Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stem cell therapy for reconstruction of alveolar cleft and trauma defects in adults: A randomized controlled, clinical trial

BACKGROUND Stem cell therapy with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells is a promising tissue engineering strategy to promote regeneration of craniofacial bone. PURPOSE To determine whether cell therapy with ex vivo expanded stem cell populations would be safe and efficacious in the regeneration of large alveolar defects in patients with a history of cleft palate or craniofacial trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eighteen patients (10 patients with traumatic injury and 8 patients with cleft palate) presenting with missing teeth associated with horizontal alveolar bone deficiencies were included in this randomized controlled clinical trial. Patients were randomized to receive either conventional autogenous block grafts or stem cell therapy. After a healing period of 4 months the treated sites were re-entered and the bone width re-assessed prior to implant placement. Implant stability was evaluated through torque testing of the implant upon insertion and at 6 months postloading. RESULTS The mean gain in bone width was 1.5 ± 1.5 mm in the stem cell therapy group and 3.3 ± 1.4 mm in the control group. Overall, bone gain was higher in trauma patients as compared to patients with cleft palate, for both the control and the stem cell therapy groups. Most postoperative complications were wound dehiscences and incision line openings. Implants were placed successfully in 5 out of 10 patients in the stem cell therapy group and in all 8 patients in the control group. One implant from the control/cleft palate group failed before loading, while the rest of the implants were loaded successfully and remained stable at 6 months. The patients who did not receive implants were re-treated with autogenous block bone graft. CONCLUSION The ability of stem cells to treat large alveolar defects is safe, yet, their ability to completely reconstitute large alveolar defects is limited. This approach requires further optimization to meet the outcomes seen using current methods to treat large defects, particularly those resultant of cleft palate.
Estimating student dropout in distance higher education using semi-supervised techniques

Nowadays, distance higher education has rapidly increased due to advance and integration of information and communications' technology. Students who attend online distance courses have often family obligations and job commitments and are usually in 'high risk' of dropout during their attendance. It is of a highly importance to identify such students, through paying extra attention and support to them could possibly minimize the possibility of student failure or even dropout. The present research intends to study whether semi-supervised techniques could be useful in student dropout prediction in distance higher education. Semi-supervised learning aims to generate reliable predictions using few labeled and many unlabeled data. Labeled data are difficult obtainable quite often, as they require many experts, a lot of human effort and time in experiments. As far as, we are aware in several studies propose and compare supervised methods for students' dropout prediction rates in higher education, but none of them investigates the effectiveness of semi-supervised methods. The results of our experiments reveal that a good predictive accuracy can be achieved using few labeled data in comparison to well known supervised learning algorithms. For that purpose we have developed a web-based tool to estimate if an individual student is going to dropout.
Ten-year Follow-up of Subjects with Impaired Glucose Tolerance: Prevention of Diabetes by Tolbutamide and Diet Regulation

In a diabetes detection survey carried out between 1962 and 1965, 2477 (1.1%) of 228,883 subjects had Clinistix-positive glucosuria after a carbohydrate-rich luncheon meal. Of these 2477, 578 displayed impaired tolerance to oral glucose without having manifest diabetes. From this group, 267 men were divided into five groups and subjected to the following treatments and controls: (a) diet regulation and 0.5 g tolbutamide t.i. d. (N = 49), annual oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT); (b) diet regulation and one placebo tablet t.i. d. (N = 48), annual OGTT; (c) diet regulation only (N = 50), annual OGTT; (d) no treatment (N = 61), annual OGTT; and (e) no treatment, OGTT at follow-up (N = 59 at follow-up). In addition, a control group was included comprised of men with normal OGTT (N = 52). At follow-up, 29% of those without diet regulation and medication (group e; N = 59) had developed diabetes. Of those on diet regulation, but without active medication (group b plus group c, N = 98), 13% had diabetes. No individual maintaining tolbutamide and diet regulation (N = 23) had progressed to diabetes. In this group, 80% of those later examined (N = 11) had serum tolbutamide concentrations in the therapeutic range. No individual with initially normal OGTT developed diabetes or impaired OGTT. The findings suggest that normal oral glucose tolerance signifies little risk of progress to impaired glucose tolerance and manifest diabetes, whereas impaired glucose tolerance is associated with a high risk of progression to diabetes. In addition, it seems possible that treatment with diet regulation, in combination with tolbutamide, may prevent or postpone progression from impaired glucose tolerance to manifest diabetes.
Taming the Tachyon in Cubic String Field Theory

We give evidence based on level-truncation computations that the rolling tachyon in cubic open string field theory (CSFT) has a well-defined but wildly oscillatory time-dependent solution which goes as e for t → −∞. We show that a field redefinition taking the CSFT effective tachyon action to the analogous boundary string field theory (BSFT) action takes the oscillatory CSFT solution to the pure exponential solution e of the BSFT action.
Do Mutual Funds Profit from Accruals and NOA Anomalies ?

Using data on both fund stockholdings and fund returns, we show that mutual funds are able to make significant excess returns net of actual transaction costs from trading on accruals and net operating assets (NOA) anomalies. We find that the top 10% of mutual funds that are most aggressive in holding stocks consistent with the accruals (NOA) strategy have Fama-French 3-factor alphas of 3.33% (2.71%) per year. We also find that mutual funds more actively using the accruals (NOA) strategies exhibit higher volatility in both their net returns and fund flows. These factors likely represent the adverse consequences of arbitrage risk that funds face when they trade aggressively on these anomalies (Shleifer & Vishny 1997). ________________________ *Department of Accounting and Information System, University of Texas, Dallas. ** Cameron School of Business, University of North Carolina, Wilmington ***Department of Finance, University of Arizona. ****College of Business Administration, University of Rhode Island.
Lightning Performance of 138-kV Transmission Lines: The Relevance of Subsequent Strokes

The relevance of subsequent strokes on the lightning performance of 138-kV lines is assessed. An electromagnetic model was used to simulate lightning overvoltages experienced across insulator strings due to direct strikes to the towers of an existing line in order to determine the critical peak current required to flashover using the integration method. From peak current distributions, estimates of outage rate due to backflashover were developed considering the contribution of first and subsequent strokes. It was found that, depending on the value of tower-footing grounding resistance, the contribution of subsequent strokes can be relevant, notably for tall towers, with height above 30 m.
Public service motivation and job satisfaction in China: An investigation of generalisability and instrumentality

Purpose - The purpose of this research is to investigate how generalisable the public service motivation (PSM) observed in Western society is to China and to examine the effects of public service motivation on job satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach - Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis techniques are applied to survey data of 191 public servants in China to investigate the generalisability of Western PSM. Using hierarchical regression analysis, the paper examines the effects of the dimensions of PSM on job satisfaction. Findings - The results show that the public service motivation observed in the West exists in China, but the generalisability of the construct is limited. Three of the four dimensions of public service motivation (attraction to public policy making, commitment to the public interest, and self-sacrifice) exist in China, but the fourth dimension (compassion) is unconfirmed. Originality/value - The paper is the first to examine the generalisability and instrumentality of PSM as observed in Western society to China. The results indicate that the public service motivation observed in the West also exists in China, but that the generalisability is limited. Public service motivation emerges from the results as a positively significant predictor of job satisfaction in the public sector of China. It enhances the applicability and meaningfulness of the concept of public service motivation across political and cultural environments.
Combined use of an antigen and antibody detection enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay for cysticercosis as tools in an epidemiological study of epilepsy in Burundi

Objective To evaluate the benefits of the detection of both circulating antibodies (Ab) and antigens (Ag) for the diagnosis of cysticercosis in people with epilepsy. Neurocysticercosis is a cause of neurological diseases world‐wide, especially epilepsy. The clinical symptoms of neurocysticercosis are non‐specific and diagnosis is often difficult.
Hexon Modification to Improve the Activity of Oncolytic Adenovirus Vectors against Neoplastic and Stromal Cells in Pancreatic Cancer

Primary pancreatic carcinoma has an unfavourable prognosis and standard treatment strategies mostly fail in advanced cases. Virotherapy might overcome this resistance to current treatment modalities. However, data from clinical studies with oncolytic viruses, including replicating adenoviral (Ad) vectors, have shown only limited activity against pancreatic cancer and other carcinomas. Since pancreatic carcinomas have a complex tumor architecture and frequently a strong stromal compartment consisting of non-neoplastic cell types (mainly pancreatic stellate cells = hPSCs) and extracellular matrix, it is not surprising that Ad vectors replicating in neoplastic cells will likely fail to eradicate this aggressive tumor type. Because the TGFβ receptor (TGFBR) is expressed on both neoplastic cells and hPSCs we inserted the TGFBR targeting peptide CKS17 into the hypervariable region 5 (HVR5) of the capsid protein hexon with the aim to generate a replicating Ad vector with improved activity in complex tumors. We demonstrated increased transduction of both pancreatic cancer cell lines and of hPSCs and enhanced cytotoxicity in co-cultures of both cell types. Surface plasmon resonance analysis demonstrated decreased binding of coagulation factor X to CKS17-modified Ad particles and in vivo biodistribution studies performed in mice indicated decreased transduction of hepatocytes. Thus, to increase activity of replicating Ad vectors we propose to relax tumor cell selectivity by genetic hexon-mediated targeting to the TGFBR (or other receptors present on both neoplastic and non-neoplastic cells within the tumor) to enable replication also in the stromal cell compartment of tumors, while abolishing hepatocyte transduction, and thereby increasing safety.
Educating physicians to reduce benzodiazepine use by elderly patients: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Benzodiazepine use by elderly patients is associated with adverse outcomes including increased risk of falls and fractures, motor vehicle accidents and cognitive impairment. Recent studies suggest that individualized feedback and education to physicians may improve drug prescribing. In this study, we evaluated an intervention to address the inappropriate prescribing of benzodiazepines for elderly patients. METHODS We identified 1624 primary care physicians who wrote at least 10 prescriptions for the target drugs in a 2-month period and randomly assigned these physicians to the intervention group or the control group. We obtained data from the Ontario Drug Benefit claims database, which covers all Ontario residents aged 65 years and over for drugs selected from a minimally restrictive formulary. Every 2 months for 6 months, confidential profiles of benzodiazepine prescription use coupled with evidence-based educational bulletins were mailed to the intervention group. The control group received feedback and educational bulletins about first-line antihypertension drug prescribing for elderly patients. Our main outcome measures were reductions in the proportion of each physician's total benzodiazepine prescriptions for long-acting agents, combinations of benzodiazepines with other psychoactive medications (including other benzodiazepines) and long-term benzodiazepine therapy. RESULTS After randomization, 168 physicians agreed to be in the intervention group and 206 in the control group. Their demographic and prescribing characteristics were similar. Although the proportion of long-acting benzodiazepine prescriptions decreased by 0.7% in the intervention group between the baseline period and the end of the intervention period (from 20.3%, or a mean of 29.5 prescriptions, to 19.6%, or a mean of 27.7 prescriptions) and increased by 1.1% in the control group (from 19.8%, or a mean of 26.4 prescriptions, to 20.9%, or a mean of 27.7 prescriptions) (p = 0.036), this difference was not clinically significant. There was no significant difference over the study period in either combination prescribing of benzodiazepines or in prescriptions for long-term benzodiazepine therapy. INTERPRETATION We did not find that a program of confidential feedback and educational material offered to Ontario primary care physicians had a clinically significant impact on their benzodiazepine prescribing.
Do Australian companies report environmental news objectively?: An analysis of environmental disclosures by firms prosecuted successfully by the Environmental Protection Authority

Within Australia there is ageneral absence of professional or legislative rules requiring companies to provide information relating to their environmental performance or any environmental initiatives undertaken. Previous research studies have shown that many firms present environmental information, but only tend to present information which is favourable to their corporate image. Investigates the environmental reporting practices of a sample of 20 Australian companies which were subject to successful prosecution by the New South Wales, and Victorian Environmental Protection Authorities, during the period 1990‐1993. Indicates a significant increase in the reporting of favourable environmental information surrounding environmental prosecution. Further, the amount of positive environmental information significantly outweighed the negative environmental information presented, which was interesting given that it is clear that the firms studied did have bad news to report. The existence of a proven environmental offence was reported by only two of the companies within the sample. Raises issues as to whether information about a proven environmental offence is “material” to account users and, if so, whether financial statements could be construed as being misleading in the absence of such information.
Historical contingency in species interactions: towards niche-based predictions

The way species affect one another in ecological communities often depends on the order of species arrival. The magnitude of such historical contingency, known as priority effects, varies across species and environments, but this variation has proven difficult to predict, presenting a major challenge in understanding species interactions and consequences for community structure and function. Here, we argue that improved predictions can be achieved by decomposing species' niches into three components: overlap, impact and requirement. Based on classic theories of community assembly, three hypotheses that emphasise related, but distinct influences of the niche components are proposed: priority effects are stronger among species with higher resource use overlap; species that impact the environment to a greater extent exert stronger priority effects; and species whose growth rate is more sensitive to changes in the environment experience stronger priority effects. Using nectar-inhabiting microorganisms as a model system, we present evidence that these hypotheses complement the conventional hypothesis that focuses on the role of environmental harshness, and show that niches can be twice as predictive when separated into components. Taken together, our hypotheses provide a basis for developing a general framework within which the magnitude of historical contingency in species interactions can be predicted.
Differential Influences of Ethanol on Early Exposure to Racemic Methylphenidate Compared with Dexmethylphenidate in Humans

Enantioselective hydrolysis of oral racemic methylphenidate (dl-MPH) by carboxylesterase 1 (CES1) limits the absolute bioavailability of the pharmacologically active d-MPH isomer to approximately 30% and that of the inactive l-MPH to only 1–2%. Coadministration of dl-MPH with ethanol results in elevated d-MPH plasma concentrations accompanied by CES1-mediated enantioselective transesterification of l-MPH to l-ethylphenidate (EPH). The present study tested the hypothesis that administration of the pure isomer dexmethylphenidate (d-MPH) will overcome the influence of ethanol on d-MPH absorption by eliminating competitive CES1-mediated presystemic metabolism of l-MPH to l-EPH. Twenty-four healthy volunteers received dl-MPH (0.3 mg/kg) or d-MPH (0.15 mg/kg), with or without ethanol (0.6 g/kg). During the absorption phase of dl-MPH, concomitant ethanol significantly elevated d-MPH plasma concentrations (44–99%; P < 0.005). Furthermore, immediately following the ethanol drink the subjective effects of “high,” “good,” “like,” “stimulated,” and overall “effect” were significantly potentiated (P ≤ 0.01). Plasma l-EPH concentrations exceeded those of l-MPH. Ethanol combined with pure d-MPH did not elevate plasma d-MPH concentrations during the absorption phase, and the ethanol-induced potentiation of subjective effects was delayed relative to dl-MPH-ethanol. These findings are consistent with l-MPH competitively inhibiting presystemic CES1 metabolism of d-MPH. Ethanol increased the d-MPH area under the curve (AUC)0-inf by 21% following dl-MPH (P < 0.001) and 14% for d-MPH (P = 0.001). In men receiving d-MPH-ethanol, the d-MPH absorption partial AUC0.5–2 hours was 2.1 times greater and the time to maximum concentration (Tmax) occurred 1.1 hours earlier than in women, consistent with an increased rate of d-MPH absorption reducing hepatic extraction. More rapid absorption of d-MPH carries implications for increased abuse liability.
Ideals of Herzog–Northcott type

Abstract This paper takes a new look at ideals generated by 2×2 minors of 2×3 matrices whose entries are powers of three elements not necessarily forming a regular sequence. A special case of this is the ideals determining monomial curves in three-dimensional space, which were studied by Herzog. In the broader context studied here, these ideals are identified as Northcott ideals in the sense of Vasconcelos, and so their liaison properties are displayed. It is shown that they are set-theoretically complete intersections, revisiting the work of Bresinsky and of Valla. Even when the three elements are taken to be variables in a polynomial ring in three variables over a field, this point of view gives a larger class of ideals than just the defining ideals of monomial curves. We then characterize when the ideals in this larger class are prime, we show that they are usually radical and, using the theory of multiplicities, we give upper bounds on the number of their minimal prime ideals, one of these primes being a uniquely determined prime ideal of definition of a monomial curve. Finally, we provide examples of characteristic-dependent minimal prime and primary structures for these ideals.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Smoking Cessation Advice by Eye Care Providers: A Pilot Study

Smoking is a modifiable risk factor for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of irreversible vision loss in the United States. We conducted a pilot study among eye care providers and AMD patients to assess smoking cessation preferences and cessation services offered at a large academic medical center. Most patients who smoke reported never being advised to quit smoking, although most eye care providers reported that they had advised smokers to quit. Two-thirds of providers expressed a desire for additional training and resources to support patient quit attempts, indicating the need for the integration of smoking cessation opportunities in the clinic setting.
The inactivation of Chinese hamster cells by x rays: synchronized and exponential cell populations.

Reproductive survival of irradiated Chinese hamster fibroblasts is adequately described at all cell ages by an equation of the form $S/S_{0}={\rm exp}(-\alpha D-\beta D^{2})$. The two terms may be related to the likelihood of inactivation by one or two events, respectively. If the inactivating lesion involves damage to the genome, then corrections should be applied to all but G1 phase cell populations to account for genome multiplicity. The appropriate corrections are derived. The corrections render the single event coefficient, a, constant through interphase, in agreement with data for high LET irradiation. The variations in the two parameters with cell age are clearly different, indicating that cyclic changes in radiosensitivity may not be related to any single physiological correlate, and suggesting that there may be mechanistic differences between the two components other than the number of events involved. Synthesized survival data representing an exponential population are well fitted by the same eq.
Longitudinal Study of Serum Lipids and Liver Enzymes in Workers With Occupational Exposure to Ammonium Perfluorooctanoate

Objective: To examine the relationship between serum perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), a biomarker of ammonium perfluorooctanoate exposure, and lipids and liver enzymes. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study on 454 workers and used mixed models to examine the relationship between serum PFOA and lipids and liver enzymes. Results: One part per million (ppm) increase in serum PFOA was associated with a 1.06 mg/dL increase in total cholesterol, but was not associated with changes in triglycerides or other lipoproteins, after adjusting for potential confounders. Serum PFOA was also associated with total bilirubin (0.008 mg/dL decline/ppm) and serum aspartate aminotransferase (0.35 units increase/ppm) but not with the other liver enzymes. Conclusions: These medical surveillance data collected on workers for up to 25 years contributes useful information on the effects of ammonium perfluorooctanoate exposure on human liver and lipid chemistry.