Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Exploratory Study to Determine the Relationship between Cervical Dysfunction and Perimenstrual Migraines.

PURPOSE To determine whether an association between cervical dysfunction and perimenstrual migraines exists. METHODS Forty perimenstrual migraine sufferers and 46 controls were compared. Information on the participants' ages and perceptions of neck pain and stiffness were solicited. The blinded physical examination of the cervical area consisted of postural, range of motion, muscle strength, muscle length, trigger point, neural mobility, and segmental cervical joint movement assessment. RESULTS The migraine group had increased perception of neck pain and stiffness (p<0.001); reduced bilateral rotation (p=0.013); decreased muscle length in both trapezii, left sternocleidomastoid, and right occipitals (p=0.045); more pain on muscle stretch in both levator scapulae, both trapezii, left sternocleidomastoid, and both occipitals (p=0.013); increased trigger points bilaterally in the left trapezius (p=0.021), right trapezius (p=0.023), left sternocleidomastoid (p=0.0.004), and right sternocleidomastoid (p=0.021); reduced neural mobility with bilateral elbow lag (p=0.043); greater C4-C6 pain (p=0.045); and increased cervical stiffness in C5-C7 (p=0.023). There were no differences in posture and muscle strength. Decreased muscle length increased the risk of perimenstrual migraines 2.4-6.7 fold, reduced neural mobility 5.8-10.7 fold, and increased C7 stiffness 17.0 fold. CONCLUSION The results suggest that an association between cervical dysfunction and perimenstrual headaches should be further explored.
Speech Intonation and Melodic Contour Recognition in Children With Cochlear Implants and With Normal Hearing

Background Cochlear implant (CI) users have difficulty perceiving some intonation cues in speech and melodic contours because of poor frequency selectivity in the cochlear implant signal. Objectives To assess perceptual accuracy of normal hearing (NH) children and pediatric CI users on speech intonation (prosody), melodic contour, and pitch ranking, and to determine potential predictors of outcomes. Hypothesis Does perceptual accuracy for speech intonation or melodic contour differ as a function of auditory status (NH, CI), perceptual category (falling versus rising intonation/contour), pitch perception, or individual differences (e.g., age, hearing history)? Method NH and CI groups were tested on recognition of falling intonation/contour versus rising intonation/contour presented in both spoken and melodic (sung) conditions. Pitch ranking was also tested. Outcomes were correlated with variables of age, hearing history, HINT, and CNC scores. Results The CI group was significantly less accurate than the NH group in spoken (CI, M = 63.1%; NH, M = 82.1%) and melodic (CI, M = 61.6%; NH, M = 84.2%) conditions. The CI group was more accurate in recognizing rising contour in the melodic condition compared with rising intonation in the spoken condition. Pitch ranking was a significant predictor of outcome for both groups in falling intonation and rising melodic contour; age at testing and hearing history variables were not predictive of outcomes. Conclusion Children with CIs were less accurate than NH children in perception of speech intonation, melodic contour, and pitch ranking. However, the larger pitch excursions of the melodic condition may assist in recognition of the rising inflection associated with the interrogative form.
Russia and its new diasporas

On the morning after the Soviet Union s collapse, millions of ethnic Russians living on the fringes of the former Russian Republic suddenly awakened to find themselves in foreign countries newly independent non-Russian successor states that most Russians now refer to as the "near abroad. "Igor Zevelev here examines the political significance of these ethnic Russian "diaspora" communities and their implications for the future of Eurasian security. The "Russian Question" centers on Russia s identity and its territorial reach: Is Russia confined to its post-Soviet territorial border, or do Russians in the "near abroad" lend support to the nationalist proposition that Russia extends beyond this "artificial" demarcation? As Russian politicians and intellectuals reassess the "Russian Question" in the post-Soviet era, these ethnic Russian communities mostly in Ukraine, Belarus, and northern Kazakhstan serve not only as a significant factor in Russia s quest for a national identity, but also as a political conduit for Russian influence. In addition to his thoughtful and insightful exploration of nationalism and national identity throughout Russia s history, Zevelev skillfully dissects the multifaceted nature of the Russian Federation s official policies toward these ethnic Russian communities. "
A transition in health status from childhood to adulthood and associated lifestyle risk factors: a 13-year interval follow-up study in South Africa

South Africa is a developing country that also has developed aspects and as a result, has to cope with issues related to both worlds. There has been a definite change in the global patterns of diseases from a situation dominated by infectious diseases to a predominance of non-communicable diseases where the risk factors are largely associated with lifestyle. Results from a follow-up study were used to investigate a transition in health status of the study sample. Questionnaires were used in this historical cohort study, which reviews the health status and lifestyle aspects of young adults who participated as children in the Vaal Triangle Air Pollution Health Study (VAPS) during 1990. In general, the study sample had a higher prevalence of chronic diseases compared to the general South African population. Findings indicate that the transition in health status recorded elsewhere in the world can be demonstrated in this South African group.
Internationalization of the Higher Education Classroom: Strategies to Facilitate Intercultural Learning and Academic Success.

The number of students studying abroad is continuing to grow, which allows for intercultural learning to take place while forming cross-cultural relationships. This intercultural understanding plays a vital role as businesses begin operating in the global marketplace where cross-cultural relationships and understanding are needed. International students bring differing cultural experiences, expectations, and learning styles to the higher education classroom that allow for new perspectives to be introduced. How can faculty effectively leverage this cultural diversity in the classroom while addressing the academic needs of both the host and international students? Through effective teaching practices in a globalized classroom and an awareness of the cultural diversity present in the classroom, faculty members can provide learning opportunities, both academic and socially, that meets the needs of host and international students while preparing them for effective interactions in a globalized society.
Efficacy of Laser Activated Irrigation on Apically Extruded Debris with Different Preparation Systems.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate apical extrusion of debris in canals prepared with three nickel-titanium (NiTi) rotary file systems [Twisted File Adaptive (TFA), SybronEndo, Orange, CA], Reciproc [(RP), VDW, Munich, Germany], and Revo-S [(RS), MicroMega, Besançon, France] and two irrigation [conventional needle (CNI) and laser-activated (LAI)] techniques. BACKGROUND DATA Although previous studies have evaluated the amount of apically extruded debris by various instrumentation and irrigation methods, none of them have investigated the effect of LAI during the root canal preparation on debris extrusion. METHODS Ninety extracted single-rooted human mandibular premolars with straight canals were randomly assigned to six groups (n=15) according to the file and irrigation protocols used: (1) TFA and LAI group, (2) RP and LAI group, (3) RS and LAI group, (4) TFA and CNI group, (5) RP and CNI group, and (6) RS and CNI group. Debris extruded from the apical foramen during root canal preparation was collected into preweighed Eppendorf tubes. The weight of the dry extruded debris was established by subtracting the preinstrumentation and postinstrumentation weight of the Eppendorf tubes for each group. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal Wallis and Mann Whitney U tests with Bonferroni correction to compare groups. RESULTS LAI groups extruded more debris than CNI groups (p<0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were observed among the file groups when each irrigation method was evaluated separately (p>0.017). CONCLUSIONS Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that the agitation method, such as LAI, had a significant effect on the amount of extrusion.
Higher temperature sensitivity for stable than for labile soil organic carbon – Evidence from incubations of long‐term bare fallow soils

The impact of climate change on the stability of soil organic carbon (SOC) remains a major source of uncertainty in predicting future changes in atmospheric CO2 levels. One unsettled issue is whether the mineralization response to temperature depends on SOC mineralization rate. Long‐term (>25 years) bare fallow experiments (LTBF) in which the soil is kept free of any vegetation and organic inputs, and their associated archives of soil samples represent a unique research platform to examine this issue as with increasing duration of fallow, the lability of remaining total SOC decreases. We retrieved soils from LTBF experiments situated at Askov (Denmark), Grignon (France), Ultuna (Sweden), and Versailles (France) and sampled at the start of the experiments and after 25, 50, 52, and 79 years of bare fallow, respectively. Soils were incubated at 4, 12, 20, and 35 °C and the evolved CO2 monitored. The apparent activation energy (Ea) of SOC was then calculated for similar loss of CO2 at the different temperatures. The Ea was always higher for samples taken at the end of the bare‐fallow period, implying a higher temperature sensitivity of stable C than of labile C. Our results provide strong evidence for a general relationship between temperature sensitivity and SOC stability upon which significant improvements in predictive models could be based.
Medical Evacuations From Oil Rigs off the Gulf Coast of the United States From 2008 to 2012: Reasons and Cost Implications

Objective: To identify reasons for air medical evacuations from oil rigs/platforms. Methods: Retrospective review of data of medical calls from 102 rigs/platforms in the US Gulf Coast from 2008 through 2012 with specific analysis of medevacs. Results: On average, 1609 total calls per year relating to illness or injury on the 102 oil rigs/platforms with 4% to 7% requiring medical air evacuation. On average, 77% of medevacs were for nonoccupational medical injury or illness. Conclusions: Illness, not occupational injuries, is identified as the major reason for medical evacuations from oil rigs. Heart disease is the leading cause of chronic health conditions resulting in a medevac.
Thyroid follicular neoplasm: Analysis by fine needle aspiration cytology, frozen section, and histopathology

We performed a retrospective analysis of follicular neoplasm data obtained from frozen section examinations of thyroid nodules. A total of 5,660 patients underwent preoperative neck ultrasonography and fine‐needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), surgical treatment, and follow‐up at a medical institute. Patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma were excluded from this study. In 971 cases, frozen section examination was performed during the surgical treatment of follicular neoplasm that was diagnosed via FNAC. Thyroid malignancies were histologically confirmed in 25.1% of cases (244/971). Among the patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma, 45 were diagnosed with the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinomas (27.4%). The diagnostic sensitivity of frozen section for the nonfollicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma was better than that for the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (89.1% versus 78.9%; P = 0.1023). For 12 cases the diagnosis was atypical follicular adenomas. The diagnostic accuracy of frozen section in cases of follicular neoplasm was 76.9% with a sensitivity of 84.8% and a specificity of 98.9%. In conclusion, our analysis revealed high rates of accuracy when using frozen tissue sections for early diagnosis and treatment of follicular neoplasm; thus, an early decision to extent of surgery prevents a risky follow‐up surgery. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2010;38:801‐805. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Biomarkers of Cervicovaginal Inflammation for the Assessment of Microbicide Safety

The human cervicovaginal mucosa is the primary target of HIV-1 infection during male to female transmission. This tissue contains the the full spectrum of cell types and immune modulators that comprise both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system. Mounting evidence indicates that mucosal epithelial cells are sentinels of the female reproductive tract, producing innate immune mediators that control the vaginal microflora under normal conditions. Recent studies, however, indicate that certain factors secreted in response to another pathogen or after exposure to a vaginal product may in fact enhance infection by HIV-1. Mucosal inflammation and CD4 cell activation as well as disruption of TLR function and epithelial integrity represent potential causes for such effect. It is therefore important to make sure that vaginal products, including microbicides, do not disrupt the structure or function of the cervicovaginal mucosa. Although a number of biomarkers have been linked to microbicide-induced cervicovaginal inflammation and many of these markers have been measured in preclinical and clinical assays, there are currently no data that demonstrate a correlation between any one marker and susceptibility to HIV-1 infection in humans. To date, the lack of a validated biomarker of cervicovaginal safety represents a gap in the knowledge base that hinders the rational and expeditious selection of microbicide candidates entering clinical trials. Currrent discovery efforts and preclinical assessment of microbicide safety use an integrated sequential evaluation system that includes cell-based models, explant-based models, and animal-based models. Relevant research in these areas is yielding new assays and biomarkers that, if validated, will be essential to the rational selection of microbicide candidates for efficacy trials.
Bone Mineral Content at Birth Is Determined Both by Birth Weight and Fetal Growth Pattern

Adult peak bone mass is related to birth weight, suggesting it could be affected by fetal growth pattern. Small-for-gestational-age (SGA) newborns have lower bone mineral content (BMC), but what about adapted-for-gestational-age (AGA) newborns with fetal growth restriction? The purpose of the study was to determine the respective role of birth weight and fetal growth pattern on BMC. Full-term newborns from SGA high-risk pregnancies were included (n = 185). Estimated fetal weight percentiles were measured monthly from mid-gestation to birth, and restricted fetal growth (FGR) was defined as a loss by more than 20 percentiles. BMC was measured at birth, using dual x-ray absorptiometry. Newborns were SGA (n = 56) or AGA (n = 129). Newborns with FGR (n = 111) were AGA (n = 71) or SGA (n = 41). BMC was significantly lower in SGA than AGA (1.48 ± 0.02 vs. 1.87 ± 0.04 g/cm) and lower when FGR irrespective of birth weight (1.66 g/cm ± 0.03 vs. 1.89 g ± 0.05). In multivariate analysis, FGR and SGA were significant and independent predictors of low BMC. In conclusion, fetal growth pattern affects BMC not only in SGA infants but also when birth weight is maintained in the normal range.
Marketing amid the Uncertainty of the Social Sector: Do Social Entrepreneurs Follow Best Marketing Practices?

In a recent study in Journal of Marketing, Read et al. (2009) conduct an experiment to identify how experts approach marketing in uncertain, entrepreneurial contexts. In response, the current study adapts Read et al.'s model slightly to make it relevant to practicing entrepreneurs and tests it on a randomized database of experts and novices in the process of creating for-profit organizations in the United States. The results suggest that these best marketing practices are largely reflective of those employed by practitioners. The author then conducts tests to determine the degree to which social entrepreneurs employ these best marketing practices. The results suggest that social entrepreneurs are less likely than commercial entrepreneurs to implement several best marketing practices.
Forecasting non‐seasonal time series with missing observations

Most forecasting methods are based on equally spaced data. In the case of missing observations the methods have to be modified. We have considered three smoothing methods: namely, simple exponential smoothing; double exponential smoothing; and Holt's method. We present a new, unified approach to handle missing data within the smoothing methods. This approach is compared with previously suggested modifications. The comparison is done on 12 real, non-seasonal time series, and shows that the smoothing methods, properly modified, usually perform well if the time series have a moderate number of missing observations.
Effect of low molecular weight heparin (dalteparin) and fondaparinux (Arixtra®) on human osteoblasts in vitro

The prolonged administration of heparin for prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism has been associated with a risk of heparin‐induced osteoporosis. Fondaparinux is a new antithrombotic drug that specifically inhibits factor Xa. Because of the known interactions of other antithrombotic agents with bone remodelling, the effects of fondaparinux on human osteoblasts were analysed in vitro.
Neighborhood context and racial differences in early adolescent sexual activity

Evidence suggests that African American youths initiate sexual activity at earlier ages than do European American or Latino youths. Using data from a multilevel study in Chicago, we developed and tested a neighborhood-based model of the timing of first adolescent intercourse that emphasizes the impact of neighborhood structural disadvantage and collective efficacy on early sexual activity (at ages 11 to 16). In turn, we explored the extent to which neighborhood factors account for racial differences in the timing of first intercourse. The findings indicate that demographic background, family processes, peer influences, and developmental risk factors account for about 30% of the baseline increased likelihood of early sexual onset for African American youths compared with European American youths. However, a significant residual racial difference remained even after we considered a host of micro-level factors. Neighborhood-level concentrated poverty largely explained this residual racial difference. Collective efficacy also independently contributed to the delay of sexual onset. No significant baseline difference in age of sexual initiation was found between Latino and European American youths.
Experimental localization of muscarinic receptor subtypes to cingulate cortical afferents and neurons

A technique was developed to evaluate the potency of ligand binding at M2 ACh receptors and to experimentally localize the M1 and M2 subtypes to specific neuronal processes. Normal and experimental material was prepared with tritiated ligand binding to cryostat-sectioned area 29c of posterior cingulate cortex in rat, coverslip autoradiography, and single-grain-counting techniques. Three fundamental issues were addressed. 1. A morphological criterion termed an index of heterogeneity was developed by which the specificity of M2 binding by different ligands could be assessed. The index was calculated by first determining the laminar distribution of pirenzepine (PZ) binding sites and then summing absolute laminar variations from this distribution for each ligand. According to this measure the most efficient protocol for assaying M2 sites was tritiated oxotremorine-M (OXO) coincubated in unlabeled PZ (5 x 10(-8) M). The classical muscarinic antagonist propylbenzilylcholine mustard (Pr-BCM), however, when coincubated in PZ, was almost as efficient as PZ-blocked OXO binding. 2. Terminal axons of neurons in the anterior thalamic nuclei (ATN) have M2 receptors based on the following observations. First, specific binding of the M1 ligand PZ was unaffected by ATN lesions. Second, tritiated OXO and PrBCM binding blocked with unlabeled PZ, conditions favoring M2 receptor binding, showed significant reductions in binding in layers la, lb, and IV following ATN ablations. Third, IC50 values as determined by competition of PZ for PrBCM binding sites were shifted to lower concentrations in superficial layers by ATN lesions but not in deep layers where the thalamus does not terminate. Finally, in contrast to PZ-blocked OXO and PrBCM binding, binding of PZ-blocked 3H- quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) was reduced to homogeneity following ATN lesions. 3. Cortical pyramidal neurons have dendritic receptors that are primarily of the M1 subtype but may also include M2 sites. Thus, full depth ibotenic acid lesions reduced PZ binding by almost 70%. Neurotoxin lesions of neurons in layers II-IV or Vb-VI were followed by degeneration of the apical dendrites of pyramids in layer I and 78 and 15% reductions, respectively, in PZ binding. Also, full-depth neurotoxin lesions combined with ATN ablations completely abolished heterogeneities in PrBCM and PZ-blocked OXO binding. These data demonstrate that experimental techniques can be used in conjunction with normal material to make morphological assessments of the efficiency of binding of putative M2 ligands.
Effectiveness of using variable message signs to disseminate dynamic traffic information: Evidence from field trails in European cities

Variable message signs (VMS) can provide up‐to‐date traffic information and guidance to drivers through electronic signs at the roadside. The paper draws together the results from VMS field trials conducted in nine cities as part of European Union‐sponsored research projects carried out between 1994 and 1999. The projects followed common guidelines in carrying out field trial evaluations, which has enabled generalized findings to be made on the impacts of the different VMS applications. The main emphasis in the paper is on drivers' reactions to VMS and the impacts of VMS on road network efficiency. Results are reported for four different types of traffic information. For incident messages, it is not only the severity of the problem reported that influences the level of diversions, but also other factors such as the specific location mentioned and the availability of viable alternative routes to avoid the problem location. For route guidance information, it is demonstrated that substantial diversions occur when the route advice differs from that given normally. For continuous information describing the traffic state on a major route, information increases the use of the major route and reduces use of alternative routes if there are no traffic problems reported on the major route. Travel time information was well regarded by drivers and found to be effective in inducing route changes. In general, the deployments of VMS to inform drivers of traffic conditions have proved successful in terms of improving network travel times and reducing environmental impacts. Whilst such changes have been relatively small, driver perception of the benefits is much higher. This is potentially very significant in terms of the role that VMS can play in the development of integrated transport strategies, as the provision of information may encourage greater acceptance of a range of demand management measures.