Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of two different root canal sealers and smear layer on resistance to root fracture.

The purpose of this in vitro study was to test the effect of Ketac-Endo (KE) and AH 26 on resistance to root fracture and also to evaluate the effect of smear layer. Seventy-two human maxillary canine teeth were randomly divided into six groups (n = 12) and were prepared using six different methods: group 1: KE, without smear layer (smear -); group 2: KE, with smear layer (smear +); group 3: AH 26, smear (-); group 4: AH 26, smear (+); group 5 (negative control): nonprepared; group 6 (positive control): prepared but unfilled. After storing 1 week in 100% humidity at 37 degrees C, the coronal lingual walls and root canal spaces were lowered 2 mm below the buccal walls of the roots. The samples were placed into acrylic resin blocks so that 10 mm of buccal roots were exposed and were placed in a specially designed steel pad at an angle of 15 degrees to the long axis of the root. A slowly increasing force was applied at the junction of the buccal wall and root canal space until fracture occurred. The force required to fracture each tooth was recorded as kg and statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Duncan tests. The results indicated that instrumentation of the root canals significantly weakened the tooth structure to fracture (p < 0.05). The canals obturated with either sealer were significantly stronger than roots whose canals were instrumented but not obturated (p < 0.05), and there was no difference between the sealers. The presence or absence of the smear layer did not cause any significant effect on the root fracture resistance of the teeth (p > 0.05).
The role of religion in local perceptions of disasters: the case of post-tsunami religious and social change in Samoa

ABSTRACT This paper explores religious perceptions of disasters and their implications for post-disaster processes of religious and cultural change. Based on ethnographic fieldwork in post-tsunami Samoa, this study investigates how people in two tsunami-affected villages make sense of the tsunami, its causes and impact based on different Christian understandings: the tsunami as divine punishment or as a sign of the Second Coming. I argue that these different perceptions of the tsunami are used in bringing about or opposing religious and cultural change based on different ideals of continuity and change.
The Correlation Between Restoration of Lumbar Lordosis and Surgical Outcome in the Treatment of Low-grade Lumbar Degenerative Spondylolisthesis With Spinal Fusion

Study Design: Retrospective clinical study. Objective: To investigate the relationship between the restoration of the lumbar lordosis (LL) and the surgical outcome of patients undergoing spinal fusion for low-grade lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis. Summary of Background Data: Correlation between low back pain and the loss of LL in the treatment of low-grade lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis has seldom been reported. Methods: Between May 2005 and July 2011, 59 patients with low back pain and neurogenic claudication due to low-grade lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis underwent spinal decompression and fusion by a senior surgeon. Ten patients were lost to follow-up. The mean age of the remaining 49 patients (10 men and 39 women) was 64.0 years (range, 47–88 y). Patients were categorized on the basis of the spino-pelvic posture: type 1 [pelvic incidence (PI)<45 degrees] (n=12), type 2 (45 degrees⩽PI⩽60 degrees) (n=24), and type 3 (PI>60 degrees) (n=13). The LL restoration ratio was calculated by the actual LL divided by the predicted LL. The clinical results were evaluated using a visual analogue scale and the Oswestry Disability Index. Postoperative 36-inch spinal films were used to assess the sagittal balance. Results: The mean follow-up period was 43.2 months (range, 28–62 mo). Forty-eight patients showed significant improvement with respect to visual analogue scale and Oswestry Disability Index regardless of whether the LL was restored higher or lower. Postoperative 36-inch spinal films showed the C7 plumb line to be within an average of 4.4 cm (range, 0.6–5.6 cm) from the posterior-superior corner of the S1 vertebrae. Conclusions: Patients with smaller PI tended to be restored higher, and those patients with a larger PI were more likely to be restored lower. For patients with normal sagittal balance, the surgical outcomes in the treatment of low-grade lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis with spinal fusion are not correlated with restoration of the LL.
Erythropoietin and GDNF enhance ventral mesencephalic fiber outgrowth and capillary proliferation following neural transplantation in a rodent model of Parkinson's disease

Low dopaminergic cell survival and suboptimal fiber reinnervation are likely major contributing factors for the limited benefits of neural transplantation in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. Glial cell lined‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has been shown to enhance dopaminergic cell survival and fiber outgrowth of the graft site as well as promote behavioral recovery in rodent models of PD, while erythropoietin (EPO) can produce dopaminergic neuroprotective effects against 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA) exposure on cultured neurons and 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine‐treated mice. The aim of this study was to determine if fetal ventral mesencephalic (FVM) tissue exposed to hibernation media containing a combination of GDNF and EPO could enhance dopaminergic graft survival, striatal reinnervation and functional recovery in a 6‐OHDA rodent model of PD. FVM tissue was dissected from 14‐day‐old rat fetuses and placed for 6 days in hibernation media alone, and in hibernation media that received either a daily administration of GDNF, EPO or a combination of GDNF and EPO. Following hibernation, FVM cells were transplanted as a single cell suspension into the striatum of unilateral 6‐OHDA‐lesioned rats. Rotational behavioral assessment revealed animals that received FVM tissue exposed to GDNF, EPO or the combination of both drugs had accelerated functional recovery. Immunohistochemical and stereological assessment revealed a significant increase in graft fiber density and angiogenesis into the graft when compared with control. These findings suggest that the hibernation of FVM tissue in a combination of GDNF and EPO can enhance graft efficacy and may have important implications for tissue preparation protocols for clinical neural transplantation in PD.
The Motivation for Community Participation in Forest Management: The Case of Sefwi-Wiawso forest District, Ghana

SUMMARY Due to the shortcomings of state control over forests, participatory approaches to managing forests have evolved. However, the motivation for people to participate voluntarily in forest management has received less research attention in Ghana. This research examined what motivated the fringe communities of the Suhuma Forest Reserve in Ghana to participate in its management. The study was designed to be consistent with the convergent parallel mixed methods. In this regard, both quantitative and qualitative data were collected at the same time to determine the motivation of the communities to participate in the management of the reserve. The qualitative data were obtained through focus group discussions with members of Community Forest Committees. The quantitative data were also obtained through a survey of 112 households (half of whom were members of Community Forest Committees) selected from 12 fringe communities. Analyses of the data revealed that participation in the management of the reserve was through voluntary Community Forest Committees. Access to the forest reserve for non-timber products, and the hope of getting degraded portions of the forest to farm were the factors that motivated the members of the Community Forest Committees to participate voluntarily in the management of the forest reserve. However, the Committees complained about the lack of motivational packages, inadequate logistics and non-response to requests for assistance from the Forest Services Division, but the need for farmlands has kept them on. The study recommends that the committees should be motivated by allocating the degraded sections of the forest to them for tree-crop planting, which could not only contribute to the restoration and sustenance of the forest reserve but also serve as a source of livelihood for the members of the Committees.
Rationale and Design of INTERSTROKE: A Global Case-Control Study of Risk Factors for Stroke

Stroke is a major global health problem. It is the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of adult disability. INTERHEART, a global case-control study of acute myocardial infarction in 52 countries (29,972 participants), identified nine modifiable risk factors that accounted for >90% of population-attributable risk. However, traditional risk factors (e.g. hypertension, cholesterol) appear to exert contrasting risks for stroke compared with coronary heart disease, and the etiology of stroke is far more heterogeneous. In addition, our knowledge of risk factors for stroke in low-income countries is inadequate, where a very large burden of stroke occurs. Accordingly, a similar epidemiological study is required for stroke, to inform effective population-based strategies to reduce the risk of stroke. Methods: INTERSTROKE is an international, multicenter case-control study. Cases are patients with a first stroke within 72 h of hospital presentation in whom CT or MRI is performed. Proxy respondents are used for cases unable to communicate. Etiological and topographical stroke subtype is documented for all cases. Controls are hospital- and community-based, matched for gender, ethnicity and age (±5 years). A questionnaire (cases and controls) is used to acquire information on known and proposed risk factors for stroke. Cardiovascular (e.g. blood pressure) and anthropometric (e.g. waist-to-hip ratio) measurements are obtained at the time of interview. Nonfasting blood samples and random urine samples are obtained from cases and controls. Study Significance: An effective global strategy to reduce the risk of stroke mandates systematic measurement of the contribution of the major vascular risk factors within defined ethnic groups and geographical locations.
Nitric Oxide Synthase Activity and Angiogenesis Measured by Expression of CD34 in Burns Treated With Chitosan Films ﻿.

UNLABELLED ﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿ ﻿Nitric oxide (NO) signaling appears to play a vital role in wound healing associated to improve collagen and angiogenesis. A burn wound model was used to evaluate the effects of a chitosan films on histopathological features, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity, and quantification of neoformed capillaries assessed with CD34. METHODS Bilateral burns (n = 16) were made on adult Sprague-Dawley rats. The lesions on the right side of the rats were treated with chitosan films, and the lesions on the left side of the same rats were treated with gauze with NaCl 0.9% as a control. RESULTS Histological analysis revealed accelerated burn wound healing supported by significant differences in acute inflammation, collagen, and granulation tissue formation in chitosan-treated burns. Additionally, chitosan-treated burns were associated with higher CD34 immunoreactivity antibody supported by significant differences. This analysis of NOS activity was statistically significant on treated burns in the second treatment week. NOS results are associated with the highest collagen deposition, granulation tissue formation, and new capillary formation. CONCLUSION The use of chitosan on burns promoted re-epithelialization by means of angiogenic and NO release associated with higher cell infiltration into the wound bed during the proliferative phase.
Role of UEV-1, an Inactive Variant of the E2 UbiquitinConjugating Enzymes, in In Vitro Differentiation and Cell Cycle Behavior of HT-29-M6 Intestinal Mucosecretory Cells

ABSTRACT By means of differential RNA display, we have isolated a cDNA corresponding to transcripts that are down-regulated upon differentiation of the goblet cell-like HT-29-M6 human colon carcinoma cell line. These transcripts encode proteins originally identified as CROC-1 on the basis of their capacity to activate transcription of c-fos. We show that these proteins are similar in sequence, and in predicted secondary and tertiary structure, to the ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes, also known as E2. Despite the similarities, these proteins lack a critical cysteine residue essential for the catalytic activity of E2 enzymes and, in vitro, they do not conjugate or transfer ubiquitin to protein substrates. These proteins constitute a distinct subfamily within the E2 protein family and are highly conserved in phylogeny from yeasts to mammals. Therefore, we have designated them UEV (ubiquitin-conjugating E2 enzyme variant) proteins, defined as proteins similar in sequence and structure to the E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes but lacking their enzymatic activity (HW/GDB-approved gene symbol, UBE2V). At least two human genes code for UEV proteins, and one of them, located on chromosome 20q13.2, is expressed as at least four isoforms, generated by alternative splicing. All human cell types analyzed expressed at least one of these isoforms. Constitutive expression of exogenous human UEV in HT-29-M6 cells inhibited their capacity to differentiate upon confluence and caused both the entry of a larger proportion of cells in the division cycle and an accumulation in G2-M. This was accompanied with a profound inhibition of the mitotic kinase, cdk1. These results suggest that UEV proteins are involved in the control of differentiation and could exert their effects by altering cell cycle distribution.
Accounting for Urban China's Rising Income Inequality: The Roles of Labor Market, Human Capital, and Marriage Market Factors

This paper analyzes China's rising family income inequality since the early 1990s when the urban labor market started its transformation from a centrally controlled to a market‐driven one. We document the trends in income inequality over the period of 1992–2009 using the Urban Household Survey data, and adopt the approach recently proposed by Eika et al. (2014) to decompose changes in income inequality. We find that labor market factors accounted for about three‐quarters of the overall increases in income inequality while falling marriage rate contributed the other quarter. Changes in human capital levels and marital assortativeness have not contributed to the rising inequality. (JEL D31, I26, J12)
Determinants of Self-Reported Barriers to Glaucoma Medicine Administration and Adherence

Background: Many factors influence glaucoma medication adherence. A better understanding of the relationships between health literacy, depressive symptoms, and patient-reported problems in using glaucoma medications may reveal opportunities for intervention that could improve patients’ clinical outcomes. Objective: To examine the relationship between patient characteristics (demographics, health literacy, and depressive symptoms) and patient-reported problems in using glaucoma medications and to assess factors related to patients’ self-reported adherence to glaucoma medications. Methods: Patients diagnosed with primary open-angle glaucoma (n = 228) currently taking intraocular pressure–lowering medications were recruited at 6 ophthalmology clinics. Patients were interviewed to identify problems using glaucoma medications, and self-reported medication adherence was determined using a Visual Analog Scale. Questionnaires were administered to assess health literacy, depressive symptoms, outcome expectations, and medication self-efficacy. Results: Younger patients (P = 0.03), patients with depressive symptoms (P = 0.02), and patients who reported more medication problems (P = 0.005) were significantly less adherent to their glaucoma medications. Patients with higher glaucoma medication self-efficacy adherence scores (P = 0.003) and higher outcome expectations (P = 0.03) were significantly more adherent. Conclusions: Providers should consider using tools to screen glaucoma patients for depressive symptoms and for problems in using medications to identify patients who are at higher risk of nonadherence to treatment and who might benefit from follow-up with primary care providers.
CHARGE syndrome modeling using patient-iPSCs reveals defective migration of neural crest cells harboring CHD7 mutations

CHARGE syndrome is caused by heterozygous mutations in the chromatin remodeler, CHD7, and is characterized by a set of malformations that, on clinical grounds, were historically postulated to arise from defects in neural crest formation during embryogenesis. To better delineate neural crest defects in CHARGE syndrome, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from two patients with typical syndrome manifestations, and characterized neural crest cells differentiated in vitro from these iPSCs (iPSC-NCCs). We found that expression of genes associated with cell migration was altered in CHARGE iPSC-NCCs compared to control iPSC-NCCs. Consistently, CHARGE iPSC-NCCs showed defective delamination, migration and motility in vitro, and their transplantation in ovo revealed overall defective migratory activity in the chick embryo. These results support the historical inference that CHARGE syndrome patients exhibit defects in neural crest migration, and provide the first successful application of patient-derived iPSCs in modeling craniofacial disorders.
Learning from Referents across Geographic Distance and Institutional Contexts: The Perceived Speed of ISO 9000 Certification in Chinese High‐Technology New Ventures

Learning by observing the behaviors and choices of other (referent) firms is an important way for firms to augment their stock of knowledge. However, new ventures face unique challenges with vicarious learning. In particular, their referent firms may not be spatially close, which makes it difficult to collect and make sense of information. In a field study of 175 high‐technology new ventures, we examine and find that distance and the maturity of the legal environments of the observed firms, along with the moderating effect of the size of referent firms, can influence new ventures’ observation and processing of information. Such learning is reflected by the perceived speed of new ventures fulfilling ISO 9000 certification.
miR‐203a‐3p.1 targets IL‐24 to modulate hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth and metastasis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common causes of cancer‐related death. Cytokines, including interleukin 24 (IL‐24), play an important role in HCC. IL‐24 inhibits HCC metastasis but the molecular mechanism by which this occurs is still unknown. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are regulators of cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the role that miRNAs play in the regulation of IL‐24 in HCC is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of regulation of IL‐24 by miR‐203a‐3p.1 on liver cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. IL‐24 mRNA and miR‐203a‐3p.1 were detected by real‐time RT‐PCR, and IL‐24 protein in the cell growth medium was measured by ELISA. A luciferase assay was used to verify that the IL‐24 gene was the target of miR‐203a‐3p.1. Cell survival ability was detected by the MTT assay and colony formation. Cell metastasis was assayed by the Transwell system. The results showed that IL‐24 could be down‐regulated by miR‐203a‐3p.1 in HCC cells and that miR‐203a‐3p.1 acted as an onco‐miRNA by targeting IL‐24. Inhibition of miR‐203a‐3p.1 in cells could lead to the reversal of HCC cell proliferation and metastasis. The study highlights a novel molecular interaction between miR‐203a‐3p.1 and IL‐24, which indicates that IL‐24 and miR‐203a‐3p.1 may constitute potential therapeutic targets for HCC.
Parental perception of children's weight in a paediatric primary care setting.

OBJECTIVE To determine how parents of overweight children perceived their children's weight status compared with actual body mass index (BMI). METHODS This descriptive, cross-sectional study assessed parental perception of and concern about weight, diet and physical activity of 3-12-year-olds. BMI values >or=85th and <95th percentile and >or=95th percentile were considered at risk for overweight and overweight respectively. Differences between groups were tested with chi-squared analyses or Fishers exact test as appropriate and further explored using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Questionnaires were completed at 612 health maintenance visits (278 girls). Overall, 15% of both boys and girls were at risk for overweight and 22% of boys and 24% of girls were overweight. Forty-nine per cent of parents recognized their overweight children as overweight. Perceptions were more often correct for parents of girls than boys (63% versus 36%, P < 0.001) and for older compared with younger children (61.7% versus 17.5%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Parents of overweight children frequently did not perceive their children as exceeding healthy weight standards. Targeting parental perception as a point of intervention is necessary.
How does the Built Environment Influence Public Transit Choice in Urban Villages in China?

With growing traffic congestion and environmental issues, the interactions between travel behaviour and the built environment have drawn attention from researchers and policymakers to take effective measures to encourage more sustainable travel modes and to curb car trips, especially in urbanising areas where travel demand is very complicated. This paper presents how built environmental factors affect public transit choice behaviour in urban villages in China, where a large population of low-income workers are accommodated. This location had a high demand for public transit and special built environmental characteristics. Multinomial logistic regression was employed to examine both the determinants and magnitude of their influence. The results indicate that the impacts of built environments apply particularly in urban villages compared to those in formal residences. In particular, mixed land use generates an adverse effect on public transit choice, a surprising outcome which is contrary to previous common conclusions. This study contributes by addressing a special type of neighbourhood in order to narrow down the research gap in this domain. The findings help to suggest effective measures to satisfy public transit demand efficiently and also provide a new perspective for urban regeneration.
Psychological, social and spiritual distress at the end of life in heart failure patients

Purpose of reviewChronic heart failure patients have palliative care needs that include psychosocial and spiritual support, particularly towards the end of life, when breathlessness and resultant immobility become increasingly severe. This review informs clinicians of the importance of understanding, assessing and managing patients' psychosocial and spiritual needs. Recent findingsThe high prevalence of depression (9–77.5%) among chronic heart failure patients is well documented. Clinical assessment and treatment of depression and anxiety are key to good patient care, although no model for assessment has been agreed. Evidence suggests that social support and spiritual belief are important coping resources, but there is a dearth of research into social and spiritual distress in chronic heart failure. Patients rarely access social services support, and family carers experience considerable burden. Little is known about how psychosocial and spiritual variables influence each other, and the impact of social and spiritual distress on outcomes such as quality of life. SummaryWe hope this review will inform cardiac and palliative care staff about the prevalence of psychosocial and spiritual distress in advanced chronic heart failure, and highlight the importance of their assessment and management. There is an urgent need for research in this field, including the rigorous development and evaluation of service models and nonpharmacological interventions.