between humans, possible differences in transmission patterns between human and avian influenza viruses , and implications for prevention in those occupationally exposed to infected animals and also in health care, household , and community settings. Documentation of seropositivity for avian influenza viruses in farm workers is not a new finding [3], and previous studies have assessed human susceptibility by in-tranasal inoculation of selected avian influenza viruses [4]. However, the outbreak in Europe of H7N7 virus infection that led to many cases of conjunctivitis and 1 death resulting from viral pneumonia [5, 6], as well as the unprecedented epizootic caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus in Southeast Asia, emphasize the importance of these issues. One strength of the study by Puzelli et al. is the multiplicity of the serological tests used, which included a microneutraliza-tion assay with infectious virus, a hem-agglutination inhibition (HI) assay, and a confirmatory Western blot analysis with purified H7 hemagglutinin to exclude the possibility of nonspecific cross-reactions with antibodies to human influenza viruses. Differential absorption with human influenza virus has also been utilized to confirm the presence of avian influenza virus–specific antibodies [7]. Such methods are essential to document seroposi-tivity for an avian influenza virus, particularly when concerns about extensive transmission to humans are raised, as was reported elsewhere for H7N7 virus infection in The Netherlands [8]. The possibility that the latter virus caused widespread subclinical infections in poultry workers and household contacts—and, hence, manifested efficient human-to-human transmission—was raised by 1 study that used a modified HI assay to measure antibody [8]. Similarly, the recent report of asymptomatic infection by H5N1 virus in northern Vietnam, as determined by the detection of H5N1 RNA in household contacts, requires substan-tiation by confirmatory serological testing [9], although culture-confirmed H7N3 illnesses …
AltAltp: Online Parallelization of Plans with Heuristic State Search

Despite their near dominance, heuristic state search planners still lag behind disjunctive planners in the generation of parallel plans in classical planning. The reason is that directly searching for parallel solutions in state space planners would require the planners to branch on all possible subsets of parallel actions, thus increasing the branching factor exponentially. We present a variant of our heuristic state search planner AltAlt called AltAltp which generates parallel plans by using greedy online parallelization of partial plans. The greedy approach is significantly informed by the use of novel distance heuristics that AltAltp derives from a graphplan-style planning graph for the problem. While this approach is not guaranteed to provide optimal parallel plans, empirical results show that AltAltp is capable of generating good quality parallel plans at a fraction of the cost incurred by the disjunctive planners.
Preferential Induction of Th-2 Priming Dendritic Cell Function Leading to Cigarette Smoke Extract Suppresses Human

Dendritic cells (DC) are key regulators of immune responses. In the current study, we hypothesized that cigarette smoke-induced aberrance in DC function is an important mechanism by which smokers develop cancer, infection, and allergy—diseases common in smokers. We demonstrate that cigarette smoke extract (CSE) inhibits DC-mediated priming of T cells, speciﬁcally inhibiting the secretion of IFN- (cid:1) whereas enhancing the production of IL-4 in the MLR. Conditioning with CSE did not effect cytokine (IL-10, IL-6, or IL-12) production from immature DCs, but signiﬁcantly inhibited IL-12p70 release by LPS-matured DCs. In contrast, IL-10 secretion by LPS-activated CSE-conditioned DCs was enhanced when compared with control DCs. CSE also induced cyclooxygenase-2 protein levels in maturing DCs and signiﬁcantly augmented endogenous PGE 2 release. Conditioning of DCs with CSE also suppressed LPS-mediated induction of CD40, CD80, and CD86, and suppressed maturation-associated CCR7 expression. Although CSE has been reported to induce apoptosis of ﬁbroblasts and epithelial cells, the immunomodulatory effects observed with CSE were not due to diminished DC viability. The effects of CSE on DC function were not exclusively mediated by nicotine, because equivalent, or even higher concentrations of nicotine than those found in CSE, failed to suppress DC-induced T cell priming. These data provide evidence that soluble components extracted from cigarette smoke suppress key DC functions and favor the development of Th-2 immunity. The Journal of Immunology, 2005, 175: 2684–2691.
Clonidine inhibits and phorbol acetate activates glutamate release from rat spinal synaptoneurosomes.

UNLABELLED Glutamate is a major neural transmitter of noxious stimulation in the spinal cord. We measured glutamate release from rat spinal synaptoneurosomes by using an enzyme-linked fluorimetric assay. Glutamate was released from spinal cord synaptoneurosomes in response to the addition of 30 mM potassium chloride, 1 mM 4-aminopyridine, or 1 microM ionomycin in the presence of external calcium. There was less release of glutamate in the absence, versus the presence, of external calcium. Clonidine significantly reduced the level of glutamate released from the spinal cord synaptoneurosomes. Tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate, an activator of protein kinase C, enhanced glutamate release. Forskolin, a protein kinase A activator, had no effect on the glutamate efflux. Our data indicate that glutamate released in the spinal cord is dependent on protein kinase C but is independent of the protein kinase A pathway. They also suggest that the inhibition of glutamate release may be the underlying mechanism of antinociception by clonidine at the spinal cord level. IMPLICATIONS We demonstrated that synaptoneurosomes from rat spinal cord could release glutamate in response to depolarization. We showed that an activator of protein kinase C increased glutamate released from spinal cord synaptoneurosomes but that clonidine decreased it. Glutamate release may be one of the mechanisms of antinociception at the spinal cord level.
Long-term fitness benefits of polyandry in a small mammal, the bank vole Clethrionomys glareolus

Polyandry, i.e. mating with multiple males within one reproductive event, is a common female mating strategy but its adaptive function is often unclear. We tested whether polyandrous females gain genetic benefits by comparing fitness traits of monandrous (mated twice with a single male) and polyandrous (mated twice with two different males) female bank voles Clethrionomys glareolus. We raised the offspring in the laboratory until adulthood and measured their body size, before releasing them to outdoor enclosures to overwinter. At the onset of the breeding season in the following spring, we found that offspring of polyandrous females performed significantly better at reproduction than those of monandrous females. This was mainly due to sons of polyandrous females producing significantly more offspring than those of monandrous females. No significant differences were found for offspring body mass or winter survival between the two treatments. Our results appear to provide evidence that bank vole females gain long-term benefits from polyandry.