Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THECTARDIS AVALONENSIS: A NEW EDIACARAN FOSSIL FROM THE MISTAKEN POINT BIOTA, NEWFOUNDLAND

Abstract The Neoproterozoic Ediacara biota at Mistaken Point contains the oldest diverse Ediacaran assemblages and is one of the few known deepwater localities, yet the biota is dominated by endemic forms, nearly all of which remain undescribed. Thectardis avalonensis new genus and species, one of these endemic forms, is a cm-scale triangular fossil with a raised rim and a featureless-to-faintly-segmented central depression. More than 200 specimens occur on two bedding plane surfaces: the 565 Ma E surface and the 575 Ma Pigeon Cove surface, nearly 2,000 m lower in the succession. Morphological and taphonomic data suggest that the organism was an elongate cone that may have lived as a suspension-feeding “mat sticker” with its pointed base inserted into the microbially bound sediment. If true, Thectardis n. gen. would be the tallest-known mat sticker, reaching a maximum height of over 15 cm. Specimens display little ontogenetic change in length:width ratio, suggesting that Thectardis grew uniformly by incremental addition of material to its distal end. Morphological differences between specimens at two well-separated stratigraphic levels may have resulted from evolutionary or ecophenotypic variation.
Risk Factors for Auditory Neuropathy/Auditory Synaptopathy

Aims: It was the aim of this study to describe risk factors in auditory neuropathy/auditory synaptopathy (AN/AS). Methods: Between 1997 and 2005, we diagnosed 37 children with AN/AS. They underwent a critical chart review for risk factors and etiological coincidences in this idiosyncratic disorder. Results: Eighteen neonates had a history of prematurity and low birth weight. Hyperbilirubinaemia was present in 13 children. Three patients had evidence of infection during pregnancy, and AN/AS was associated with complex syndromal diseases in 2 cases. A congenital, familial pattern was seen in 2 siblings. Seven patients had idiopathic AN/AS. Conclusion: Rather than being a single etiological entity, AN/AS comprises a spectrum of risk factors and associated problems affecting the cochlea and the auditory pathway. This study shows that the majority of AN/AS in children is the result of perinatal problems and is not genetic in origin. Hyperbilirubinaemia is a common and etiologically significant finding in infants suffering from AN/AS. Thus, early hearing screening for AN/AS including transient evoked otoacoustic emissions and auditory brainstem response assessment among neonates with risk factors for AN/AS is crucial in order to better manage patients suffering from this disorder.
Clinical evaluation of resin-based composites in posterior restorations: two-year results.

OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the clinical performance of a nanohybrid and a low shrinkage posterior composite in Class I and II restorations after two years. METHODS AND MATERIALS A total of 82 Class I and Class II cavities were restored in 31 patients (10 male, 21 female) by one clinician using Grandio and Quixfil and the manufacturers' self-etch adhesives (Futura Bond and Xeno III) according to the manufacturers' instructions. Two previously calibrated operators clinically evaluated the restorations one week after placement (baseline) and six months, one year and two years after placement using modified USPHS criteria. Statistical analysis was completed using the Pearson Chi-square and Fisher's Exact Test (p<0.05). RESULTS All patients attended the 12-month recall and no lack of retention was observed. With respect to color match, marginal adaptation, secondary caries and surface texture, no significant differences have been found between the two restorative materials that were tested after 12 months (p>0.05). None of the restorations had shown any marginal discoloration and anatomic form loss until the end of the 12-month period. Two-year recall data demonstrated an 83.87% recall rate (26 patients). Grandio restorations showed a significant deterioration of the surface properties that demonstrated 26% Bravo scores, which are still clinically acceptable. None of the restorations exhibited postoperative sensitivity at any evaluation period. CONCLUSIONS It was concluded that nanofill (Grandio) and posterior composite (Quixfil) demonstrated acceptable clinical performance after two years. However, further evaluations are necessary for the long-term clinical performance of these materials.
Self-Organization of the Khibiny Alkaline Massif (Kola Peninsula, Russia)

The world's largest Khibiny alkaline massif occupies the area of about 1327 km2 in the extreme West of the Kola Peninsula, at the contact of rocks of the Imandra-Varzuga Proterozoic greenstone belt and the Archaean metamorphic complexes of the KolaNorwegian megablock (Fig. 1). According to Pb-Pb, Rb-Sr and Sm-Nd dating (Arzamastsev et al., 2007), the age of the main rock types of the Khibiny massif is 380–360 million years. About 70% of the massif area is occupied by nepheline syenites (foyaite) monotonous in composition which are, in most works, subdivided into two equal parts: foyaite proper (in the center) and "khibinite" (surrounding them), separated from each other by a zone rock complex of the Main Ring. Besides, practically every geological map of the Khibiny massif highlights the concentric zones of massive and trachytic khibinite and foyaite, along the edge and in the center, and on both sides of the Main Ring, respectively. Within the Main Ring, foidolites (melteigite–ijolite-urtite), high-potassic poikilitic nepheline syenite (rischorrite) and less widespread malignite, as well as titanite-nepheline, titaniteapatite and apatite-nepheline rocks are of crucial importance. The same complex of rocks can be related to the so-called irregular-grained nepheline syenite ("lyavochorrite"), transitive to rischorrite in accordance with modal composition, texture-structural features and geological position (see Fig. 1). The rock complex of the Main Ring fills a conic fault in which the angle between the axis and generatrix varies between 50–70° close to the surface and 10–40° at the depth of more than 1 km. On the day surface, rocks of this complex occupy 30 % of the total area of the massif, the share of foidolites, rischorrite and lyavochorrite making up 10 vol. % each. Apatite-nepheline and titanite-apatite-nepheline rocks form fractal ore stockworks (Fig. 2) in the apical parts of the foidolite ring, being related to it by gradational transitions. The thickness of apatite-rich foidolites ranges from 200 m in the south-western part of the Main Ring up to the first meters in its north-eastern part. Within the Main Ring and, especially, in the adjoining parts of nepheline syenites (on both sides of the Ring), there are a lot of xenoliths (from half a meter up to several kilometers across) of volcanogenic-sedimentary rocks metamorphosed to hornfels and fenitized (Korchak et al., 2011). Xenoliths, though occupying less than 1 % of the total day surface of the massif, are in constant association with the much wider spread fine-grained alkaline and nepheline syenites obviously representing the result of a more or less deep fenitization of volcanogenic-sedimentary rocks metamorphosed to hornfels.
Pentoxifylline affects cytokine reaction in cardiopulmonary bypass.

BACKGROUND Cardiac surgery is associated with an inflammatory response that may cause myocardial dysfunction after cardiopulmonary bypass. We examined the efficacy of pentoxifylline to attenuate the cardiopulmonary bypass-induced inflammatory response during heart operations. METHODS In a prospective, randomized study, 30 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery received either pentoxifylline (group P, n = 15) (continuous infusion of 1.5 mg/kg per hour during operation) or not (group C [control], n = 15). Blood samples for measurements of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were taken from the arterial line in both groups at 5 different time points. RESULTS TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-8 plasma levels increased in both groups after cardiopulmonary bypass, with a higher increase in the control group (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that pentoxifylline infusion during cardiac surgery inhibits the proinflammatory cytokine release caused by cardiopulmonary bypass.
COPD—The Primary Care Perspective: Addressing Epidemiology, Pathology, Diagnosis, Treatment of Smoking's Multiple Morbidities and the Patient's Perspective

COPD is a major public health problem worldwide and the impact is expected to increase in the next several decades (1). In the United States, more than 10 million people have been diagnosed with COPD and another 14 million show signs of the disease, although they have not yet been diagnosed (2). The COPD death rate for women has more than doubled in the past 20 years (from 20.1 to 56.7/100,000), and the financial burden of COPD is significant, costing an estimated $14.7 billion annually for direct medical costs, and an estimated $15.7 billion annually for indirect costs (loss of productivity and premature mortality) (3). Despite increasing knowledge of disease pathogenesis, prevention and intensified efforts at patient education and early detection, the prevalence of COPD and COPD mortality is on the rise, especially in women and African Americans (4). For primary care physicians this means that the need to provide care at all stages of COPD will increase, requiring us to develop new skills, find new tools for diagnosis and management and gather new knowledge for integrating COPD into chronic care treatments. This article reviews the epidemiology, pathophysiology, recognition, diagnosis and management of COPD from a primary care perspective. Where feasible primary care focused tools and recommendations for COPD care are presented.
Taxon Richness and Climate in Angiosperms: Is There a Globally Consistent Relationship That Precludes Region Effects?

We comment on a recent paper by Francis and Currie that reports a globally consistent relationship between plant family diversity in large geographic grid cells and factors in the physical environment. This relationship was interpreted as demonstrating local ecological determination of diversity, leaving little room for regional and historical effects. We suggest that using family richness to describe patterns of diversity reduces regional effects owing to the lower endemism of plants at the family compared with the species level. Regardless of the taxonomic level of analysis, we further point out that unless regional effects are tested explicitly, statistically significant differences in diversity between regions can be overlooked. Finally, even correlations between diversity and physical conditions of the environment can have primarily historical and evolutionary origins when lineages diversify within ecological zones of origin and spread more slowly to diverse environments. Thus, local ecological determinism should not have primacy over evolutionary‐historical explanations for patterns of diversity between or within regions. Ecologists must evaluate patterns in local diversity within historical and geographic, as well as ecological, contexts.
ANTIBIOTIC SENSITIVITY OF BACTERIA FROM URINE

Summary Bacteria isolated from the urine of 400 hospital inpatients and 483 outpatients were identified and the in vitro sensitivity of these organisms against 12 antibacterial agents currently used in the treatment of urinary tract infections was determined. There was little difference in the distribution of organisms between the two groups. Escherichia coli was predominant, accounting for 58% of the inpatients and 66% of the outpatients. Klebsiella was present in 15% of the inpatients as against 7% in the outpatients. Proteus mirabilis 9% inpatients and 8% outpatients and Enterococcus, 7% inpatients and 5% outpatients made up most of the remainder. The different organisms showed varying sensitivity patterns to the antibiotics tested. The commonly used antibiotics with the broadest spectrum were cephalexin and cotrimoxazole.
The prevalence of nursing caries in Davangere preschool children and its relationship with feeding practices and socioeconomic status of the family.

UNLABELLED The aim of the present study was to find the prevalence of nursing caries in Davangere preschool children and its relationship with feeding practices and socioeconomic status of the family. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 813 children aged 2-6 years were screened for the present study from randomly selected three kindergarten schools each from Government, Government aided, and private managements. Clinical examination was done inside the respective schools. At the time of examination, a proforma was filled for each child comprising of DFS index. The questionnaire by Winter et al. was modified and used in this study. The completed proformas were statistically analyzed to find if any correlation existed between the nursing caries to the feeding practices and socioeconomic status of the family. RESULTS Duration of breastfeeding increases the number of children with nursing caries and the mean DFS. There is a strong and significant relationship between the severity of nursing caries and the degree of feeding abuse. Children from low socioeconomic status have increased early childhood caries. CONCLUSION The prevalence of nursing caries was 19.2% in Davangere preschool population. Nursing caries were more in children who were taking a feeding bottle to bed at night and were increasingly seen in large families and lower socioeconomic groups.
A Flow Procedure for Linearization of Genome Sequence Graphs

Efforts to incorporate human genetic variation into the reference human genome have converged on the idea of a graph representation of genetic variation within a species, a genome sequence graph. A sequence graph represents a set of individual haploid reference genomes as paths in a single graph. When that set of reference genomes is sufficiently diverse, the sequence graph implicitly contains all frequent human genetic variations, including translocations, inversions, deletions, and insertions. In representing a set of genomes as a sequence graph, one encounters certain challenges. One of the most important is the problem of graph linearization, essential both for efficiency of storage and access, and for natural graph visualization and compatibility with other tools. The goal of graph linearization is to order nodes of the graph in such a way that operations such as access, traversal, and visualization are as efficient and effective as possible. A new algorithm for the linearization of sequence graphs, called the flow procedure (FP), is proposed in this article. Comparative experimental evaluation of the FP against other algorithms shows that it outperforms its rivals in the metrics most relevant to sequence graphs.
Birth outcomes and infant mortality by the degree of rural isolation among first nations and non-first nations in Manitoba, Canada.

CONTEXT It is unknown whether rural isolation may affect birth outcomes and infant mortality differentially for Indigenous versus non-Indigenous populations. We assessed birth outcomes and infant mortality by the degree of rural isolation among First Nations (North American Indians) and non-First Nations populations in Manitoba, Canada, a setting with universal health insurance. METHODS A geocoding-based birth cohort study of 25,143 First Nations and 125,729 non-First Nations live births to Manitoban residents, 1991-2000. Degree of rural isolation was defined by an indicator of urban influence (no, weak, moderate/strong) based on the percentage of the workforce commuting to urban areas. FINDINGS Preterm birth and low birth weight rates were somewhat lower in all rural areas regardless of the degree of isolation as compared to urban areas for both First Nations and non-First Nations. Infant mortality rates were not significantly different across areas for First Nations (10.7, 9.9, 7.9, and 9.7 per 1,000 in rural areas with no, weak, moderate/strong urban influence, and urban areas, respectively), but rates were significantly lower in less isolated areas for non-First Nations (7.4, 6.0, 5.6, and 4.6 per 1,000, respectively). Adjusted odds ratios showed similar patterns. CONCLUSIONS Living in less isolated areas was associated with lower infant mortality only among non-First Nations. First Nations infants do not seem to have similarly benefited from the better health care facilities in urban centers, suggesting a need to improve urban First Nations' infant care in meeting the challenges of increasing urban migration.
Influence of Socioeconomic Status on Dental Health among Primary School Children in Najran; KSA

Background and objective: Increasing evidence suggests that socioeconomic factors in terms of parental educational level and family income may be associated with an increased risk of dental caries. The aim of the current study was to investigate the association between parental socio-economic status and prevalence of dental caries among primary school children enrolled in public schools in Najran; KSA during the period of October 2013 to May 2014. Materials and methods: A total sample of 288 subjects aged 10 -13 years old were selected in our study. Socioeconomic status of the children's parents were obtained through a questionnaire, while the prevalence of dental caries among children was assessed by clinical examination following DMFT index. The statistical analysis performed using the chi-square test. The response rate was high (100%). Results: Caries prevalence among the sample was 72.57% (Mean of DMFT = 0.96). This study results revealed that there is evidence for an inverse relationship between educational level and the caries experience, as that the parents with high educational level scored a significant better oral health status among their children than those who had a low educational level {P ˂ 0.05} respectively. While on the other hand no significant difference was observed among families those reported insufficient family income versus those reported sufficient or moderate family income. Conclusion: It was concluded that dental caries experience of children is strongly correlated to parents' level of education. The inverse association was found to be significant (P ˂0.05), but no significant association observed in relation to family income. Recommendation: Schoolchildren of parents with low educational level must benefit from more frequent preventive services, oral health education and promotion activities.
Embryonic genoarchitecture of the pretectum in Xenopus laevis: A conserved pattern in tetrapods

Networked gene activities control the evolutionarily conserved histogenetic organization of the central nervous system of vertebrates. Genoarchitectonic studies contribute to the analysis of each morphogenetic field by identifying distinct progenitor domains and corresponding derivatives whose pattern of gene expression shows a unique combinatory code. Previous studies in the pretectal region (caudal diencephalon) have defined three anteroposterior genoarchitectonic domains that are conserved in birds and mammals. Here, we have studied the embryonic pretectal genoarchitecture in the amphibian Xenopus laevis, in order to determine whether it is possible to define a comparable anteroposterior tripartition of the amphibian pretectal area. The expression patterns of 14 genes mapped from early embryonic stages to metamorphic climax allowed us to define the boundaries of the pretectum, the expected precommissural, juxtacommissural, and commissural anteroposterior domains, and some dorsoventral subdivisions. Taken together, our data provide evidence for a conserved pattern of pretectal domains and subdomains, shared by amniotes and amphibian anamniotes (tetrapods), understandable as part of a general Bauplan in vertebrates. J. Comp. Neurol. 519:1024–1050, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hybrid Methods for Acquisition of Lexical Information: the Case for Verbs

Improved automatic text understanding requires detailed l nguistic information about the words that comprise the text. Particularly crucial is the kn owledge about predicates, typically verbs, which communicate both the event being express ed and how participants are related to the event. Although the field of natural language p rocessing (NLP) has yet to develop a clear consensus on guidelines for building a verb l exicon suitable for applications in NLP, class-based construction of verb lexicons (e. g. Levin verb classification) with explicitly stated syntactic and semantic information has p roved beneficial to a wide range of NLP tasks in combating the pervasive problem of data spars ity and increasing coverage. Such broad coverage dictionaries and ontologies are difficu lt and costly to create and maintain by hand, it is therefore desirable to learn them from dis tributional information, such as can be obtained from unlabeled or sparsely labeled text co rpora. To this end, this thesis will primarily address the following three questions: First, deriving Levin-style verb classifications from text corpora helps avoid the expensive hand-coding of such information, but appropriate f eatures must be identified and demonstrated to be effective. One of our primary goals is to a sess the linguistic conditions which are crucial for lexical classification of verbs. In par ticular, we experiment with different ways of mixing syntactic and lexical information for improved verb classification. Second, Levin verb classification provides a systematic acc ount of verb polysemy. We propose a class-based method for disambiguating Levin verbs us ing only untagged data. The
Effect of sodium hypochlorite treatment on the molecular composition and morphology of human coronal dentin.

PURPOSE The aim of the present study was to evaluate the deproteination potential of 5% aqueous NaOCl solution applied by rubbing action on the molecular composition and morphology of smear-layer covered and acid-etched human coronal dentin surfaces. MATERIALS AND METHODS Paired specimens (n = 4 x 2 per group) of acid-etched (Group A) and smear-layer covered (Group B) human coronal dentin surfaces were sequentially treated with the NaOCl solution for time intervals ranging from 5 s to 120 s and analyzed by reflectance FTIR microspectroscopy and tapping mode atomic force microscopy. The changes in the mineral (v4 P-O stretching vibrations) to matrix (C = O stretching vibrations of amide I) peak area ratios and in the Ra roughness parameter were used to quantify the effect of treatment. Two-way ANOVA and Dunn's tests were used to assess the differences within each group and between groups (a = 0.05). RESULTS In both groups, NaOCl treatment reduced organic matrix (amide I, II, III peaks), but did not affect carbonates and phosphates. In group A, the rate of deproteination was slow, and reached a peak value after 120 s. Tubule orifices became visible after 40 s of treatment; after 120 s, excessive porosity was detected, with Ra values presenting no statistically significant difference from group B. In group B after 10 s, the extent of deproteination was enhanced, reaching a plateau between 30 s and 60 s, and attaining a maximum after 120 s. Tubule diameter, intertubular porosity, and Ra were increased; intertubular dentin area was reduced. For both groups after 40 s of treatment, the mineral to matrix ratio recorded was similar to smear-layer-free sectioned dentin. CONCLUSION The results of the present study imply that deproteination of mineralized or acid-etched dentin surfaces within a clinically relevant time frame may provide methods for bonding to dentin alternative to conventional technique-sensitive dentin hybridization.