Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of survival and complication rates of tooth-supported fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) and implant-supported FDPs and single crowns (SCs).

OBJECTIVES The objective of this systematic review was to assess and compare the 5- and 10-year survival of different types of tooth-supported and implant-supported fixed dental prosthesis (FDPs) and single crowns (SCs) and to describe the incidence of biological and technical complications. METHODS Three electronic searches complemented by manual searching were conducted to identify prospective and retrospective cohort studies on FDPs and SCs with a mean follow-up time of at least 5 years. Patients had to have been examined clinically at the follow-up visit. Failure and complication rates were analyzed using random-effects Poisson's regression models to obtain summary estimates of 5- and 10-year survival proportions. RESULTS Meta-analysis of the included studies indicated an estimated 5-year survival of conventional tooth-supported FDPs of 93.8%, cantilever FDPs of 91.4%, solely implant-supported FDPs of 95.2%, combined tooth-implant-supported FDPs of 95.5% and implant-supported SCs of 94.5%. Moreover, after 10 years of function the estimated survival decreased to 89.2% for conventional FDPs, to 80.3% for cantilever FDPs, to 86.7% for implant-supported FDPs, to 77.8% for combined tooth-implant-supported FDPs and to 89.4% for implant-supported SCs. Despite high survival rates, 38.7% the patients with implant-supported FDPs had some complications after the 5-year observation period. This is compared with 15.7% for conventional FDPs and 20.6% for cantilever FDPs, respectively. For conventional tooth-supported FDPs, the most frequent complications were biological complications like caries and loss of pulp vitality. Compared with tooth-supported FDPs, the incidence of technical complications was significantly higher for the implant-supported reconstructions. The most frequent technical complications were fractures of the veneer material (ceramic fractures or chipping), abutment or screw loosening and loss of retention. CONCLUSION On the basis of the results of the present systematic review, planning of prosthetic rehabilitations should preferentially include conventional end abutment tooth-supported FDPs, solely implant-supported FDPs or implant-supported SCs. Only for reasons of anatomical structures or patient-centered preferences and as a second option should cantilever tooth-supported FDPs or FDPs supported by combination of implants and teeth be chosen.
Speckle Tracking Global Strain Rate E/E′ Predicts LV Filling Pressure More Accurately Than Traditional Tissue Doppler E/E′

Background: The ratio of early diastolic transmitral flow velocity (E) to tissue Doppler (TD) mitral annular early diastolic velocity (E/E′VEL‐TD) has been widely used for the noninvasive assessment of LV diastolic filling pressures. However, it has been reported that E/E′VEL‐TD is not accurate particularly when being applied to patients with advanced heart failure. Methods: Fifty‐six ICU patients with decompensated heart failure underwent simultaneous echocardiography and PCWP measurements. Patients with elevated PCWP (n = 41) were compared with patients normal PCWP (n = 15) as well as age‐matched healthy controls (n = 32). In the apical 4‐chamber view, the ratio of E to speckle tracking (ST) mitral annular velocity (E/E′VEL‐ST) and early diastolic global LV longitudinal strain rate (E/E′SR‐ST) were evaluated as new surrogate markers of elevated PCWP. Results: Correlations with PCWP were observed for speckle tracking derived E/E′VEL‐ST (r = 0.40,P = 0.002) and E/E′SR‐ST (r = 0.56, P < 0.001), although the traditional E/E′VEL‐TD did not show a significant correlation (r = 0.23, P = 0.082). Compared with controls, patients with elevated PCWP had significant increases in all variables. The best cutoff values and diagnostic accuracies for identifying elevated PCWP were E/E′VEL‐TD>12 (Sensitivity/Specificity/area under the ROC curve: 0.58/0.90/0.78), E/E′VEL‐ST > 14 (0.60/0.85/0.80), and E/E′SR‐ST > 93 (0.80/0.88/0.89). Conclusion: Speckle tracking derived E/E′SR‐ST may be a robust surrogate marker of elevated LV filling pressure. In ICU patients, E/E′SR‐ST showed better correlation with PCWP and higher diagnostic accuracy than the tissue Doppler approach. (Echocardiography 2012;29:404‐410)
Cauda Equina Syndrome: Assessing the Readability and Quality of Patient Information on the Internet

Study Design. A readability and quality control Internet-based study using recognized quality scoring systems. Objective. To assess the readability and quality of Internet information relating to cauda equina syndrome accessed through common search engines. Summary of Background Data. Access to health-related Internet information has increased dramatically during the past decade. A significant proportion of this information has been demonstrated to be set at too high a level for general comprehension. Despite this, searching for health-related information is now the third most popular online activity. Methods. A total of 125 cauda equina syndrome Web sites were analyzed from the 5 most popular Internet search engines: Google, Bing, Yahoo, Ask, and AOL. Web site authorship was classified: academic, physician, medico-legal, commercial, or discussion/social media. Readability of each Web site was assessed using the Flesch Reading Ease score, the Flesch-Kincaid grade level, and the Gunning Fog Index. Quality was calculated using the DISCERN instrument and The Journal of the American Medical Association benchmark criteria. The presence of HON-code certification was also assessed. Results. Fifty-two individual Web sites were identified and assessed. The majority of Web sites were academic or physician compiled (53.8%; 28/52); however, a significant minority of Web sites were medico-legal related (19.2%; 10/52). Just 13.5% (7/52) of Web sites were at or below the recommended sixth-grade readability level. HON-code certified Web sites achieved significantly greater DISCERN (P = 0.0006) and The Journal of the American Medical Association (P = 0.0002) scores. Conclusion. Internet information relating to cauda equina syndrome is of variable quality and largely set at an inappropriate readability level. Given this variability in quality, health care providers should direct patients to known sources of reliable, readable online information. Identification of reliable sources may be aided by known markers of quality such as HON-code certification. Level of Evidence: N/A
Sepsis in Buraidah Central Hospital, Qassim, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES Severe sepsis is a major public health concern and a frequent cause of intensive care unit (ICU) admission with a high fatality rate. Higher (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score) SOFA score and co-morbidity of acute renal failure (ARF) are risk factors contributing to fatal outcome. This work was meant to study the epidemiology of sepsis in Buraidah central hospital. METHODS This is a descriptive study conducted in the period from January 1, 2012, to June 29, 2012 to determine the epidemiology (incidence, clinical characteristics) and the outcome of sepsis in Buraidah hospital, Saudi Arabia. RESULTS Out of 387 patients admitted to ICU, 62 (16%) patients had sepsis, their mean (SD) age was 62.7 (21.3) years. Three quarters of them 47 (75.8%) presented with septic shock. The median APACHE II score was 26.5 (8 to 48) and SOFA score 11 (5 to 21). The mean of duration of hospital stay was 11.95 days. The most frequent infection site was the pulmonary (69.5%). There were 37 isolated organism, gram-negative organisms (13; 35.13%) were the predominant isolates. There were 25 (40.3%) deaths; the majority of the deaths were due to septic shock 20(80%). There was a significant difference between deaths and the survivors, in the APACHI II score, SOFA score), and whether ventilated or not. CONCLUSIONS There was a high incidence of septic shock (and higher mortality) among the patients admitted to the ICU of Buraidah central hospital, especially among the elderly patients with respiratory infections.
Work related risk factors for lower back pain among nurses in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria-Nigeria

This study was carried out to assess the work-related risk factors for Lower Back Pain (LBP) among nurses in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Shika - Zaria. The main objective of this Study is to determine the prevalence and duration of LBP as well as to identify the work-related risk factors associated with low back pain (LBP) among Nurses in ABUTH. This Study also examines the relationship between Socio-demographic characteristics of Nurses in ABUTH and development of LBP. The descriptive survey design was adopted and data were collected with help of pre-established Questionnaires. Multi-stage sampling method was used among nurses working in various departments/ units of the hospital. The Study sampled 120 Nurses of which 98 fully participated and filled the questionnaires completely. The major findings of this study were as follows: The cumulative point-prevalence of LBP among nurses was 82.7%. The duration of LBP among nurses were noted to be highest among those in pain for within 3 weeks (69.1%), this is followed by those whose pain is more than 12 weeks (12.3%). Risk factors associated with LBP were highest in lifting of patients or objects (90%), standing on duty (88.9%) and moving of heavy objects/equipments (81.5%). Furthermore, there were significant relationship between LBP and gender (X2 =3.77), and then LBP and Nurses’ Ward/Unit of work (X2 = 11.754). Therefore, it is recommended that efforts be made to prevent lower back pain among nurses working in ABUTH by implementing preventive measures using a multi-dimensional approach such as Sensitizing and encouraging nurses about using safe handling techniques while at work through workshops and use of posters, Training and providing manual laborers for transferring and lifting of patients, among others.
A CNFET-based characterization framework for digital circuits

This paper introduces a framework to develop and characterize digital circuits using Carbon Nanotube Field Effect Transistors (CNFET). We define a 4-step process that involves design capture, pre-processing, circuit simulation and results extraction and interpretation. The initial work leading to this framework involves the selection of appropriate CNFET model and model parameters, and determination of optimized substrate voltage. Through a set of custom-design automated scripts, various logic gates were simulated, data were compiled and characterization results were obtained. A complete approximate squarer circuit was also designed, implemented and characterized using the framework. To demonstrate the power of Carbon Nanotube technology, the same circuit was also implemented in 16 nm CMOS technology for comparison. An improvement by factor of 17× in PDP was achieved with CNT.
Insecticide toxicity associated with detoxification enzymes and genes related to transcription of cuticular melanization among color morphs of Asian citrus psyllid

The Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri Kuwayama) is known to exhibit abdominal color polymorphisms. In the current study, susceptibility to four insecticides was compared among orange/yellow, blue/green and gray/brown color morphs of field collected D. citri. The LD50 values and 95% fiducial limits were quantified for each insecticide and color morph combination and ranged between 0.10 ng/μL (0.06–0.10) and 6.16 ng/μL (3.30–12.50). Second, we measured the detoxification enzyme activity levels of orange/yellow, blue/green and gray/brown color morphs for cytochrome P450, glutathione S‐transferase, and general esterase. The mean P450 activity (equivalent units) was significantly lower in gray/brown (0.152 ± 0.006) and blue/green morphs (0.149 ± 0.005) than in the orange/yellow morphs (0.179 ± 0.008). GST activity (μmol/min/mg protein) was significantly lower in the orange/yellow morph (299.70 ±1.24) than gray/brown (350.86 ± 1.19) and blue/green (412.25 ± 1.37) morphs. The mean EST activity (μmol/min/mg protein) was significantly higher in blue/green (416.72 ± 5.12) and gray/brown morphs (362.19 ± 4.69) than in the orange/yellow morphs (282.56 ± 2.93). Additionally, we analyzed the relative expression of assortment genes involved in cuticular melanization and basal immunity. The transcripts of Dopa Decarboxylase and Tyrosine Hydroxylase were expressed higher in blue/green and gray/brown than orange/yellow morphs. The transcription results paralleled the susceptibility of D. citri to organophosphate, neonicotinoid and pyrethroid insecticides. GST and EST activity may also be correlated with low levels of insecticide susceptibility. Cuticular melanization could be a factor for the development of resistance to insecticides among different color morphs.
An inequality for a linear discrete operator involving convex functions

For the functional A[ f ] = ∑k=1 ak f (zk) , we give necessary and sufficient conditions over the real numbers zk , such that, the inequality A[ f ] 0 , holds for some classes of convex functions. Then, we deduce an inequality related to Alzer’s inequality and a weighted majorization inequality. Mathematics subject classification (2000): Primary 05C38, 15A15; Secondary 05A15, 15A18.
Identification of nonlinear systems using particle swarm optimization technique

System identification in noisy environment has been a matter of concern for researchers in many disciplines of science and engineering. In the past the least mean square algorithm (LMS), genetic algorithm (GA) etc. have been employed for developing a parallel model. During training by LMS algorithm the weights rattle around and does not converge to optimal solution. This gives rise to poor performance of the model. Although GA always ensures the convergence of the weights to the global optimum but it suffers from slower convergence rate. To alleviate the problem we propose a novel Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) technique for identifying nonlinear systems. The PSO is also a population based derivative free optimization technique like GA, and hence ascertains the convergence of the model parameters to the global optimum, there by yielding the same performance as provided by GA but with a faster speed. Comprehensive computer simulations validate that the PSO based identification is a better candidate even under noisy condition both in terms of convergence speed as well as number of input samples used.
CD4+CD25bright Regulatory T Cells Actively Regulate Inflammation in the Joints of Patients with the Remitting Form of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

This study investigates the role of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells during the clinical course of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Persistent oligoarticular JIA (pers-OA JIA) is a subtype of JIA with a relatively benign, self-remitting course while extended oligoarticular JIA (ext-OA JIA) is a subtype with a much less favorable prognosis. Our data show that patients with pers-OA JIA display a significantly higher frequency of CD4+CD25bright T cells with concomitant higher levels of mRNA FoxP3 in the peripheral blood than ext-OA JIA patients. Furthermore, while numbers of synovial fluid (SF) CD4+CD25bright T cells were equal in both patient groups, pers-OA JIA patients displayed a higher frequency of CD4+CD25int T cells and therefore of CD4+CD25total in the SF than ext-OA JIA patients. Analysis of FoxP3 mRNA levels revealed a high expression in SF CD4+CD25bright T cells of both patient groups and also significant expression of FoxP3 mRNA in the CD4+CD25int T cell population. The CD4+CD25bright cells of both patient groups and the CD4+CD25int cells of pers-OA JIA patients were able to suppress responses of CD25neg cells in vitro. A markedly higher expression of CTLA-4, glucocorticoid-induced TNFR, and HLA-DR on SF CD4+CD25bright T regulatory (Treg) cells compared with their peripheral counterparts suggests that the CD4+CD25+ Treg cells may undergo maturation in the joint. In correlation with this mature phenotype, the SF CD4+CD25bright T cells showed an increased regulatory capacity in vitro compared with peripheral blood CD4+CD25bright T cells. These data suggest that CD4+CD25bright Treg cells play a role in determining the patient’s fate toward either a favorable or unfavorable clinical course of disease.
Secondary IgG responses to type 3 pneumococcal polysaccharide III. T cell requirement for development of B memory

Mice primed with a thymus‐dependent form of Type 3 pneumococcal polysaccharide (S3), i.e. S3 coupled to erythrocytes (S3‐RBC) produce S3‐specific IgG antibody after secondary challenge with S3‐RBC. When mice are depleted of T cells by treatment with anti‐lymphocyte serum (ALS) at the time of priming, no IgG antibody is produced after secondary challenge. In order to determine the cellular basis for this phenomenon, various combinations of T and/or B cells from ALS‐treated or normal primed mice were transferred to irradiated recipients prior to secondary challenge with S3‐RBC. The results indicated that T cells were required at the time of priming with S3‐RBC in order to (a) prevent the induction of tolerance in S3‐specific B cells in mice primed with high doses of S3‐RBC, and (b) induce differentiation of IgG‐producing B cell precursors to Bλ memory cells in mice primed with low doses of antigen.
Climbing the Himalayas: A cross‐cultural analysis of female leadership and glass ceiling effects in non‐profit organizations

Purpose – The present study aims at contributing to the knowledge of organizational communication and cross‐cultural leadership by examining the relationship between cultural values and expected female leadership styles in non‐profit organizations in Taiwan and the US.Design/methodology/approach – In total, 307 Rotarians in Taiwan and the US completed a survey meant to reveal their cultural values and expected female leadership styles. In addition, the method of semi‐structured interviews was used to raise the participants' consciousness of and critical reflections upon social practices regarding female leadership.Findings – The research results are threefold. First, among the three major leadership styles, Rotarians in both countries expect female leaders to display transformational leadership. Second, laissez‐faire leadership style can be better explained by the variables of cultural values and country than transformational and transactional leadership styles. Finally, to successfully confront gender di.
A method for the determination of fat in faeces.

A number of years ago one of us (Fowweather, 1926) described a method for the determination of fat in faeces using fresh, wet specimens; the use of heatdried specimens was shown to be unsound, as hydrolysis of neutral fat during the drying process is liable to occur. This method has continued in use here for many years, with entire satisfaction so far as the results are concerned, but it must be admitted that the method, as a routine clinical examination, is somewhat laborious. During the investigation of the method, an alternative procedure was tried; the specimen, after acidification with hydrochloric acid, was dried by mixing with plaster of Paris and then extracted in a Soxhlet apparatus with dry light petroleum. This plaster method represents a considerable economy of labour compared with the original method, and a more extended trial of it was undertaken. This showed that while in the majority of cases agreement with the original method was very good, in others agreement was not satisfactory, and the plaster method was abandoned for the time being. More recently our attention returned to this subject. Two reasons for occasional lack of satisfactory agreement seemed likely, viz.: (1) Inequalities in composition ofportions ofthe specimen analyzed by the differe-nt methods. Some specimens of faeces contain relatively large pieces of partially or wholly undigested foods, mostly of vegetable origin. In such cases, unless great care is taken, the specimen may not be sufficiently uniform for any two portions used for independent analyses to be identical in composition. (2) Failure to remove any HCI which might be extracted along with the fat. A third cause made itself apparent during subsequent work, viz. that the time allowed for setting may be too long; low results were obtained in some cases where attention was not given to this point. It seems probable that this is due to the formation of hard grains of plaster surrounding fat or fatcontaining material, which are impenetrable by the solvent. Attention has been given to all these points, 1nd the method is now carried out as follows.
Serum Chemistry and Hematological Adaptations to 6 Weeks of Moderate to Intense Resistance Training

This study examined immune cell and blood chemistry changes occurring in trained weightlifters after 1 week of rest followed by 6 weeks of Olympic-style resistance exercise. Blood was drawn weekly after 1 day of rest at the same time and on the same day of the week for 7 weeks. Lymphocyte numbers increased in weeks 5 through 7. Sodium concentration rose above entry levels in week 2, remained elevated, and peaked in week 5. Direct bilirubin dropped below baseline values in the final week. Chloride and alkaline phosphatase concentrations increased as training progressed. Chloride, potassium, albumin, CO2, and alkaline phosphatase concentrations peaked in weeks 4 through 6. Serum creatinine was elevated in weeks 2 through 5. Data indicate that resistance training induces changes in immune cell count and blood chemistry that remain within, or near, normal clinical values. It appears that resistance training does not induce immunosuppression or negatively affect hepatic or renal function.
Visual search for object categories is predicted by the representational architecture of high-level visual cortex.

Visual search is a ubiquitous visual behavior, and efficient search is essential for survival. Different cognitive models have explained the speed and accuracy of search based either on the dynamics of attention or on similarity of item representations. Here, we examined the extent to which performance on a visual search task can be predicted from the stable representational architecture of the visual system, independent of attentional dynamics. Participants performed a visual search task with 28 conditions reflecting different pairs of categories (e.g., searching for a face among cars, body among hammers, etc.). The time it took participants to find the target item varied as a function of category combination. In a separate group of participants, we measured the neural responses to these object categories when items were presented in isolation. Using representational similarity analysis, we then examined whether the similarity of neural responses across different subdivisions of the visual system had the requisite structure needed to predict visual search performance. Overall, we found strong brain/behavior correlations across most of the higher-level visual system, including both the ventral and dorsal pathways when considering both macroscale sectors as well as smaller mesoscale regions. These results suggest that visual search for real-world object categories is well predicted by the stable, task-independent architecture of the visual system. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Here, we ask which neural regions have neural response patterns that correlate with behavioral performance in a visual processing task. We found that the representational structure across all of high-level visual cortex has the requisite structure to predict behavior. Furthermore, when directly comparing different neural regions, we found that they all had highly similar category-level representational structures. These results point to a ubiquitous and uniform representational structure in high-level visual cortex underlying visual object processing.