Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Traditional transcutaneous approaches in head and neck surgery

The treatment of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal malignancies remains a challenging task for the head and neck surgeon as the chosen treatment modality often has to bridge the gap between oncologically sound radicality and preservation of function. Due to the increase in transoral laser surgery in early tumor stages and chemoradiation in advanced stages, the usage of traditional transcutaneous approaches has decreased over the recent past. In addition, the need for a function-sparing surgical approach as well as highest possible quality of life has become evident. In view of these facts, rationale and importance of traditional transcutaneous approaches to the treatment of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal malignancies are discussed in a contemporary background. The transcutaneous open partial laryngectomies remain a valuable tool in the surgeon's armamentarium for the treatment of early and advanced laryngeal carcinomas, especially in cases of impossible laryngeal overview using the rigid laryngoscope. Open partial laryngetomies offer superior overview and oncologic safety at the anterior commissure, especially in recurrencies. In select advanced cases and salvage settings, the supracricoid laryngectomy offers a valuable tool for function-preserving but oncologically safe surgical therapy at the cost of high postoperative morbidity and a very demanding rehabilitation of swallowing. In hypopharyngeal malignancies, the increasing use of transoral laser surgery has led to a decline in transcutaneous resections via partial pharyngectomy with partial laryngectomy in early tumor stages. In advanced stages of tumors of the piriform sinus and the postcricoid area with involvement of the larynx, total laryngectomy with partial pharyngectomy is an oncologically safe approach. The radical surgical approach using circumferent laryngopharyngectomy with/without esophagectomy is indicated in salvage cases with advanced recurrences or as a primary surgical approach in patients where chemoradiation does not offer sufficient oncologic control or preservation of function. In cases with impending reconstruction, fasciocutaneous free flaps (anterolateral thigh flap, radial forearm flap) seem to offer superior results to enteric flaps in cases where the cervical esophagus is not involved leading to better voice rehabilitation with fewer complications and postoperative morbidity. In salvage situations, the Gastroomental Free Flap has proven to be a valuable tool. In conclusion, the choice of a surgical treatment modality is influenced by the patient's anatomy, tumor size and location as well as the surgeon's personal expertise.
Insulin resistance predicts the risk of gingival/periodontal inflammation

OBJECTIVES Evaluate whether insulin resistance (IR) predicts the risk of oral inflammation, assessed as the number of sites with bleeding on probing (BOP) and number of teeth with probing pocket depths (PPD) ≥ 4 mm and BOP. METHODS Data on 870 overweight/obese diabetes free adults, aged 40-65 years from the San Juan Overweight Adults Longitudinal Study over a three-year period, was analyzed. Baseline IR, assessed using the Homeostasis Model Assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) index, was divided into tertiles. BOP was assessed at buccal and lingual sites, and PPD at six sites per tooth. Negative binomial regression was used to estimate the risk ratios (RRs) for oral inflammation adjusted for baseline age, gender, smoking status, alcohol intake, education, physical activity, waist circumference, mean plaque index, and baseline number of sites with BOP, or number of teeth with PPD≥4 mm and BOP. The potential impact of tertiles of serum TNF-α and adiponectin on the IR-oral inflammation association was also assessed in a subsample of 597 participants. RESULTS Participants in the highest HOMA-IR tertile at baseline had significantly higher numbers of sites with BOP [RR = 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03-1.36] and number of teeth with PPD ≥ 4 mm and BOP (RR = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.09-1.78) at follow-up, compared with individuals in the lower two HOMA-IR tertiles. Neither TNF-α nor adiponectin confounded the associations. CONCLUSION IR significantly predicts gingival/periodontal inflammation in this population.
Comparison of Postoperative Analgesic Efficacy of Wound Site Infiltration and Ultrasound-guided Transversus Abdominis Plane Block with 0.5% Ropivacaine in Lower Abdominal Surgeries under Spinal Anesthesia

Context: Optimization and providing excellent quality of postoperative analgesia after total abdominal hysterectomy is a determinant factor of better clinical outcome, increases patient satisfaction, and allows early mobilization of the patient. Aims: The aim of this study is to compare the postoperative analgesic efficacy of wound site infiltration (WSI) and ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block (TAPB) with 0.5% ropivacaine in lower abdominal surgeries under spinal anesthesia. Settings and Design: This was a randomized controlled study. Subjects and Methods: One hundred and ten patients undergoing lower abdominal surgeries were randomly allocated to two groups (WSI and TAP) of 55 patients in each. At the end of the surgical procedure, 2.5 mg/kg of the drug ropivacaine 0.5% was administered by an anesthesiologist through either of the routes of study. Visual analog score (VAS) assessment was done at every 30 min, for 1½ h, every 2 for 24 h postoperatively. Injection diclofenac sodium 75 mg intramuscularly was given whenever VAS was >3 as rescue analgesic. Statistical Analysis Used: Epi Info 7.0 version software for Windows was used. All analyses were performed using Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. Mann–Whitney test was applied to detect the difference between the two groups. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Postoperative VAS scores in Group TAP were significantly reduced at 30 min, 1st h, 1 h 30 min, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 18, and 24 h (P < 0.001). The total doses of rescue analgesics administered were also low in the Group TAP (1.41 ± 0.538) with P < 0.0001 in comparison to Group WSI (2.24 ± 0.637) with P < 0.001. Conclusions: The quality of analgesia along with lesser rescue analgesic requirement and their side effects makes the TAPB, a good and safer option for lower abdominal gynecological surgeries. Both WSI and USG TAPB are effective in providing postoperative analgesia as a part of multimodal analgesia in lower abdominal surgeries. However, in our study the quality of analgesia along with lesser rescue analgesic requirement and their side effects makes the TAPB, a good and safer option for lower abdominal gynecological surgeries.
Effects of Surface Treatment on Titanium Alloys Substrate by Acid Etching for Dental Implant

Many studies were carried out to investigate the ability of titanium alloys for dental implant. Surface treatment is one of the famous methods to increase the titanium surface properties. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of acid etching on the surface topography and roughness of titanium alloys (Ti6Al4V ASTM 1472-99). Acid etchings were carried out by using different type of acids with same time exposures. All etched surface were characterized by using an X-ray diffraction (XRD), a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a roughness tester. Acid etched and pure surface were comparatively analysed. Results obtained show that the type of acids influenced the surface topography as well as roughness properties. The microstructure of the surface is highly modified after acid etching. Further we can confirm that, the experimental etched titanium alloys had features of a roughened surface with micro-roughness. In general, the experimental surface (0.137 μm – 3.986 μm) was significantly rougher than control surface (0.124 μm).
The Impact of Virtual Classes on Students' Performance in Open Learning Environments: The Case of Arab Open University, Saudi Arabia

Open learning aims to deliver different educational services and activities for learners throughout an organised set of policies and procedures. The ultimate objective of such policies is to minimise the geographical and time limitations that might affect the students’ performance during his or her academic life. The Arab Open University in Saudi Arabia is one of the leading universities that deliver open learning education in the Middle East. To achieve its mission, AOU utilises virtual classes’ technologies as a teaching mode for its learners. In this study, we study and analyse the students’ academic performance in virtual classes against the traditional face-to-face classes. The usefulness of this study arises from its importance in directing the decision makers at AOU of the efficiency of virtual classes as a delivery mode of teaching and a set of recommendation for future enhancement.
Estimation of the Weibull parameters by Kullback-Leibler divergence of Survival functions

Recently, a new entropy based divergence measure has been introduced which is much like Kullback-Leibler divergence. This entropy measures the distance between an empirical and a prescribed survival function and is a lot easier to compute in continuous distributions than the K-L divergence. In this paper we show that this distance converges to zero with increasing sample size and we apply it to estimate Weibull parameters. Detailed simulations show a higher performance of the new estimation method than the commonly used maximum likelihood and linear regression methods in Weibull scale parameter estimation. Using unbiasing factors provided in this paper for Weibull shape parameter estimation, one can obtain unbiased estimation for Weibull modulus.
Effect of different convergence angles of abutment axial surface on the fracture resistance of GI-II all-ceramic crowns

Objective:To explore the effect of three different axial wall convergence angles(5°,10°,15°) on the fracture resistance of GI-Ⅱ all-ceramic crowns.Methods:Three different axial wall convergence angles(5°,10°,15°) were prepared respectively.All-ceramic crowns were fabricated with the GI-Ⅱ all-ceramic repairing system.Then 15 specimens were loaded with compression to failure.The computer connected with testing machine collected and analyzed all signals.Results:No significant difference was found in the failure load values between GI-Ⅱ all-ceramic crowns with the convergence of 5° and 10°(P 0.05). But higher failure load values were obtained from the GI-Ⅱ all ceramic crowns with the convergence of 15° than those with that of 5° and 10°(P 0.05). Conclusion:Convergence angles in special scope are able to affect the fracture resistance of GI-Ⅱ all-ceramic crowns.
Long-term in vivo recording of circadian rhythms in brains of freely moving mice

Significance In mammals, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) synchronizes circadian rhythms in cells throughout the body to the environmental light/dark cycle. We have developed a fluorescence-based technology that enables long-term monitoring of clock gene expression in particular brain nuclei and specific types of neurons at high temporal resolution, in freely moving mice, in a light/dark cycle. Using this system, we demonstrate the dynamics of Per2 and Cry1 transcriptional rhythms in SCN vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) neurons following an 8-h phase advance in the light/dark cycle. Endogenous circadian clocks control 24-h physiological and behavioral rhythms in mammals. Here, we report a real-time in vivo fluorescence recording system that enables long-term monitoring of circadian rhythms in the brains of freely moving mice. With a designed reporter of circadian clock gene expression, we tracked robust Cry1 transcription reporter rhythms in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of WT, Cry1−/−, and Cry2−/− mice in LD (12 h light, 12 h dark) and DD (constant darkness) conditions and verified that signals remained stable for over 6 mo. Further, we recorded Cry1 transcriptional rhythms in the subparaventricular zone (SPZ) and hippocampal CA1/2 regions of WT mice housed under LD and DD conditions. By using a Cre-loxP system, we recorded Per2 and Cry1 transcription rhythms specifically in vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) neurons of the SCN. Finally, we demonstrated the dynamics of Per2 and Cry1 transcriptional rhythms in SCN VIP neurons following an 8-h phase advance in the light/dark cycle.
Fluids of semiflexible ring polymers: effective potentials and clustering

We present a computational investigation of the structural properties of a fluid of semiflexible ring polymers. Stiffness is introduced by implementing intramolecular barriers. Because of these barriers, shrinkage of the rings is energetically unfavourable, and the ring size can exhibit a non-monotonic density dependence. At high concentrations the rings can swell and adopt open configurations that facilitate interpenetration and clustering. We obtain effective potentials between the centers-of-mass of the rings at infinite dilution, and explore their validity over the whole range of concentrations. Except for the limit of small rings, the effective fluid of ultrasoft particles provides a good description of the real system over a considerable range of densities, even above the overlap concentration. In particular the clustering behaviour predicted by the effective description is observed in the real system for a certain range of molecular masses. However, the effective description is incomplete. Inspection of the clusters of real rings reveals that these can arrange in a complex disordered phase formed by long columns of oblate rings, which are penetrated by bundles of elongated prolate rings. These anisotropic features of the real system are not captured by the standard effective approach, which only considers macromolecular centers-of-mass. This suggests the need to include the relative orientation between rings in the effective potentials.
The Influence of Lymphoid Reconstitution Kinetics on Clinical Outcomes in Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation

Lymphoid recovery following myeloablative stem cell transplantation (SCT) displays a logistic pattern of exponential growth followed by a plateau. Within this logistic framework, lymphoid recovery is characterized by the parameters R (slope of ascent), a (time of maximal rate of ascent) and K (plateau), the steady state lymphocyte count. A retrospective analysis of allogeneic SCT performed from 2008 to 2013 was undertaken to compare lymphoid recovery and clinical outcomes in 131 patients with acute myelogenous leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes. Using Prism software, a logistic curve was successfully fit to the absolute lymphocyte count recovery in all patients. Patients were classified according to the magnitude and rate of lymphoid recovery; pattern A achieved an ALC of > 1000/uL by day 45; pattern B an ALC 500 < x < 1000 /uL and pattern C, an ALC <500/uL. Pattern A was characterized by a higher mean K (p < 0.0001) compared with patterns B & C. Patients with patterns B and C were more likely to have mixed T cell chimerism at ninety days following SCT (p=0.01). There was a trend towards improved survival, (and relapse-free survival) in those with pattern A and B at one year compared to pattern C (p = 0.073). There was no difference in cGVHD (p=0.42) or relapse (p=0.45) between pattern types. CMV, aGVHD and relapse all were heralded by deviation from logistic behavior. Pattern C patients were more likely to require donor lymphocyte infusion (p=0.017). Weaning of Tacrolimus post-transplant was associated with a second, separate logistic expansion in some patients. This study demonstrated that lymphoid reconstitution follows a prototypical logistic recovery and that pattern observed correlates with T cell chimerism and need for DLI, and may influence survival.
Genome-Wide Association Study of Genetic Variants in LPS-Stimulated IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-1ra and TNF-α Cytokine Response in a Danish Cohort

Background Cytokine response plays a vital role in various human lipopolysaccharide (LPS) infectious and inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to find genetic variants that might affect the levels of LPS-induced interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-1ra and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α cytokine production. Methods We performed an initial genome-wide association study using Affymetrix Human Mapping 500 K GeneChip® to screen 130 healthy individuals of Danish descent. The levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-1ra and TNF-α in 24-hour LPS-stimulated whole blood samples were compared within different genotypes. The 152 most significant SNPs were replicated using Illumina Golden Gate® GeneChip in an independent cohort of 186 Danish individuals. Next, 9 of the most statistical significant SNPs were replicated using PCR-based genotyping in an independent cohort of 400 Danish individuals. All results were analyzed in a combined study among the 716 Danish individuals. Results Only one marker of the 500 K Gene Chip in the discovery study showed a significant association with LPS-induced IL-1ra cytokine levels after Bonferroni correction (P<10−7). However, this SNP was not associated with the IL-1ra cytokine levels in the replication dataset. No SNPs reached genome-wide significance for the five cytokine levels in the combined analysis of all three stages. Conclusions The associations between the genetic variants and the LPS-induced IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-1ra and TNF-α cytokine levels were not significant in the meta-analysis. This present study does not support a strong genetic effect of LPS-stimulated cytokine production; however, the potential for type II errors should be considered.
Closer to a Uniform Language in Colposcopy: Study on the Potential Application of 2011 International Federation for Cervical Pathology and Colposcopy Terminology in Clinical Practice

As the newest colposcopic terminology, the 2011 International Federation for Cervical Pathology and Colposcopy (IFCPC) classification provides standardized interpretation of colposcopic findings. In this study, we analyzed the colposcopic accuracy and the significance of individual findings according to the 2011 IFCPC classification in 525 patients, reviewed by 13 trained colposcopists. Results show that colposcopic diagnoses are in 64.95% perfect agreement with cervical pathology, with 63.64% sensitivity and 96.01% specificity for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL+). And the accuracy is reproducible across different experienced examiners. Many individual findings, especially the two new signs, inner border sign and ridge sign, are proved to have good predictive accuracy, while iodine negativity demonstrates an inferior performance. However, the distribution of three cervical transformation zone (TZ) types is heterogeneous in examiners. A comparison was also made of the findings of another two colposcopists without nomenclature training according to the Reid Colposcopic Index (RCI), modified RCI, and Swede Score. Results show that colposcopic accuracies in them are lower than in those nomenclature trained colposcopists. The 2011 IFCPC nomenclature improves colposcopic accuracy in trained colposcopists, like speaking the same language. However, the reproducibility of TZ and the predictive value of a few signs remain to be discussed.
The Effect of Service and Food Quality on Customer Satisfaction and Hence Customer Retention

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between service quality, food quality, customer satisfaction and customer retention in limited service restaurants in Jordan. A questionnaire-based survey was distributed to 400 students served at 10 limited service restaurants in the neighbourhood of universities in Amman, the capital city of Jordan. Service quality was measured in terms of SERVQUAL attributes. The key dimensions of food quality, customer satisfaction and customer retention were identified through literature. The data collected (283 valid questionnaires) were analysed using SPSS 20.0. The findings showed that service quality and food quality have a positive influence on customer satisfaction. In addition, service quality dimensions besides customer satisfaction have a positive influence on customer retention. Finally, the results confirmed that customer satisfaction mediates the relationship between service quality and customer retention. The small size of the sample is the main limitation of this study. The practical implications of this study are founded on the fact that limited service restaurants in the neighbourhood of universities should realize the critical role of service and food quality in satisfying their customers as an antecedent of their retention. This study is original as it examines the relationships between service and food quality and customer satisfaction and retention in a specific type of restaurants in Jordan.
Salinomycin nanoparticles interfere with tumor cell growth and the tumor microenvironment in an orthotopic model of pancreatic cancer

Abstract Aims: Recently, salinomycin (SAL) has been reported to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in various tumors. The aim of this study was to deliver SAL to orthotopic model of pancreatic cancer by the aid of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs). Methods: The NPs were physico-chemically characterized and evaluated for cytotoxicity on luciferase-transduced AsPC-1 cells in vitro as well as implanted orthotopically into the pancreas of nude mice. Results: SAL (3.5 mg/kg every other day) blocked tumor growth by 52% compared to the control group after 3 weeks of therapy. Western blotting of tumor protein extracts indicated that SAL treatment leads to up-regulation of E-cadherin, β-catenin, and transforming growth factor beta receptor (TGFβR) expressions in AsPC-1 orthotopic tumor. Noteworthy, immunofluorescence staining of adjacent tumor sections showed that treatment with SAL NPs cause significant apoptosis in the tumor cells rather than the stroma. Further investigations also revealed that TGFβR2 over-expression was induced in stroma cells after treatment with SAL NPs. Conclusion: These results highlight SAL-loaded PLGA NPs as a promising system for pancreatic cancer treatment, while the mechanistic questions need to be subsequently tested.
Exposure to Ambient Fine Particulate Air Pollution in Utero as a Risk Factor for Child Stunting in Bangladesh

Pregnant mothers in Bangladesh are exposed to very high and worsening levels of ambient air pollution. Maternal exposure to fine particulate matter has been associated with low birth weight at much lower levels of exposure, leading us to suspect the potentially large effects of air pollution on stunting in children in Bangladesh. We estimate the relationship between exposure to air pollution in utero and child stunting by pooling outcome data from four waves of the nationally representative Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey conducted between 2004 and 2014, and calculating children’s exposure to ambient fine particulate matter in utero using high resolution satellite data. We find significant increases in the relative risk of child stunting, wasting, and underweight with higher levels of in utero exposure to air pollution, after controlling for other factors that have been found to contribute to child anthropometric failure. We estimate the relative risk of stunting in the second, third, and fourth quartiles of exposure as 1.074 (95% confidence interval: 1.014–1.138), 1.150 (95% confidence interval: 1.069–1.237, and 1.132 (95% confidence interval: 1.031–1.243), respectively. Over half of all children in Bangladesh in our sample were exposed to an annual ambient fine particulate matter level in excess of 46 µg/m3; these children had a relative risk of stunting over 1.13 times that of children in the lowest quartile of exposure. Reducing air pollution in Bangladesh could significantly contribute to the Sustainable Development Goal of reducing child stunting.