Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dental plaque and oral health during the first 32 years of life.

BACKGROUND Studies investigating the role of dental plaque in oral disease have focused primarily on the quantity and quality of plaque at a given point in time. No large-scale epidemiologic research has been conducted regarding the continuity and change in plaque levels across the long term and the association of plaque levels with oral health. METHODS The authors used data from the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study. Collection of dental plaque data occurred at ages 5, 9, 15, 18, 26 and 32 years by means of the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index. The authors assessed oral health outcomes when participants were aged 32 years. RESULTS The authors identified three plaque trajectory groups (high, n = 357; medium, n = 450; and low; n = 104) and found substantial, statistically significant differences in both caries and periodontal disease experience among those groups. For example, after the authors controlled for sex, socioeconomic status and dental visiting pattern, they found that participants in the high-plaque-trajectory group lost nearly five times more teeth owing to caries than did those in the low-plaque-trajectory group. CONCLUSIONS Across the long term, participants in the high-plaque-trajectory group were more likely to experience caries, periodontal disease and subsequent tooth loss than were those in the low- or medium-plaque-trajectory groups, and they experienced all those conditions with greater severity. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Improving oral health requires emphasizing long-term self-care, as well as providing broad public health and health promotion measures that promote and support oral self-care. This study's findings suggest that poor oral hygiene and smoking have a synergistic effect on periodontal disease experience.
International multi-center evaluation of a novel chemiluminescence assay for the detection of anti-dsDNA antibodies

Objective: Anti-double stranded desoxyribonucleic acid (anti-dsDNA) antibodies are considered fairly specific for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and their quantification is useful for the clinical management of SLE patients. We assessed the diagnostic performance of the QUANTA Flash dsDNA chemiluminescent immunoassay (CIA) in comparison to an ELISA, using patients from five participating countries. The main focus was to evaluate the correlation between anti-dsDNA antibody results from the CIA and global SLE disease activity, as measured by the SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K). Patients and methods: A total of 1431 samples (SLE, n = 843; disease controls, n = 588) from five countries (Canada, USA, Portugal, Sweden and Spain) were tested with QUANTA Flash dsDNA (Inova Diagnostics, San Diego, CA, USA). Data obtained with the QUANTA Lite dsDNA SC ELISA (Inova Diagnostics) were available for samples from three sites (Canada, USA and Sweden, n = 566). The SLEDAI-2K scores were available for 805 SLE patients and a cut-off of > 4 was used to define active disease. Results: QUANTA Flash dsDNA had a sensitivity of 54.3% for the diagnosis of SLE, combined with 89.8% specificity. Anti-dsDNA antibody levels were significantly higher (p < 0.0001) in active SLE (SLEDAI-2K > 4; n = 232; median value 83.0 IU/mL) versus the inactive patients (n = 573; median value 22.3 IU/mL), and the SLEDAI-2K scoring correlated with their dsDNA antibody levels (Spearman’s rho = 0.44, p < 0.0001). Similar but less pronounced findings were also found for the ELISA, in relation to disease activity. Conclusions: The QUANTA Flash dsDNA assay showed good clinical performance in a large international multi-center study. Additionally, the strong correlation between anti-dsDNA antibody results and SLEDAI-2K scores supported the potential utility of QUANTA Flash dsDNA for monitoring disease activity.
Financial, Academic, and Environmental Influences on the Retention and Graduation of Students

Regression analysis was used to study retention and graduation for the fall 1996 entering class of students at a midwestern research extensive university (n = 3,610; 44% female, 8% minority, 77% in-state). Logistic regression was used to predict the likelihood of a student being retained for each of four years, and the outcome of graduation at the end of years four, five, and six. Odds ratios were employed to provide insight into the relative contribution of demographic characteristics (age, gender, ethnicity, in-state residency), ability (high school rank, high school rank2, ACT score), environmental (university athlete, university honors program, first-generation student, entering college), and financial aid data (gift, loan, and work-study) characteristics.
Translucency of flowable bulk-filling composites of various thicknesses.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the translucency characteristics of new flowable bulk-filling resin composites at various thicknesses. Experimental short fibre-reinforced composite was also tested. METHODS Two new brands of flowable bulk composites (Venus Bulk Fill and SureFil SDR Flow), experimental short fibre-reinforced resin composite (FC) and, as control, conventional flow (Filtek Supreme Flow XT A3) and universal (Filtek Universal Supreme XTE A3B) resin composites were investigated. Translucency parameter was calculated for various thicknesses of composite (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 mm) over white and black backgrounds using spectrophotometry to determine the CIELAB values of each specimen. Data were statistically analysed with analysis of variance. RESULTS Translucency values significantly correlated with thickness of resin composite specimens (P < 0.05). For the new types of flowable bulk-filling material, translucency was observed for thicknesses up to 5 to 6 mm, whereas for experimental FC composite, the effect was observed up to 4 to 5 mm, and for control flow and universal filling composites, up to 2 to 3 mm. CONCLUSION New flowable bulk-filling resin composites have less masking ability than conventional universal filling resin composite materials, which should be taken into account when optimum colour match and aesthetic results are to be achieved.
Reduction in inappropriate therapy and mortality through ICD programming.

BACKGROUND The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is highly effective in reducing mortality among patients at risk for fatal arrhythmias, but inappropriate ICD activations are frequent, with potential adverse effects. METHODS We randomly assigned 1500 patients with a primary-prevention indication to receive an ICD with one of three programming configurations. The primary objective was to determine whether programmed high-rate therapy (with a 2.5-second delay before the initiation of therapy at a heart rate of ≥200 beats per minute) or delayed therapy (with a 60-second delay at 170 to 199 beats per minute, a 12-second delay at 200 to 249 beats per minute, and a 2.5-second delay at ≥250 beats per minute) was associated with a decrease in the number of patients with a first occurrence of inappropriate antitachycardia pacing or shocks, as compared with conventional programming (with a 2.5-second delay at 170 to 199 beats per minute and a 1.0-second delay at ≥200 beats per minute). RESULTS During an average follow-up of 1.4 years, high-rate therapy and delayed ICD therapy, as compared with conventional device programming, were associated with reductions in a first occurrence of inappropriate therapy (hazard ratio with high-rate therapy vs. conventional therapy, 0.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.13 to 0.34; P<0.001; hazard ratio with delayed therapy vs. conventional therapy, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.15 to 0.40; P<0.001) and reductions in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio with high-rate therapy vs. conventional therapy, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.24 to 0.85; P=0.01; hazard ratio with delayed therapy vs. conventional therapy, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.30 to 1.02; P=0.06). There were no significant differences in procedure-related adverse events among the three treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS Programming of ICD therapies for tachyarrhythmias of 200 beats per minute or higher or with a prolonged delay in therapy at 170 beats per minute or higher, as compared with conventional programming, was associated with reductions in inappropriate therapy and all-cause mortality during long-term follow-up. (Funded by Boston Scientific; MADIT-RIT ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00947310.).
Phase II Trial of Sorafenib in Combination with Carboplatin and Paclitaxel in Patients with Metastatic Uveal Melanoma: SWOG S0512

Background Sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor of cell proliferation and angiogenesis, inhibits the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway that is activated in most uveal melanoma tumors. This phase II study was conducted by the SWOG cooperative group to evaluate the efficacy of sorafenib in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel (CP) in metastatic uveal melanoma. Methods Twenty-five patients with stage IV uveal melanoma who had received 0–1 prior systemic therapy were enrolled. Treatment included up to 6 cycles of carboplatin (AUC = 6) and paclitaxel (225 mg/m2) administered IV on day 1 plus sorafenib (400 mg PO twice daily), followed by sorafenib monotherapy until disease progression. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR); a two-stage design was used with the study to be terminated if no confirmed responses were observed in the first 20 evaluable patients. Secondary efficacy endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results No confirmed objective responses occurred among the 24 evaluable patients (ORR = 0% [95% CI: 0–14%]) and the study was terminated at the first stage. Minor responses (tumor regression less than 30%) were seen in eleven of 24 (45%) patients. The median PFS was 4 months [95% CI: 1–6 months] and the 6-month PFS was 29% [95% CI: 13%–48%]. The median OS was 11 months [95% CI: 7–14 months]. Conclusion In this study, the overall efficacy of CP plus sorafenib in metastatic uveal melanoma did not warrant further clinical testing when assessed by ORR, although minor tumor responses and stable disease were observed in some patients. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00329641
Influencing the “People Who Count”

How is it possible to get influential policy makers and practitioners to attend to the importance of the findings from meta-analyses? Several approaches that will help to ensure that meta-analytic results will have maximum impact are prescribed. It is recommended that easily understandable metrics such as Pearson's r be employed. Furthermore, it is suggested that null-hypothesis significance testing be abandoned and replaced by confidence intervals and common language statistics that clearly describe the preciseness and magnitude of results. Finally, brief comments on some meta-analytic issues are offered.
Psychometric properties of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) in a sample of Australian adolescents

Abstract This study examined the psychometric properties of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) using an Australian adolescent sample (n = 135). The MLQ is made up of two, five-item subscales – Presence (how meaningful one considers his/her life to be) and Search (a desire to discover more or new meaning in one’s life). A convenience sample of 135 high school students aged 12–18 years (M = 15.18 years, SD = 1.42) completed the questionnaire. Scale analysis results indicated the measure had satisfactory internal consistency, and confirmatory factor analysis results showed support for the proposed two-factor model. The MLQ appears to be a valid instrument for measuring life meaning in Australian adolescents. The key implications are discussed.
Enhancing Discussions in the Asynchronous Online Classroom

This article addresses educators’ concerns about using asynchronous online discussions in lieu of face-to-face discussions. Drawing from research on asynchronous online education and Bloom’s taxonomy, the authors introduce the system of “original examples” and “value-added comments” that they have developed to promote engaging and meaningful discussions in which students learn course material from one another. The authors describe how to integrate this system into an online course and provide guidelines for instructor facilitation. They offer evidence that online asynchronous discussions facilitate students’ learning and may be more inclusive than face-to-face discussions for some students. Finally, the authors share their observations and suggestions for implementation.
Structural Basis of Transcription: An RNA Polymerase II Elongation Complex at 3.3 Å Resolution

The crystal structure of RNA polymerase II in the act of transcription was determined at 3.3 Å resolution. Duplex DNA is seen entering the main cleft of the enzyme and unwinding before the active site. Nine base pairs of DNA-RNA hybrid extend from the active center at nearly right angles to the entering DNA, with the 3′ end of the RNA in the nucleotide addition site. The 3′ end is positioned above a pore, through which nucleotides may enter and through which RNA may be extruded during back-tracking. The 5′-most residue of the RNA is close to the point of entry to an exit groove. Changes in protein structure between the transcribing complex and free enzyme include closure of a clamp over the DNA and RNA and ordering of a series of “switches” at the base of the clamp to create a binding site complementary to the DNA-RNA hybrid. Protein–nucleic acid contacts help explain DNA and RNA strand separation, the specificity of RNA synthesis, “abortive cycling” during transcription initiation, and RNA and DNA translocation during transcription elongation.
On interaction complexity , ( space-time ) resolution and intelligence

The recognition and assessment of cognitive (and ultimately intelligent) interaction require transmission of information, or communication. We distinguish between the evaluation of cognition as a peer and as an observer, and analyse several issues that might cause a failure in recognising (and properly assessing) cognition, such as the interface, the time and space resolution, the observer’s limitations, and others. We then elaborate upon the role that (algorithmic) information theory may play here, and whether cognitive interaction can be recognised and assessed with this theory.
Effect of retreatment on the push-out bond strength of MTA-based and epoxy resin-based endodontic sealers

Background. Further studies on the adhesion properties of MTA-based materials seem necessary due to their growing use in endodontic treatment. This research aimed to assess the effect of retreatment on the bond strength of MTA-based (MTA Fillapex) and epoxy resin-based (AH Plus) sealers. Methods. ProTaper rotary files were applied to prepare the root canals of 80 human mandibular premolars. Then, the roots were randomly divided intotwo groups of A (n=40) and B (n=40), which were obturated with gutta-percha and MTA Filla-pex and AH Plus sealer, respectively. In both groups, the teeth were randomly subdivided into 2 subgroups. No retreatment was carried out in subgroups A1 and B1, while subgroups A2 and B2 were retreated with rotary files and a solvent. Then, a push-out test was performed on four 2-mm slices of each tooth at a distance of 2 mm from the coronal surface after two weeks of incubation. Data were analyzed with two-way ANOVA and statistical significance was set at P<0.05. Results. Regardless of the procedure followed (P<0.001), significant differences were detected in the mean bond strength values between the two sealers. Irrespective of the sealer type (P=0.3), no significant differences were revealed by comparing the mean bond strength values of the study subgroups. Furthermore, no statistically significant interaction (P=0.5) was found between the treatment and sealer types. Conclusion. AH Plus sealer exhibited a higher bond strength compared to MTA Fillapex. Retreatment using rotary files and chloroform had no statistically significant effect on the bond strength of sealers evaluated in this study.
Purpose and Utility of Child Custody Evaluations: From the Perspective of Judges

This study examines the perspective of judges regarding child custody evaluations by mental health professionals. Ninety-seven judges completed an anonymous survey regarding: a) legal standards and personal biases influencing judicial custody decision-making; b) issues that prompt judges to order custody evaluations; c) expected evaluation procedures and report components; d) parts of the report judges find useful for decision-making; and e) the effect of the evaluation on litigation and judicial decision-making. Findings indicate that judges are most likely to order custody evaluations for allegations regarding sexual or physical abuse or parental unfitness. Judges reported that they expect a comprehensive procedure and find utility in an inclusive report. Survey findings suggest that custody evaluations play a significant role in judicial decision-making; however, judges are hesitant to have mental health professionals testify as to the ultimate custody question.
Human Amygdala Responsivity to Masked Fearful Eye Whites

The amygdala was more responsive to fearful (larger) eye whites than to happy (smaller) eye whites presented in a masking paradigm that mitigated subjects' awareness of their presence and aberrant nature. These data demonstrate that the amygdala is responsive to elements of biologically relevant configural stimuli.
Reduced penetrance in familial Avellino corneal dystrophy associated with TGFBI mutations

Purpose To characterize the clinical phenotype, histopathological features, and molecular genetic basis of an Avellino corneal dystrophy (ACD) in a Chinese family. Methods A complete ophthalmologic examination was performed in 21 individuals (6 affected and 15 unaffected) of the four-generation family. DNA was obtained from peripheral blood leukocytes of each participant. Genetic analysis included TGFBI polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and automated nucleotidic sequenceing of all 17 exons of genomic DNA. Histological analysis of corneal tissue from the proband was performed after a penetrating keratoplasty. One hundred Chinese controls were scanned for the presence of the R124H mutation by amplifying TGFBI exon 4 and then by direct sequencing of PCR products. Results The proband of the pedigree had phenotypic features consistent with diagnosis of ACD. He was homozygous for the same R124H mutation in TGFBI as previously reported in Japan and European countries. In addition, 4 affected and 7 unaffected individuals carried the same variation in the heterozygous state were identified. None of the 100 control subjects was positive for this mutation. Moreover, a variable expressivity and an apparent non-penetrance were observed in the individuals with heterozygous R124H mutation in our pedigree. After excluding the missed diagnosis or a late onset, it could be interpreted as a reduced penetrance. Conclusions We reported a novel ACD family which exhibited a reduced penetrance of phenotype in northern China. This outcome supports that although the R124H mutation is one of the genetic causes of the disease, different genetic and environmental factors may influence the expressivity and the penetrance. Uncovering the mechanism may facilitate us to inhibit the occurrence of the corneal dystrophy caused by the R124H mutation in TGFBI, irrespective of the homozygous and heterozygous mutation.
A study on low complexity models to predict flaws in the Linux source code

Due to the constant evolution of technology, each day brings new programming languages, development paradigms, and ways of evaluating processes. This is no different with source code metrics, where there is always new metric classes. To use a software metric to support decisions, it is necessary to understand how to perform the metric collection, calculation, interpretation, and analysis. The tasks of collecting and calculating source code metrics are most often automated, but how should we monitor them during the software development cycle? Our research aims to assist the software engineer to monitor metrics of vulnerability threats present in the source code through a reference prediction model, considering that real world software have non-functional security requirements, which implies the need to know how to monitor these requirements during the software development cycle. As a first result, this paper presents an empirical study on the evolution of the Linux project. Based on static analysis data, we propose low complexity models to study flaws in the Linux source code. About 391 versions of the project were analyzed by mining the official Linux repository using an approach that can be reproduced to perform similar studies. Our results show that it is possible to predict the number of warnings triggered by a static analyzer for a given software project revision as long as the software is continuously monitored.
Access and equity in HIV/AIDS palliative care: a review of the evidence and responses

The high prevalence of pain and other symptoms throughout the HIV disease trajectory, the need for management of side effects related to antiretroviral therapy, the continuing incidence of cancers and new emerging co-morbidities as a result of extended life expectancy under new therapeutic regimes, and the ongoing need for terminal care all prove the curative versus palliative dichotomy to be inappropriate. Although there is evidence for both need and effectiveness of palliative care in HIV patient care, access is often poor and care less than optimal. This review aimed to identify evidence of barriers and inequalities in HIV palliative care in order to inform policy and service development. Biomedical databases were searched using a specific strategy, and evidence extracted into the barrier and inequity categories of patient, clinician, service and disease factors. A model of the barriers and inequalities is presented from the evidence. Recommendations are made from the evidence for promoting access and outcomes through integrated palliative care from diagnosis to end-of-life, alongside antiretroviral therapy when initiated. Service responses that have attempted to increase access to palliative care are presented.