Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Distribution of Caries in Children

The rapid changes in social and economic conditions in many populations may have significant impacts on health, including child oral health. Understanding trends and variations between and within countries will assist in the development of effective preventive programs. This review aims (1) to document time-trends in child caries experience of countries with different levels of social and economic development, and (2) to compare factors affecting the caries experience of children in two contrasting countries. A time-trend analytical approach of ecological data from countries with different levels of social and economic development and individual data of the two contrasting Vietnamese and Australian child populations were used. The analysis found a significant decline in caries experience of children, mostly driven by the improvement in populations with high social and economic development. Significant variations in caries experience and in associations with risk factors between and within countries were observed. Socio-economic inequality in child oral health existed within developed countries and between countries with different levels of development. Population programs aimed at improving upstream factors are of priority in further improving child oral health in different populations.
Compulsory Voting, Habit Formation, and Political Participation

Abstract Can electoral institutions induce lasting changes in citizens’ voting habits? We study the long-term and spillover effects of compulsory voting in the Swiss canton of Vaud (1900–1970) and find that this intervention increases turnout in federal referendums by 30 percentage points. However, despite its magnitude, the effect disappears quickly after voting is no longer compulsory. We find minor spillover effects on related forms of political participation that also vanish immediately after compulsory voting has been abolished. Overall, these results question habit formation arguments in the context of compulsory voting.
Large-Scale Testing of Coupled Shear Wall Structures with Damping Devices

When coupled shear wall (CSW) systems are built in a high seismic region, excessive shear forces are induced in the coupling beams. As a result of these shear forces, brittle failure of coupling beams and wall-coupling beam joints may occur or shear walls may yield first. The ductility demands on coupling beams can also be of critical concern. To solve these problems, new damping systems are proposed to improve the seismic performance of high-rise coupling shear wall structures. The proposed systems, which are CSW systems with a metallic damper or a friction damper, offer important advantages over the conventional reinforced concrete CSW systems: increasing energy dissipation capacity and reducing damage to the structures. This paper presents the results of large-cale cyclic tests of damped CSW systems. Test results show that the proposed systems exhibit a stable hysteretic response. In addition, the energy dissipation in these systems is concentrated in the energy dissipation devices, while the inelastic behavior of the beams and walls is prevented through appropriate capacity design.
Symposium on ‘ Dietary management of disease ’ Session 1 : Allergic disease Nutrition as a potential determinant of asthma

Graham Devereux Proceedings of the Nutrition Society / Volume 69 / Issue 01 / February 2010, pp 1 ­ 10 DOI: 10.1017/S0029665109991753, Published online: 08 December 2009 Link to this article: http://journals.cambridge. org/abstract_S0029665109991753 How to cite this article: Graham Devereux (2010). Session 1: Allergic disease Nutrition as a potential determinant of asthma. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 69, pp 1­10 doi:10.1017/S0029665109991753 Request Permissions : Click here
Kinetic studies of the effect of a 17‐nucleotide difference in the 0.3‐kb region containing the R‐U5‐5′ leader sequence of Friend murine leukemia virus on viral gene expression

In addition to the env gene, a 0.3‐kb fragment containing the R‐U5‐5′ leader sequence is essential for the induction of spongiform neurodegeneration by Friend murine leukemia virus (Fr‐MLV) clone A8 and it also influences expression of the Env protein. Kinetic studies were carried out using two recombinant viruses, R7f, carrying the A8 0.3‐kb fragment, and Rec5, carrying the 0.3‐kb fragment of the non‐neuropathogenic Fr‐MLV clone 57. These analyses suggested that the 0.3‐kb fragment influenced the expression level of the Env protein by regulating the amount of spliced env‐mRNA rather than the amount of total viral mRNA or viral production.
Bifidobacteria possess inhibitory activity against dipeptidyl peptidase‐IV

The incretin hormones are extremely rapidly metabolized by the ubiquitous enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP‐IV). Therefore, DPP‐IV inhibitors which can prolong the incretin effect are the newest and promising drugs for management of type 2 diabetes. In this study, we investigated whether Bifidobacteria colonizing the human gut possess DPP‐IV inhibitory activity. Cell‐free intracellular extracts of 13 Bifidobacterium strains isolated from breast‐fed infant faecal samples were prepared and screened for DPP‐IV inhibitory activity, and two Bifidobacterium strains—Bif. longum BBMN68 and Bif. lactis Bb12—were used as reference strains. Most of the strains showed varying levels of DPP‐IV inhibitory property (7–27%). Strains of Bifidobacterium adolescentis IF1‐11 and Bifidobacterium bifidum IF3‐211 showed the greatest DPP‐IV inhibitory activity (27 and 25%) as well as good in vitro probiotic properties. This initial finding suggested that new beneficial function of Bifidobacteria is strain‐dependent and the strains or their components may have the potential application for management of type 2 diabetes via inhibiting gastrointestinal DPP‐IV activity. Further investigations into the isolation and identification of the bioactive components of Bifidobacteria are warranted.
Effect of diabetes on brain structure: the action to control cardiovascular risk in diabetes MR imaging baseline data.

PURPOSE To investigate the association of characteristics of type 2 diabetes mellitus (duration and biochemical severity of diabetes) to brain structure measured on magnetic resonance (MR) images, specifically testing whether more severity in metrics of diabetes is inversely correlated with brain volumes and positively correlated with ischemic lesion volumes. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study protocol was approved by the institutional review board of each center and participants provided written informed consent. Baseline severity of diabetes was evaluated by testing fasting plasma glucose levels, hemoglobin A1c levels, and duration of diabetes. MR imaging was performed with fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, proton-density, T2-weighted, and T1-weighted sequences, which were postprocessed with an automated computer algorithm that classified brain tissue as gray or white matter and as normal or ischemic. Separate linear regression models adjusted for potential confounding factors were used to investigate the relationship of the diabetes measures to MR imaging outcomes in 614 participants (mean age, 62 years; mean duration of type 2 diabetes mellitus, 9.9 years). RESULTS The mean volumes of total gray matter (463.9 cm(3)) and total white matter (463.6 cm(3)) were similar. The mean volume of abnormal tissue was 2.5 cm(3), mostly in the white matter (81% white matter, 5% gray matter, 14% deep gray and white matter). Longer duration of diabetes and higher fasting plasma glucose level were associated with lower normal (β = -0.431 and -0.053, respectively; P < .01) and total gray matter volumes (β = -0.428 and -0.053, respectively; P < .01). Fasting plasma glucose was also inversely correlated with ischemic lesion volume (β = -0.006; P < .04). Hemoglobin A1c level was not associated with any MR imaging measure. CONCLUSION Longer duration of diabetes is associated with brain volume loss, particularly in the gray matter, possibly reflecting direct neurologic insult; biochemical measures of glycemia were less consistently related to MR imaging changes. Contrary to common clinical belief, in this sample of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, there was no association of diabetes characteristics with small vessel ischemic disease in the brain.
Father's experiences of involvement in the daily care of their child with developmental disability in a Chinese context.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES This study explored Taiwanese fathers' experience of involvement in the daily care of a child with developmental disability within Chinese culture. BACKGROUND Most studies on parents' experiences of having a child with a disability have focused on mothers or mixed fathers' voices with mothers'. Focussing only on mothers and ignoring fathers may hinder the latter's engagement with their child's care and encourage traditional or detached fathering roles. DESIGN A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was applied to explore and interpret fathers' experience. METHOD Sixteen fathers were purposively sampled from a medical centre in central Taiwan. All participants were interviewed twice with semi-structured and in-depth interviews. All transcripts and journal notes were analysed with the hermeneutic circle to achieve thick descriptions that richly described the meaning of fathers' experience. RESULTS Analysis of interviews with fathers on their experiences of raising the disabled child at home revealed three shared meanings: keeping hope alive, concerns about quality of medical care and maximising family function. CONCLUSIONS Hope for their disabled child's good outcome and future was highly significant for these fathers, but hope was diminished when their child received poor medical care or their own ability was too poor to care for the disabled child. However, fathers still did not give up working for their children and for the well-being of their families and society. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Nurses should acknowledge that fathers' involvement in their disabled child's care can contribute to the well-being of both child and family. Also, nurses should educate parents on the best possible ways to help their child. Finally, nurses need to encourage discussions between parents and professionals about their own and the family's situation to develop a trusting and equal parent-professional relationship, thus alleviating fathers' concerns and better meeting the child's care needs.
Stargardt Phenotype Associated With Two ELOVL4 Promoter Variants and ELOVL4 Downregulation: New Possible Perspective to Etiopathogenesis?

Purpose Stargardt disease (STGD) is the most common form of inherited juvenile macular degeneration. It is inherited as autosomal recessive trait (STGD1), although STGD3 and STGD4 are inherited as autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. STGD3 is caused by mutations in the elongation of very long-chain fatty acids-like 4 (ELOVL4) gene encoding for a very long-chain fatty acid elongase. Mutations lead to a truncated Elovl4, lacking of a dilysine motif necessary for retention of transmembrane proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum. STGD occurs due to altered synthesis of very long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLC-PUFA). Our work investigates the role of two variants in the ELOVL4 gene promoter region, c. -236 C>T (rs240307) and c. -90 G>C (rs62407622), identified in a patient with STGD in transconfiguration. Methods Their effects on ELOVL4 expression were examined by Dual-Luciferase Reporter assay. Results rs62407622 and rs240307 variants caused 14% and 18% of expression reduction, respectively, compared with wild-type promoter. A very strong decreased gene expression was caused by coexistence of both variants. Conclusions A highly reduced activity of the ELOVL4 promoter was registered due to combination of two variants. Decrease of ELOVL4 enzymatic activity could lead to a deficiency of VLC-PUFA, essential components for rods function and longevity, which are among the parameters involved in the etiopathogenesis of STGD.
Concepts and Strategies in Retinal Gene Therapy

Genetic defects of the retina or retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cause a substantial number of sightimpairing or blinding disorders, many of which eventually cause the degeneration and death of the visual cells. Previously considered incurable, some of these retinal diseases can now be treated, at least experimentally, by gene therapy. Disciplines Medicine and Health Sciences | Veterinary Medicine This journal article is available at ScholarlyCommons: https://repository.upenn. edu/vet_papers/159
Successful Recruitment and Retention of Latino Study Participants

A high prevalence of risk behaviors among the rapidly growing Latino youth population in the United States adds urgency to the need to identify effective recruitment and retention strategies for research studies and prevention programs. The objectives of this study are to (a) describe the culturally responsive recruitment and retention strategies used in the Familias Fuertes–Georgia program and (b) discuss the evaluation of the relative importance of these strategies. Familias Fuertes (i.e., Strong Families) is a community-based, primary prevention program for families in Latin America with children between the ages of 10 and 14 years. The main program goal is to reduce high-risk behaviors among adolescents by strengthening family relationships and promoting self-regulation and positive conflict resolution strategies. A pilot feasibility study was conducted to determine the appropriateness of the Familias Fuertes program for Latino families living in the United States. To promote participation, 15 culturally responsive recruitment and retention strategies were developed using a three-step process. These strategies contributed to the successful recruitment and retention of Familias Fuertes–Georgia study participants. Participating parents, the community liaison, and the community leader evaluated the relative importance of the 15 culturally responsive recruitment and retention strategies. Three of the strategies emerged as more important than others: face-to-face recruitment by the community liaison; bilingual, bicultural, and experienced facilitators; and free on-site child care. Further research is needed to develop strategies promoting the participation of male caregivers/fathers.
Do Professionals Get it Right? Limited Attention and Risk�?Taking Behaviour

Does information processing affect individual risk-taking behavior? In this paper, we provide evidence that professional athletes suffer from a left-digit bias when dealing with signals about differences in performance. Using data from the highly competitive field of World Cup alpine skiing for the period of 1992-2014, we show that athletes misinterpret actual differences in race times by focusing on the leftmost digit, resulting in increased risk-taking behavior. For the estimation of causal effects, we exploit the fact that tiny time differences can be attributed to random shocks. We link our findings to prior research in psychology and economics, suggesting that different ways of information processing can explain our results. In contrast to recent studies in the field of behavioral economics, we then argue that high stakes and individual experience can magnify behavioral biases.
Reduction and dissolution of manganese(III) and manganese(IV) oxides by organics. 1. Reaction with hydroquinone.

The chemical processes by which manganese oxides are solubilized by reduction in anoxic waters are poorly understood. A study of the reduction and dissolution of manganese oxide suspensions by hydroquinone was undertaken to determine the rate and mechanism of the solubilization reaction. Dissolution of the manganese (III,IV) oxide suspension by hydroquinone in the pH range 6.5 , pH < 8.5 is initially described by the following empirical rate law: d(Mn/sup 2 +/)/dt = k/sub 1/(H/sup +/)sup 0.46(QH/sub 2/)/sup 1.0/((MnO/sub x/)/sub 0/ - (Mn/sup 2 +/)) where (Mn/sup 2 +/) is the dissolved manganese concentration, (QH/sub 2/) is the hydroquinone concentration, and (MnO/sub x/)/sub 0/ is the amount of manganese oxide added. The apparent activation energy was found to be at +37 kJ/mol. Calcium and phosphate inhibited the reaction, by adsorbing on the oxide surface. A model is proposed for the observed rate dependence, according to which complex formation between hydroquinone and manganese oxide surface sites occurs prior to electron transfer.
Asymmetric Connectivity between the Anterior Temporal Lobe and the Language Network

The anterior temporal lobe (ATL) sits at the confluence of auditory, visual, olfactory, transmodal, and limbic processing hierarchies. In keeping with this anatomical heterogeneity, the ATL has been implicated in numerous functional domains, including language, semantic memory, social cognition, and facial identification. One question that has attracted considerable discussion is whether the ATL contains a mosaic of differentially specialized areas or whether it provides a domain-independent amodal hub. In the current study, based on task-free fMRI in right-handed neurologically intact participants, we found that the left lateral ATL is interconnected with hubs of the temporosylvian language network, including the inferior frontal gyrus and middle temporal gyrus of the ipsilateral hemisphere and, to a lesser extent, with homotopic areas of the contralateral hemisphere. In contrast, the right lateral ATL had much weaker functional connectivity with these regions in either hemisphere. Together with evidence that has been gathered in lesion-mapping and event-related neuroimaging studies, this asymmetry of functional connectivity supports the inclusion of the left ATL within the language network, a relationship that had been overlooked by classic aphasiology. The asymmetric domain selectivity for language of the left ATL, together with the absence of such an affiliation in the right ATL, is inconsistent with a strict definition of domain-independent amodal functionality in this region of the brain.
Better, Faster, Stronger: Global Innovation and Trade Liberalization

Abstract This paper estimates the effect on innovation of increased market access facilitated by trade liberalization. We use a novel empirical design that exploits tariff cuts during the 1990s, along with detailed data on innovation among firms from 65 countries. Our results reveal a large effect of tariff cuts on innovation as measured by patent data, suggesting that multilateral liberalization has promoted innovation and growth. These effects are not driven by the deterioration of innovation quality, and the results are robust to controlling for changes in the patent system and to industry-wide trends in innovation.
Short communication prevalence of susceptibility to etravirine by genotype and phenotype in samples received for routine HIV type 1 resistance testing in the United States.

Abstract The prevalence of susceptibility to etravirine was investigated among clinical samples submitted for routine clinical testing in the United States using two separate weighted genotypic scoring systems. The presence of etravirine mutations and susceptibility to etravirine by phenotype of clinical samples from HIV-1-infected patients, submitted to Monogram Biosciences for routine resistance testing between June 2008 and June 2009, were analyzed. Susceptibility by genotype was determined using the Monogram and Tibotec etravirine-weighted genotypic scoring systems, with scores of ≤3 and ≤2, respectively, indicating full susceptibility. Susceptibility by phenotype was determined using the PhenoSense HIV assay, with lower and higher clinical cut-offs of 2.9 and 10, respectively. The frequency of individual etravirine mutations and the impact of the K103N mutation on susceptibility to etravirine by genotype were also determined. Among the 5482 samples with ≥1 defined nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) mutations associated with resistance, 67% were classed as susceptible to etravirine by genotype by both scoring systems. Susceptibility to etravirine by phenotype was higher (76%). The proportion of first-generation NNRTI-resistant samples with (n=3598) and without (n=1884) K103N with susceptibility to etravirine by genotype was 77% and 49%, respectively. Among samples susceptible to first-generation NNRTIs (n=9458), >99% of samples were susceptible to etravirine by phenotype (FC <2.9); the remaining samples had FC ≥2.9-10. In summary, among samples submitted for routine clinical testing in the United States, a high proportion of samples with first-generation NNRTI resistance was susceptible to etravirine by genotype and phenotype. A higher proportion of NNRTI-resistant samples with K103N than without was susceptible to etravirine.
Galectin-8 induces partial epithelial–mesenchymal transition with invasive tumorigenic capabilities involving a FAK/EGFR/proteasome pathway in Madin–Darby canine kidney cells

Epithelial cells can acquire invasive and tumorigenic capabilities through epithelial–mesenchymal-transition (EMT). The glycan-binding protein galectin-8 (Gal-8) activates selective β1-integrins involved in EMT and is overexpressed by certain carcinomas. Here we show that Gal-8 overexpression or exogenous addition promotes proliferation, migration, and invasion in nontumoral Madin–Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, involving focal-adhesion kinase (FAK)-mediated transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), likely triggered by α5β1integrin binding. Under subconfluent conditions, Gal-8–overexpressing MDCK cells (MDCK-Gal-8H) display hallmarks of EMT, including decreased E-cadherin and up-regulated expression of vimentin, fibronectin, and Snail, as well as increased β-catenin activity. Changes related to migration/invasion included higher expression of α5β1 integrin, extracellular matrix-degrading MMP13 and urokinase plasminogen activator/urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPA/uPAR) protease systems. Gal-8–stimulated FAK/EGFR pathway leads to proteasome overactivity characteristic of cancer cells. Yet MDCK-Gal-8H cells still develop apical/basolateral polarity reverting EMT markers and proteasome activity under confluence. This is due to the opposite segregation of Gal-8 secretion (apical) and β1-integrins distribution (basolateral). Strikingly, MDCK-Gal-8H cells acquired tumorigenic potential, as reflected in anchorage-independent growth in soft agar and tumor generation in immunodeficient NSG mice. Therefore, Gal-8 can promote oncogenic-like transformation of epithelial cells through partial and reversible EMT, accompanied by higher proliferation, migration/invasion, and tumorigenic properties.
Walking for prevention of cardiovascular disease in men and women: a systematic review of observational studies

In this systematic review, walking (a generally accessible activity for a largely sedentary population) was assessed as a preventive risk factor for development of fatal and non‐fatal cardiovascular disease (CVD). PubMed, CINHAL and reference list searches identified 21 peer‐reviewed publications examining walking in relation to CVD; studies assessing active transportation were excluded. Generally, there were dose‐dependent reductions in CVD risk with higher walking duration, distance, energy expenditure and pace. Associations appeared to be stronger for ischaemic stroke than other CVD outcomes such as coronary heart disease or haemorrhagic stroke. Adjustment for clinical CVD risk factors, obesity or other types of physical activity generally attenuated but did not eliminate associations. Because functional status may be an important determinant of walking behaviour in adults, potential bias due to pre‐existing illness is of concern in all studies reviewed, particularly in case–control studies which ascertain walking retrospectively and yielded the strongest associations. Study findings were consistent with current physical activity recommendations, but there is a need for improvements in measurement of walking and other CVD risk factors, more thorough control for pre‐existing illness, examination of mediating or moderating conditions such as obesity and other analytical issues.