Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Periodontitis, A True Infection

Sir, Periodontal infection is initiated by specific invasive oral pathogens that colonize dental plaque biofilms on tooth surface, and host immune response to inflammation plays a central role in disease pathogenesis. Periodontal diseases are recognized as infectious processes that require bacterial presence and a host response and are further affected and modified by other local, environmental and genetic factors. Association of periodontal infection with organ systems like cardiovascular system, endocrine system, reproductive system and respiratory system makes periodontal infection a complex multiphase disease.
Review on Polymers for Thermoelectric Applications

In this review, we report the state-of-the-art of polymers in thermoelectricity. Classically, a number of inorganic compounds have been considered as the best thermoelectric materials. Since the prediction of the improvement of the figure of merit by means of electronic confinement in 1993, it has been improved by a factor of 3–4. In the mean time, organic materials, in particular intrinsically conducting polymers, had been considered as competitors of classical thermoelectrics, since their figure of merit has been improved several orders of magnitude in the last few years. We review here the evolution of the figure of merit or the power factor during the last years, and the best candidates to compete with inorganic materials. We also outline the best polymers to substitute classical thermoelectric materials and the advantages they present in comparison with inorganic systems.
Fuzzy logic based autonomous skid steering vehicle navigation

A two-layer fuzzy logic controller was designed for 2D autonomous navigation of a skid steering vehicle in an obstacle filled environment. The first layer of the fuzzy controller provides a model for multiple sonar sensor input fusion and it is composed of four individual controllers, each calculating a collision possibility in front, back, left and right directions of movement. The second layer consists of the main controller that performs real-time collision avoidance while calculating the updated course to be followed by the vehicle. The two layer controller applicability and implementation is demonstrated through experimental results and case studies performed on a real mobile robot.
Robust chaotic communications exploiting waveform diversity. part 1: Correlation detection and implicit coding

A correlation receiver is presented for communication using the symbolic dynamics of a chaotic system. A chaotic system offers the potential for power efficient transmitters but many proposals to date have either been susceptible to noise and distortion in the channel, or are spectrally inefficient. The proposed system has a spectrum efficiency equivalent to conventional BPSK and offers a 2 dB performance improvement in AWGN. This is achieved by exploiting diversity in the transmitted signal, whereby each data symbol influences the transmitted pulse shape for the preceding symbols. Correlation detection over multiple symbols allows full exploitation of this diversity. In addition, each symbol can be detected multiple times and so a decoding gain is possible without the need for parity symbols. The diversity mechanism is investigated and the performance gains demonstrated.
Naturalistically observed sighing and depression in rheumatoid arthritis patients: a preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE This study tested the degree to which naturalistically observed sighing in daily life is a behavioral indicator of depression and reported physical symptoms (i.e., experienced pain and flare days) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. DESIGN Thirteen RA patients wore the Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR), an observational ambulatory assessment tool, for two weekends (Friday through Sunday) approximately one month apart. The EAR periodically recorded snippets of ambient sounds from participants' momentary environments (50 s every 18 min). Sighs were coded from the sampled ambient sounds. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Depression was assessed with the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory. Pain during the past month was assessed with a 10-cm visual-analog scale, and number of flare days during the prior 6 months was reported. RESULTS Sighing was significantly and strongly related to patients' levels of depression and nonsignificantly and less strongly related to their reported pain and number of flare days. CONCLUSION The findings suggest that sighing can serve as an observable marker of depression in RA patients. Because the sample size was small, the findings should be considered preliminary.
A new kernel-based fuzzy clustering approach: support vector clustering with cell growing

In this paper, the support vector clustering is extended to an adaptive cell growing model which maps data points to a high dimensional feature space through a desired kernel function. This generalized model is called multiple spheres support vector clustering, which essentially identifies dense regions in the original space by finding their corresponding spheres with minimal radius in the feature space. A multisphere clustering algorithm based on adaptive cluster cell growing method is developed, whereby it is possible to obtain the grade of memberships, as well as cluster prototypes in partition. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated for the problem of arbitrary cluster shapes and for prototype identification in an actual application to a handwritten digit data set.
Condensin II Subunit dCAP-D3 Restricts Retrotransposon Mobilization in Drosophila Somatic Cells

Retrotransposon sequences are positioned throughout the genome of almost every eukaryote that has been sequenced. As mobilization of these elements can have detrimental effects on the transcriptional regulation and stability of an organism's genome, most organisms have evolved mechanisms to repress their movement. Here, we identify a novel role for the Drosophila melanogaster Condensin II subunit, dCAP-D3 in preventing the mobilization of retrotransposons located in somatic cell euchromatin. dCAP-D3 regulates transcription of euchromatic gene clusters which contain or are proximal to retrotransposon sequence. ChIP experiments demonstrate that dCAP-D3 binds to these loci and is important for maintaining a repressed chromatin structure within the boundaries of the retrotransposon and for repressing retrotransposon transcription. We show that dCAP-D3 prevents accumulation of double stranded DNA breaks within retrotransposon sequence, and decreased dCAP-D3 levels leads to a precise loss of retrotransposon sequence at some dCAP-D3 regulated gene clusters and a gain of sequence elsewhere in the genome. Homologous chromosomes exhibit high levels of pairing in Drosophila somatic cells, and our FISH analyses demonstrate that retrotransposon-containing euchromatic loci are regions which are actually less paired than euchromatic regions devoid of retrotransposon sequences. Decreased dCAP-D3 expression increases pairing of homologous retrotransposon-containing loci in tissue culture cells. We propose that the combined effects of dCAP-D3 deficiency on double strand break levels, chromatin structure, transcription and pairing at retrotransposon-containing loci may lead to 1) higher levels of homologous recombination between repeats flanking retrotransposons in dCAP-D3 deficient cells and 2) increased retrotransposition. These findings identify a novel role for the anti-pairing activities of dCAP-D3/Condensin II and uncover a new way in which dCAP-D3/Condensin II influences local chromatin structure to help maintain genome stability.
Formulating and Implementing an HP IT Program Strategy using CobiT and HP ITSM

In an increasingly competitive environment, the delivery of IT services needs to be articulated around standard management frameworks and best practices. This paper is based upon an analysis of a Hewlett-Packard (HP) Information Technology (IT) program and presents how the CobiT framework contributed to the enhancement of the formulation and implementation of the program strategy. The result of our study is a waterfall of balanced scorecard built on the goals and enablers specified in CobiT and a mapping to HP IT Service Management (ITSM) processes ensuring the instantiation of some of the aspects of the strategy.
Prevalence and determinants of cigarette smoking among adolescents in secondary schools in Port Harcourt, Southern Nigeria

Abstract Background: Cigarette smoking remains a major preventable public health problem associated with premature deaths worldwide. Adolescence is a unique developmental stage between childhood and adulthood. Smoking is a lifestyle habit acquired during adolescence and into adulthood, with its associated morbidity and mortality. It is therefore important to determine the factors associated with cigarette smoking in these adolescents in order to institute preventive measures and health policies to protect these adolescents early. Objective: This study aims to determine the prevalence of smoking, factors associated with smoking, and knowledge of the harmful effects of smoking in these adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 1120 adolescents aged 10–19 years selected from 10 secondary schools in Port Harcourt was conducted using a multistage sampling technique. The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) core questionnaire was used to collect data from the subjects. A smoker was defined as one who had ever smoked a cigarette or who had one or two puffs, while a current smoker was defined as one who had taken a puff or smoked cigarettes in the last 30 days preceding the day of the questionnaire’s completion. Results: Eighty subjects (7.1%) were smokers. This was significantly (p=<0.001) higher in males (9.7%) than in females (4%). Thirty seven (3.3%) subjects were current smokers. The mean age at which smoking was initiated was 12.47±3.0 years. Twenty six (32.5%) of the smokers reported that they were initiated into cigarette smoking by their friends, 36 (45%) just wanted to experiment, 7 (8.8%) were influenced by media advertisements while 5 (6.3%) were due to parental exposure. Parental history of smoking and poor knowledge of cancer of the lungs as a harmful effect of smoking, was significantly (p=<0.05) associated with cigarette smoking. Conclusion: The prevalence of smoking in adolescents in Port Harcourt is high and is associated with parental smoking and poor knowledge of cancer of the lungs as a harmful effect. We recommend that adolescent health education with an emphasis on the harmful effects of smoking be included in the curriculum of all secondary schools.
Effects of training program on recognition and management of depression and suicide risk evaluation for Slovenian primary-care physicians: follow-up study.

AIM To implement and evaluate an educational program for primary care physicians on recognition and treatment of depression and suicide prevention. METHOD The study was conducted in 3 Slovenian neighboring regions (Celje, Ravne na Koroskem, and Podravska) with similar suicide rates and other health indicators. All primary care physicians from Celje (N=155) and Ravne na Koroskem (N=35) were invited to participate in the educational program on depression treatment and suicide risk recognition. From January to March 2003, approximately half of them (82 out of 190; educational group) attended the program, whereas the other half (108 out of 190; control group 1) and physicians from the Podravska region (N=164; control group 2) did not attend the program. The prescription rates of antidepressants and anxiolytics before and after the intervention were compared between the studied regions. Also, suicide rates three-years before and after the intervention were compared. RESULTS From 2002 to 2003, there was a 2.33-fold increase in the rate of antidepressant prescriptions in the educational group (P<0.05) and only 1.28-fold (P<0.05) and 1.34-fold (P<0.05) increase in control groups 1 and 2, respectively. However, the 12% decrease in suicide rate in the intervention regions was not significantly greater than the 4% decrease in the non-intervention region (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Our training program was beneficial for primary care physicians' ability to recognize and manage depression. However, there was no significant decrease in local suicide rates.
The D313Y genotype—Pathogenic mutation or polymorphism?

To the Editor: With great interest we have read the recent article by du Moulin et al, formally challenging the “low-pathogenicity hypothesis” of the D313Y genotype in Fabry disease. Most important, the authors report cerebrovascular events in 4 of 14 subjects. While these results indeed imply high prevalence of cerebrovascular complications in D313Y at first sight, a close look at some underlying numbers is needed to put these findings in context. First, prevalence of the D313Y genotype has long been substantially underestimated in screening studies, since findings were often based on measurements of enzyme activity, which is usually in normal range even in male D313Y gene carriers. Studies focusing on genetic testing have reported a D313Y genotype prevalence as high as 0.5% in the general population. Meanwhile, Baptista et al reported a D313Y prevalence of 1% in Portuguese patients with history of cryptogenic stroke. Despite overall low numbers, very simple math might therefore indicate: (1) generally no major impact of D313Y on risk of cerebrovascular events; (2) D313Y to generally increase (ie, roughly double) risk of cerebrovascular complications; or (3) D313Y to be a clinically relevant factor that—probably due to additional factors— subsequently leads to a clinically relevant increase of cerebrovascular complications not in all, but at least some gene carriers. The latter hypothesis might be supported by the finding that Lyso-Gb3, which is widely acknowledged as the most important Fabry biomarker, for example, in current consensus guidelines, is usually not elevated in D313Y gene carriers, but was found “mildly elevated in 2 females with cerebrovascular involvement” in the current study. Even though du Moulin et al reported “symptoms and organ manifestations compatible with Fabry disease” in 10 of 14 subjects, none showed cornea verticillata, angiokeratoma, cardiac or renal organ involvement, which is in line with earlier findings from our and other groups. In regard of “white matter lesions” found in brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), it should be noted that these are highly unspecific and have been shown related to many diseases with neurologic involvement—such as Alzheimer's disease—but are also frequent in the general population without clinical significance. In conclusion, complexity of both pathogenesis and organ involvement in Fabry disease as well as specific limitations in rare diseases still prohibit drawing simple conclusions. Clinicians should be careful not to overestimate unspecific symptoms being Fabry-associated. We clearly concur with du Moulin et al that mutations of unknown significance require an individual work-up to assess disease-severity in each individual patient, most important when taking into account specific treatment options.
Mammalian target of rapamycin signaling is crucial for joint destruction in experimental arthritis and is activated in osteoclasts from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE Activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is important for immune cell activation and bone metabolism. To date, the contribution of mTOR signaling to joint inflammation and structural bone and cartilage damage is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of inhibiting mTOR as a treatment of inflammatory arthritis. METHODS Human tumor necrosis factor-transgenic mice in which inflammatory arthritis was developing were treated with 2 different mTOR inhibitors, sirolimus or everolimus. The effects of treatment on clinical disease activity, inflammation, and localized joint and cartilage destruction were studied. In addition, the effects of mTOR inhibition on osteoclast survival and expression of key molecules of osteoclast function were analyzed in vitro. Moreover, synovial tissue from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was assessed for activation of the mTOR pathway. RESULTS Inhibition of mTOR by sirolimus or everolimus reduced synovial osteoclast formation and protected against local bone erosions and cartilage loss. Clinical signs of arthritis improved after mTOR inhibition, and histologic evaluation showed a decrease in synovitis. In vitro, mTOR inhibition down-regulated the expression of digestive enzymes and led to osteoclast apoptosis. Moreover, mTOR signaling was shown to be active in the synovial membrane of patients with RA, particularly in synovial osteoclasts. CONCLUSION Signaling through mTOR is an important link between synovitis and structural damage in inflammatory arthritis. Current pharmacologic inhibitors of mTOR could be effective in protecting joints against structural damage.
Chemical Composition of Leaf and Seed Oils of Dryobalanops aromatica Gaertn. (Dipterocarpaceae)

D. aromatica (Figure 1), commonly known as the Bornean Camphor-Tree, and locally known as kapur peringgi, is a large and lofty tree, reaching up to 65 m in height and 7 m in girth. The trunk is usually a straight, cylindrical and clear bole of 30 m–40 m. This species is a well-known and valuable timber tree. The timber has been described as being moderately hard, heavy and durable (Ashton 1964). It is used as an internal wood and resembles mahogany when given a good polish. It has a camphor odour, and the camphor in the wood was sought after and sold as medicine in the past (Burkill 1966). The camphor produced by the tree is less important today than its timber, but in the earlier days the reverse was the case. The species also produces camphoraceous oleo-resin. Chemical Composition of Leaf and Seed Oils of Dryobalanops aromatica Gaertn. (Dipterocarpaceae)
Maximal determinants and saturated D-optimal designs of orders 19 and 37

A saturated D-optimal design is a {+1,−1} square matrix of given order with maximal determinant. We search for saturated D-optimal designs of orders 19 and 37, and find that known matrices due to Smith, Cohn, Orrick and Solomon are optimal. For order 19 we find all inequivalent saturated D-optimal designs with maximal determinant, 2 30 × 7 2 × 17, and confirm that the three known designs comprise a complete set. For order 37 we prove that the maximal determinant is 2 39 × 3 36 , and find a sample of inequivalent saturated D-optimal designs. Our method is an extension of that used by Orrick to resolve the previously smallest unknown order of 15; and by Chadjipantelis, Kounias and Moyssiadis to resolve orders 17 and 21. The method is a two-step computation which first searches for candidate Gram matrices and then attempts to decompose them. Using a similar method, we also find the complete spectrum of determinant values for {+1,−1} matrices of order 13.
Low Childhood Cholesterol Absorption Predisposes to Gallstone Disease: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

Objectives: Unraveling pathogenesis of gallstones could help to diminish its enormous disease burden. We hypothesized that certain properties of childhood cholesterol metabolism predict gallstone disease in adulthood. Methods: Childhood serum cholestanol and plant sterols (surrogates for cholesterol absorption), cholesterol precursors (surrogates for cholesterol synthesis), lipids, demographics, and dietary habits were compared between individuals diagnosed with gallstone disease subsequently in adulthood (n = 95) and control subjects (n = 190) matched for age, sex, and body mass index in 1980. Subjects were participants of prospective Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. Results: In 1980, at mean age of 11.4 years gallstone cohort was characterized by 5.8% lower cholestanol (P = 0.038), and 11.2% to 12.2% (P range = 0.003–0.008) lower plant sterols campesterol, sitosterol, and avenasterol compared with controls. Mean lathosterol/sitosterol ratio was 16.3% higher in gallstone compared with control cohort (P = 0.028). Female gallstone group had 5.4% lower mean cholestanol compared with controls (P < 0.05), and, respectively, those of campesterol, sitosterol, and avenasterol were 12.7% to 14.0% lower (P < 0.05 for each). Body mass index was inversely related to cholestanol and sitosterol (r range = −0.161 to −0.208, P < 0.05 for each) in controls, but not among patients with gallstone. In whole study population, surrogates of cholesterol absorption (eg, campesterol, P = 0.018) and low dietary intake of vegetables (P = 0.009) were significant predictors of gallstones in logistic regression model. Conclusions: Cholesterol metabolism trait characterized by low serum levels of surrogate markers of cholesterol absorption precedes adult gallstone disease already in childhood. Low serum cholestanol and plant sterol ratios during normal Western diet may have role as predictive biomarkers for gallstones.
A tree counting algorithm for precision agriculture tasks

Abstract This study proposes an automatic procedure for individual fruit tree identification using GeoEye-1 sensor data. Depending on site-specific pruning practices, the morphologic characteristics of tree crowns may generate one or more brightness peaks (tree top) on the imagery. To optimize tree counting and to minimize typical background noises from orchards (i.e. bare soil, weeds, and man-made objects), a four-step algorithm was implemented with spatial transforms and functions suitable for spaced stands (asymmetrical smoothing filter, local minimum filter, mask layer, and spatial aggregation operator). System performance was evaluated through objective criteria, showing consistent results in fast capturing tree position for precision agriculture tasks.
Increased Baseline C-Reactive Protein Concentrations Are Associated with Increased Risk of Infections: Results from 2 Large Danish Population Cohorts.

BACKGROUND The acute-phase reactant C-reactive protein (CRP) increases rapidly during an infection. We tested the hypothesis that chronic low-level increases in CRP are associated with an increased risk of infectious disease. METHODS We studied 9660 individuals from a prospective general population cohort, including 3592 in whom infectious disease developed, and another 60 896 individuals from a cross-sectional general population study, of whom 13 332 developed infectious disease; 55% were women, and the mean age was 57 years. Hospital diagnoses of infections in 1977-2010 were based on International Classification of Diseases-coded discharge records from the national Danish Patient Registry. We measured CRP concentrations and conducted genotyping for 4 CRP polymorphisms that increase CRP. Individuals with CRP >10 mg/L were excluded because of possible ongoing infection at the time of testing. RESULTS Individuals with CRP >3 mg/L had 1.2 and 1.7 times increased risk of infectious disease, in the prospective general population cohort and the cross-sectional general population study, respectively, compared with individuals with CRP <1 mg/L. In the combined populations, individuals in the highest CRP tertile (compared with the lowest) had an increased risk of bacterial diseases (hazard ratio 1.7, 95% CI 1.6-1.8), but not viral, mycosis, and parasitic diseases. The increased risk was mainly carried by pneumonia, sepsis, and particularly gram-negative infections. None of the genotype combinations examined conferred an increased risk of infectious disease. CONCLUSIONS Chronic low-level CRP increases were associated with increased risk of bacterial infections, gram-negative infections in particular. Genotypes associated with increases in CRP were not associated with increased risk of infection.