Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Endodontic irrigants effect on long-term intraradicular adhesion of resin cements

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate over time the bond strength of dual-cure and self-adhesive resin cements used for bonding fiberglass posts following irrigation with different solutions. Ninety roots from single-rooted premolars were selected and divided into 6 groups (n = 15) according to the resin cement, dual-cure or self-adhesive (RelyX ARC and RelyX U100) or the endodontic irrigant used (2% chlorhexidine digluconate - CH, 1% sodium hypochlorite - SH and deionized distilled water – control). Following post cementation, the roots were cross-sectioned in order to obtain two slices from each root third (cervical, mid and apical). The specimens were stored for 7 or 180 days in water and the push-out bond strength test applied. The data was analyzed using three-way ANOVA and Tukey Kramer. The interaction endodontic irrigants-resin cement vs. storage time was significant (p = 0.008), where 7 days of storage induced no difference between the groups, however, after 180 days, the groups for which CH or SH combined with RelyX U100 were used showed higher bond strength values than RelyX ARC, regardless of the irrigant solution. There was no difference between the use of RelyX ARC after 7 and 180 days of storage. For Rely X U100 180 days of storage increased the push-out bond strength when either CH or SH was used. The dual-cure and self-adhesive resin cements associated with CH or SH demonstrated similar immediate bond strength performance. The self-adhesive cement, however, showed improved bond strength over time when either irrigant was used.
Multi-Mode Segmented Scan Architecture with Layout-Aware Scan Chain Routing for Test Data and Test Time Reduction

This paper presents multi-mode segmented scan architecture. Three operation modes are supported: broadcast, multicast, and serial. Efficient test data compression can be achieved under this architecture with limited hardware overhead. An efficient two-way partitioning algorithm is given to construct multicast-mode configurations. Finally, we present a layout-aware scan chain routing for test compaction, which has not yet explored by the researchers. Experimental results show that most of the serial scan operations can be replaced by multicast operations, and thus achieve much better compression rate
A Latent Semantic Approach to XML Clustering by Content and Structure Based on Non-negative Matrix Factorization

Non-negative matrix factorization is intensively used in text clustering. We investigate its exploitation in the XML domain for clustering XML documents by structure and content into topically homogeneous groups. Non-negative matrix factorization is performed through an alternating least squares method, which incorporates expedients to attenuate the burden of large-scale factorizations. This is especially relevant when massive text-centric XML corpora are processed. Empirical evidence from a comparative evaluation on real-world XML corpora reveals that our approach overcomes several state-of-the-art competitors in effectiveness.
A multiband study of Hercules A - I. ROSAT observations of the intracluster medium

We have made ROSAT PSPC and HRI X-ray observations to study the intracluster gas surrounding the powerful radio source Hercules A. The cluster is luminous in X-rays (Lbol = 4.8 × 10 37 W), although apparently poor in optical galaxies, and the host of the radio source is the central dominating galaxy of the cluster. The azimuthally-averaged X-ray surface brightness profile is well fitted by a modified King (�) model, with core radius rc = 121 ± 10 kpc and � = 0.74 ± 0.03, but the cluster is elongated parallel to the radio source, especially on the scale of the radio lobes, and fits to individual quadrants give a core radius 50 per cent larger along the radio axis. Part of this elongation appears to be associated with enhanced X-ray emission superimposed on the outer radio lobes, which extend to just over 2rc. There are no obvious depressions in the X-ray emission coincident with the radio lobes, as expected if the relativistic plasma displaces the ICM. However, we show that these depressions may be quite weak, essentially because the main part of the lobes are outside the cluster core. From the surface brightness profile for the PSPC data the X-ray emission extends out to � 2.2 Mpc radius. In the absence of the powerful jets (which must be a transient phenomenon on cosmological timescales), we would expect a cooling flow at the centre of the cluster; but currently it must be substantially disturbed by the expansion of the radio lobes. The PSPC spectrum reveals a cool component of the ICM with 0.5 <kT <1 keV in addition to the � 4 keV component detected by ASCA and BeppoSAX. The central cooling time could be as low as 2 Gyr if the cool component is centrally concentrated, otherwise it is around 6 Gyr. Cooling is significant on a Hubble time to a radius of about 90 kpc. The modelled central electron density of n0 = 1.0 × 10 4 m 3 is typical for modest cooling flows. Finally, we have detected faint X-ray emission from a compact central source, with size < 15 kpc and luminosity � 2 × 10 36 W.
Traumatic Experiences in Individuals With Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Abstract Individuals with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) are excessively concerned about perceived defects in their appearance (e.g., blemishes on their skin). BDD is a severe mental disorder often associated with increased suicidality as well as significant social and occupational interference (e.g., J Clin Psychiatry 2005;66:717–725). Recently, investigators have begun to explore variables that might function as risk factors in the development of BDD, such as traumatic experiences (e.g., Child Abuse Negl 2006;30:1105–1115). As such, one of the goals of the current study was to examine the role of early-life sexual, physical, or emotional abuse in BDD. Specifically, the Traumatic Stress Institute Life Event Questionnaire (Treat Abuse Today 1992;2:9–11) was used to examine whether individuals with BDD (n = 18) self-reported having experienced more traumatic events than mentally healthy controls (n = 19). The BDD group reported more retrospective experiences of sexual and physical abuse in childhood or adolescence than did healthy controls. Surprisingly, there was no significant group difference in reports of emotional abuse in early life. This study provides preliminary evidence of the importance of examining abuse as a potential risk factor in the development of BDD.
Contrasting Reflex Effects of Chemosensitive and Mechanosensitive Vagal Afferents

Previous studies have identified two distinct types of cardiac vagal afferents, mechanosensitive and chemosensitive. We tested the hypothesis that these two types of vagal afferents mediate different reflex sympathetic nerve responses. We compared effects of stimulation of chemosensitive and mechanosensitive vagal afferents on renal and adrenal sympathetic nerve activity in rats. In anesthetized, sinoaortic baroreceptor-denervated rats, we measured arterial pressure, heart rate, and renal and adrenal sympathetic nerve activity during intrapericardial administration of phenyl diguanide as a stimulus for chemosensitive afferents and during volume expansion and acute occlusion of the ascending aorta as stimuli for mechanosensitive afferents. Stimulation of chemosensitive afferents with phenyl diguanide (3,10, and 30 mg/kg intrapericardially) caused decreases in renal sympathetic nerve activity (−3 6 ± 5, −5 2 ± 11, and −7 1 ± 5%; p < 0.01) and in arterial pressure and heart rate but increased adrenal sympathetic nerve activity (+ 14 ± 27, +63 ± 21, and +83 ± 28%;p < 0.05). These responses were abolished by vagotomy. Intrapericardial injection of saline vehicle did not change renal and adrenal sympathetic nerve activity. In contrast to the effects of phenyl diguanide, activation of mechanosensitive afferents by volume expansion with intravenous infusion of 6% dextran in 0.9% saline (Dextran 75) decreased both renal and adrenal sympathetic nerve activity. Stimulation of mechanosensitive afferents by acute occlusion of the ascending aorta also decreased both renal and adrenal sympathetic nerve activity. These results indicate that chemosensitive and mechanosensitive cardiac vagal afferents produce different reflex responses: Chemosensitive afferents increase and mechanosensitive afferents decrease adrenal sympathetic outflow.
Section 2. Small-for-Size Liver Graft and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Recurrence

Abstract Liver transplantation (LT) is the most effective treatment for small and unresectable hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). With scarcity of deceased donor livers, living donor LT (LDLT) is the alternative to deceased donor LT (DDLT). Animal studies have suggested that regeneration of the partial liver graft encourages HCC recurrence. Increased recurrence was observed in a few studies. Thus, there is the belief that the use of small-for-size graft carries the potential risk of disease recurrence. Nevertheless, those studies were retrospective, with sample sizes not large enough for conclusions. Living donor LT can be performed when a suitable donor is available. The fast tracking of patients for transplantation without a period of observation is an issue. Meta-analyses, however, showed no significant increase in HCC recurrence after LDLT. Patients listed for DDLT and without suitable living donors have to endure a long wait, during which the aggressiveness of their HCC is observed. Such observation almost guarantees slow disease progression when they get transplanted. Nevertheless, a long wait has the disadvantage of transplanting patients with more advanced tumors, although still within standard criteria. Judicious use of deceased donor grafts is the responsibility of the transplant community. Living donor LT for HCC should only be performed after careful assessment of the recipient and tumor status. Although tumor size and number are references widely adopted in tumor staging, biological staging of tumors using positron emission tomography could provide additional information of tumor behavior. A high level of serum &agr;-fetoprotein also warns against LT because it is predictive of a high HCC recurrence rate.
Numerical studies of gasoline direct injection engine processes

The GDI engine has a number of practical advantages over the more traditional port-fuel injection strategy, however a number of challenges remain the subject of continued research in an attempt to fully exploit the advantages of the GDI engine. These include complex in-cylinder flow fields and fuel-air mixing strategies, and significant temporal variation, both through an engine cycle and on a cycle-by-cycle basis. Despite advances in experimental techniques, the relative difficulty and cost of taking detailed measurements remains high, thus computational techniques are an integral part of research activities. The research work presented in this thesis has focused on the use of detailed 3D-CFD techniques for investigating physical phenomena of the in-cylinder flow field and fuel injection process in a single cylinder GDI engine with early injection event. A detailed validation of the numerical predictions of the in-cylinder flow field using both the RANS RNG k-e turbulence model and the Smagorinsky LES SGS turbulence model was completed with both models showing good agreement against available experimental results. A detailed validation of the numerical predictions of the fuel injection process using a Lagrangian DDM and both RANS RNG k-e turbulence model and Smagorinsky LES SGS turbulence model was completed with both models showing excellent agreement against experimental data. The model was then used to investigate the in-cylinder flow field and fuel injection process including research into: the three dimensional nature of the flow field; intake valve jet flapping, characterisation, causality and CCV, and whether it could account for CCV of the mixture field at spark timing; the anisotropic characteristics of the flow field using both the fluctuating velocity and turbulence intensity, including the increase in anisotropy due to the fuel injection event; the use of POD for quantitatively analysing the in-cylinder flow field; investigations into the intake valve, cylinder liner and piston crown spray plume impingement processes, including the use of a multi-component fuel surrogate and CCV of the formed liquid film; characterisation and CCV of the mixture field though the intake and compression strokes up to spark timing. Finally, the predicted turbulence characteristics were used to evaluate the resultant premixed turbulent combustion event using combustion regime diagrams.
Identification of a GABAA Receptor Anesthetic Binding Site at Subunit Interfaces by Photolabeling with an Etomidate Analog

General anesthetics, including etomidate, act by binding to and enhancing the function of GABA type A receptors (GABAARs), which mediate inhibitory neurotransmission in the brain. Here, we used a radiolabeled, photoreactive etomidate analog ([3H]azietomidate), which retains anesthetic potency in vivo and enhances GABAAR function in vitro, to identify directly, for the first time, amino acids that contribute to a GABAAR anesthetic binding site. For GABAARs purified by affinity chromatography from detergent extracts of bovine cortex, [3H]azietomidate photoincorporation was increased by GABA and inhibited by etomidate in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50 = 30 μm). Protein microsequencing of fragments isolated from proteolytic digests established photolabeling of two residues: one within the αM1 transmembrane helix at α1Met-236 (and/or the homologous methionines in α2,3,5), not previously implicated in etomidate function, and one within the βM3 transmembrane helix at β3Met-286 (and/or the homologous methionines in β1,2), an etomidate sensitivity determinant. The pharmacological specificity of labeling indicates that these methionines contribute to a single binding pocket for etomidate located in the transmembrane domain at the interface between β and α subunits, in what is predicted by structural models based on homology with the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor to be a water-filled pocket ∼50 Å below the GABA binding site. The localization of the etomidate binding site to an intersubunit, not an intrasubunit, binding pocket is a novel conclusion that suggests more generally that the localization of drug binding sites to subunit interfaces may be a feature not only for GABA and benzodiazepines but also for etomidate and other intravenous and volatile anesthetics.
Angular brushing of extended parallel coordinates

In this paper we present angular brushing for parallel coordinates (PC) as a new approach to highlighting rational data-properties, i.e., features which - in a non-separable way - depend on two data dimensions. We also demonstrate smooth brushing as an intuitive tool for specifying nonbinary degree-of-interest functions (for focus+context visualization). We also briefly describe our implementation as well as its application to the visualization of CFD data.
Automated working distance adjustment enables optical coherence tomography of the human larynx in awake patients

Abstract. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides structural information of laryngeal tissue which is comparable to histopathological analysis of biopsies taken under general anesthesia. In awake patients, movements impede clinically useful OCT acquisition. Therefore, an automatic compensation of movements was implemented into a swept source OCT-laryngoscope. Video and OCT beam path were combined in one tube of 10-mm diameter. Segmented OCT images served as distance sensor and a feedback control adjusted the working distance between 33 and 70 mm by synchronously translating the reference mirror and focusing lens. With this motion compensation, the tissue was properly visible in up to 88% of the acquisition time. During quiet respiration, OCT contrasted epithelium and lamina propria. Mean epithelial thickness was measured to be 109 and 135 μm in female and male, respectively. Furthermore, OCT of mucosal wave movements during phonation enabled estimation of the oscillation frequency and amplitude. Regarding clinical issues, the OCT-laryngoscope with automated working distance adjustment may support the estimation of the depth extent of epithelial lesions and contribute to establish an indication for a biopsy. Moreover, OCT of the vibrating vocal folds provides functional information, possibly giving further insight into mucosal behavior during the vibratory cycle.
Secondhand Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Associated Factors among College Students on Campus and in the Home: A Preliminary Study

To explore the prevalence of secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS) exposure of college students at two locations, i.e., on campus and in the home, and to identify factors associated with SHS exposure at each location, a preliminary cross-sectional study was conducted on 1754 nonsmoking students from two universities in Korea. In total, 83.1% were exposed to SHS at least once a week on campus or at home; the average SHS exposure was 3.4 times per week. Specifically, 79.7% and 23.5% were exposed to SHS on campus and in the home, respectively. On campus, SHS exposure was significantly more prevalent in freshmen and sophomore students. In the home, SHS exposure was significantly more prevalent among females, those with smokers in their families, and those who rated their health as poor. SHS exposure was common among nonsmoking college students, with more than two-thirds exposed on campus. The prevalence of SHS exposure was greater on campus than in the home; the factors associated with SHS exposure were location-specific.
Reactions to Genetically Modified Food Labels

Mike Vayda Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Assistant Director for Biotechnology Research, University of Maine We use focus groups to gauge US consumer reactions to alternative genetically modified (GM) food labeling policies. We find a low level of awareness about GM foods, which is surprising given the amount of media activity surrounding the issue. We also find negative reactions to GMO-free claims, particularly among people most likely to purchase GM-free foods.
Mortality in the Vertebroplasty Population

More controversy with regard to vertebroplasty: Do vertebroplasties affect mortality rates? These well-seasoned investigators compared 524 vertebroplasty patients with refractory osteoporotic fractures with 589 patients not treated by the procedure. When compared with the general population, vertebroplasty patients showed 77% of the expected survival and when compared with patients with symptomatic or asymptomatic vertebral fractures, vertebroplasty recipients retained a 17% greater mortality risk. Conclusion: mortality rates were worse for vertebroplasty patients when compared with those of patients with untreated asymptomatic fractures, and similar if compared with patients with untreated symptomatic fractures. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Vertebroplasty is an effective treatment for painful compression fractures refractory to conservative management. Because there are limited data regarding the survival characteristics of this patient population, we compared the survival of a treated with an untreated vertebral fracture cohort to determine whether vertebroplasty affects mortality rates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The survival of a treated cohort, comprising 524 vertebroplasty recipients with refractory osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, was compared with a separate historical cohort of 589 subjects with fractures not treated by vertebroplasty who were identified from the Rochester Epidemiology Project. Mortality was compared between cohorts by using Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for age, sex, and Charlson indices of comorbidity. Mortality was also correlated with pre-, peri-, and postprocedural clinical metrics (eg, cement volume use, RDQ score, analog pain scales, frequency of narcotic use, and improvement in mobility) within the treated cohort. RESULTS: Vertebroplasty recipients demonstrated 77% of the survival expected for individuals of similar age, ethnicity, and sex within the US population. Compared with individuals with both symptomatic and asymptomatic untreated vertebral fractures, vertebroplasty recipients retained a 17% greater mortality risk. However, compared with symptomatic untreated vertebral fractures, vertebroplasty recipients had no increased mortality following adjustment for differences in age, sex, and comorbidity (HR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.82–1.25). In addition, no clinical metrics used to assess the efficacy of vertebroplasty were predictive of survival. CONCLUSIONS: Vertebroplasty recipients have mortality rates similar to those of individuals with untreated symptomatic fractures but have worse mortality compared with those with asymptomatic vertebral fractures.
Development and Validation of a Virtual Reality Simulator

Objective: This study developed and validated a virtual reality (VR) simulator for use by interventional radiologists. Background: Research in the area of skill acquisition reports practice as essential to become a task expert. Studies on simulation show skills learned in VR can be successfully transferred to a real-world task. Recently, with improvements in technology, VR simulators have been developed to allow complex medical procedures to be practiced without risking the patient. Method: Three studies are reported. In Study 1, 35 consultant interventional radiologists took part in a cognitive task analysis to empirically establish the key competencies of the Seldinger procedure. In Study 2, 62 participants performed one simulated procedure, and their performance was compared by expertise. In Study 3, the transferability of simulator training to a real-world procedure was assessed with 14 trainees. Results: Study 1 produced 23 key competencies that were implemented as performance measures in the simulator. Study 2 showed the simulator had both face and construct validity, although some issues were identified. Study 3 showed the group that had undergone simulator training received significantly higher mean performance ratings on a subsequent patient procedure. Conclusion: The findings of this study support the centrality of validation in the successful design of simulators and show the utility of simulators as a training device. Application: The studies show the key elements of a validation program for a simulator. In addition to task analysis and face and construct validities, the authors highlight the importance of transfer of training in validation studies.
Is Early Intervention Effective in Improving Spoken Language Outcomes of Children With Congenital Hearing Loss?

PURPOSE The purpose of this research forum article was to present research findings on the effectiveness of early intervention for improving outcomes of children with congenital hearing loss. METHOD The method involved a narrative overview of recent findings from the Longitudinal Outcomes of Children with Hearing Impairment study. RESULTS Early intervention, either in the form of Results: Early intervention, either in the form of amplification or cochlear implantation, was associated with higher language scores. Maternal education and communication mode used during early intervention were also significant contributors to child outcomes. Early performance predicted later language development. CONCLUSION Early intervention is effective in improving early language outcomes, at a population level.