Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clefts of the Secondary Palate Referred to the Oslo Cleft Team: Epidemiology and Cleft Severity in 994 Individuals

Objective To describe Norwegian individuals born with cleft of the secondary palate (CP) in relation to cleft severity, Pierre Robin sequence, associated anomalies, syndromes, and hypodontia and to present estimated longitudinal prevalences. Patients Nine hundred ninety-four individuals with CP born between 1960 and 2002 referred to the Oslo Cleft Team (OCT). Method Data were collected retrospectively from the archives of the OCT. Results Among all CP, 7.6% had recognized syndromes, 30.5% had associated anomalies, and in 61.9%, CP was the only malformation. Pierre Robin sequence was recorded in 11.7%. Female predominance was observed both in general and in each cleft severity subgroup. Of 610 individuals with CP, only 25.1% were diagnosed with a submucous cleft palate, 45.9% had a cleft of the soft palate only, and in 29%, the cleft extended into the hard palate. Among 309 individuals over the age of 10 years with CP only, hypodontia was found in 28.5%, and in individuals with Pierre Robin sequence, hypodontia was found in 44.1%. During the period 1965 to 1999, the estimated prevalence of individuals with CP in the OCT uptake area was found to be 0.59 per 1000 live births. The estimated prevalence increased slightly over time, both overall and within the cleft severity subgroups. Conclusion A large proportion of a Norwegian population with CP had syndrome or additional anomalies. The estimated prevalence of CP in this population increased slightly during the observation period.
The effects of different orthodontic appliances upon microbial communities.

OBJECTIVES Orthodontic appliances can promote accumulation of dental plaque, with associated enamel decalcification or gingival inflammation. The aim of this study was to examine longer-term microbiological changes during orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-four orthodontic patients aged 11-14 years undergoing fixed appliance therapy were recruited into the study. Each was randomized for cross-mouth assignment of molar bands and bonded molar tubes to contralateral quadrants of the mouth. All patients received self-ligating brackets, but again using randomization, one upper lateral incisor bracket (left or right) also received an elastomeric ligature. Plaque samples from the molars and upper lateral incisors were obtained at intervals during treatment and up to 1 year after appliance removal. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and 16S rDNA microarray were used to compare plaque microbial fingerprints. RESULTS Plaque populations changed within 3 months of commencing treatment at all sites. The greatest differences in plaque composition were seen with self-ligating brackets with an elastomeric ligature. Post-treatment plaque associated with both types of molar attachment contained increased levels of periodontal pathogens Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, and Eubacterium nodatum, while Campylobacter rectus, Parvimonas micra, and Actinomyces odontolyticus were also elevated with bonds. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that orthodontic treatment may cause sustained changes in plaque microbiotas and that molar bond-associated plaque may have raised disease potential.
Cord Blood Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Conditioned Medium Protects Endothelial Cells via STAT3 Signaling

Background/Aims: Cell-based therapies may be useful for treating ischemic diseases, but the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. We investigated the impact of cord blood mesenchymal stromal cell (CBMSC)- or fibroblast (FB)-secreted factors on starved endothelial cells and determined the relevant intracellular signaling pathways. Methods: HUVECs were subjected to glucose/serum deprivation (GSD) in hypoxia or normoxia, in presence of CBMSC- or FB-conditioned medium (CM). Viability and proliferation were determined via WST-8 conversion and BrdU incorporation. Apoptosis was quantified by annexin V/ethidium homodimer-III staining, nuclear fragmentation and cell morphology. mRNA expression and protein phosphorylation were determined by real-time qPCR and western blot. Experiments were repeated in presence of small-molecule inhibitors. Results: The negative impact of GSD was most pronounced at 21% O2. Here, medium of CBMSCs and FBs increased viability and proliferation and reduced apoptosis of HUVECs. This was associated with increased STAT3 and ERK1/2 phosphorylation and BCL-2 expression. Under STAT3 inhibition, the beneficial effect of CBMSC-CM on viability and BCL-2 expression was abolished. Conclusion: Factors released by CBMSCs protect endothelial cells from the deleterious impact of GSD by activation of the STAT3 survival pathway. However, this phenomenon is not CBMSC-specific and can be reproduced using juvenile fibroblasts.
Promoting Resilience in Stress Management for Parents (PRISM-P): An Intervention for Caregivers of Youth With Serious Illness

Introduction: It is well-known that parental stress and coping impacts the well-being of children with serious illness. The current study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and satisfaction of a novel resilience promoting intervention, the Promoting Resilience in Stress Management Intervention for Parents (PRISM-P) among parents of adolescents and young adults with Type 1 diabetes or cancer. Secondary analyses explored the effect of the PRISM-P on parent-reported resilience and distress. Method: The PRISM-P includes 4 short skills-based modules, delivered in either 2 or 4 separate, individual sessions. English-speaking parents of adolescents with cancer or Type 1 diabetes were eligible. Feasibility was conservatively defined as a completion rate of 80%; satisfaction was qualitatively evaluated based upon parent feedback regarding intervention content, timing, and format. Resilience and distress were assessed pre- and postintervention with the Connor Davidson Resilience Scale and the Kessler-6 Psychological Distress Scale. Results: Twelve of 24 caregivers of youth with diabetes (50%) and 13 of 15 caregivers of youth with cancer (87%) agreed to participate. Nine of 12 (75%) and 9 of 13 (64%) completed all PRISM-P modules, respectively. Among those who completed the intervention, qualitative satisfaction was high. Parent-reported resilience and distress scores improved after the intervention. Effect sizes for both groups indicated a moderate intervention effect. Discussion: Ultimately, the PRISM-P intervention was well accepted and impactful among parents who completed it. However, attrition rates were higher than anticipated, suggesting alternative or less time-intensive formats may be more feasible.
MEMS and NEMS - systems, devices, and structures

Overview and Introduction New Trends in Engineering and Science: Micro- and Nanoscale Systems Introduction to Design of MEMS and NEMS Biological and Biosystems Analogies Overview of Nano- and Microelectromechanical Systems Applications of Micro- and Nanoelectromechanical Systems Micro- and Nanoelectromechanical Systems Synergetic Paradigms in MEMS MEMS and NEMS Architecture Fundamentals of MEMS Fabrication Introduction and Description of Basic Processes Microfabrication and Micromachining of ICs, Microstructures, and Microdevices Devising and Synthesis of MEMS AND NEMS MEMS Motion Microdevices Classifier and Synthesis Nanoelectromechanical Systems Modeling of Micro- and Nanoscale Electromechanical Systems, Devices, and Structures Introduction to Modeling, Analysis, and Simulation Electromagnetics and its Application for MEMS and NEMS Induction Micromachines Synchronous Microtransducers Microscale Permanent-Magnet Stepper Micromotors Piezotransducers Fundamentals of Modeling of Electromagnetic Radiating Energy Microdevices Classical Mechanics and its Application Thermoanalysis and Heat Equation Nanosystems, Quantum Mechanics, and Mathematical Models Atomic Structures and Quantum Mechanics Molecular and Nanostructure Dynamics Molecular Wires and Molecular Circuits Control of Microelectromechanical Systems Introduction to Microelectromechanical Systems Control Lyapunov Stability Theory Control of Microelectromechanical Systems Intelligent Control of MEMS Hamilton-Jacobi Theory and Quantum Mechanics Case Studies: Synthesis, Analysis, Fabrication, and Computer-Aided Design of MEMS Introduction Design and Fabrication Analysis of Translational Microtransducers Single-Phase Reluctance Micromotors: Modeling, Analysis, and Control Three-Phase Synchronous Reluctance Micromotors Microfabrication Magnetization Dynamics of Thin Films Microstructures and Microtransducers With Permanent Magnets: Micromirror Actuators Reluctance Electromagnetic Micromotors Micromachined Polycrystalline Silicon Carbide Micromotors Axial Electromagnetic Micromotors Synergetic Computer-Aided Design of MEMS Index Each chapter also includes a References section. Keywords: Nanoscience, Nanotechnology
Essays in industrial organization and competition policy

We analyze the incentives of internet service providers (ISPs) to break net neutrality by excluding competing one-way essential complements, i.e. internet applications competing with their own products. A typical example is the exclusion of VoIP applications by telecom companies offering internet and voice services. A monopoly ISP may want to exclude a competing internet app if it is of inferior quality and the ISP cannot ask for a surcharge for its use. Competition between ISPs never leads to full app exclusion but it may lead to a fragmented internet where only one ISP offers the application. We show that, both in monopoly and duopoly, prohibiting the exclusion of the app and surcharges for its use does not always improve welfare.
“Quality Leadership Matters”: A Research-Based Survey of Graduate Programming

This empirical study contributes to the dialogue about quality leadership and national trends involving standards-based program review. It is the first to utilize the 2016 Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) Standards for graduate programs and separately from accreditation and sponsorship. The literature on quality leadership is reviewed, and results from an original instrument are described. Survey influences included leadership literature, the CAEP Standards, and the University Council for Educational Administration’s artifacts. Students and completers’ feedback was on program effectiveness, satisfaction, impact, and ethics. Variance was found in perceptions of quality, relevance, and learning. Contradictory beliefs of program effectiveness can stimulate discussion and strengthen programming.
Impact of Road Traffic Injury to Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury in Southern Thailand

ABSTRACT Background: Motor vehicle is a major transportation in Southern Thailand as the result of road traffic injury and death. Consequently, severe disability and mortality in pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) were observed from traffic accident, particularly motorcycle accident. To identify the risk of intracranial injury in children, the association of treatment outcome with various factors including mechanisms of injury, clinical characteristics, and intracranial pathology can be assessed. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted on children, who were younger than 15 years old with TBI and were enrolled from 2004 to 2015. Several clinically relevant issues were reviewed and statistically analyzed. Results: A total of 948 casualties were enrolled. Compared with falling down, the motorcycle accident was significantly associated with intracranial injury (odds ratio 1.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08–2.76). Other factors associated with intracranial injury were hemiparesis (odds ratio 5.69, 95% CI 1.44–22.36), positive of basal skull fracture signs (odds ratio 15.66, 95% CI 3.44-71.28), and fixed reaction to light of both pupils (odds ratio 5.74, 95% CI 1.71–19.23). Mortality found in thirty cases (3.2%). Furthermore, the risk of death correlated with motorcycle accident (P = 0.02) and severe head injury (P < 0.001). Neurosurgical intervention was not associated with outcome, but severe head injury, hemorrhagic shock, epidural, and subdural hematoma were impact factors. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate road traffic injury, especially motorcycle accident leading to brain injury and death. Prevention program is a necessary key to decrease mortality and disability in pediatric TBI.
The role of social support in the relationship between job demands and employee attitudes in the public sector

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to clarify the relationship between employees’ perception of their jobs and attitudes by investigating the effect of job resources (i.e. social support) on the relationship between job demands (i.e. workload, role ambiguity) and job-related well-being (i.e. efficacy, job satisfaction) among government employees. Design/methodology/approach Data were obtained from federal government employees responding to the 2012 Federal Employees Viewpoint Survey (US Office of Personnel Management, 2012). To test the hypotheses, hierarchical regression analyses were conducted. Findings Results revealed that social support served to mitigate feelings of inefficacy and simultaneously enhanced job satisfaction among employees experiencing work overload or role ambiguity, which supports the buffer hypothesis. Research limitations/implications Since this study analyzes data collected by OPM, some items could not be modified, and using a limited number of items could be a limitation of this paper. Given that there has been a research stream linking public service motivation to work attitudes in the field of public management, the current study suggests there may be additional factors (i.e. job demands and resources) to enhance public sector employees’ work attitudes. Practical implications This study suggests the importance of government agencies adopting management strategies that encourage higher levels of social support from supervisors or colleagues in order to increase employees’ positive attitudes toward organizations. Originality/value This study focuses specifically on public sector employees, a population that has received limited attention in this area.
Exogenous TERC alone can enhance proliferative potential, telomerase activity and telomere length in lymphocytes from dyskeratosis congenita patients

Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is an inherited multi‐system disorder characterised by muco‐cutaneous abnormalities, bone marrow failure and a predisposition to malignancy. Bone marrow failure is the principal cause of mortality and is thought to be the result of premature cell death in the haematopoietic compartment because DC cells age prematurely and tend to have short telomeres. DC is genetically heterogeneous and patients have mutations in genes that encode components of the telomerase complex (DKC1, TERC, TERT, NOP10 and NHP2), and telomere shelterin complex (TINF2), both important in telomere maintenance. Here, we transduced primary T lymphocytes and B lymphocyte lines established from patients with TERC and DKC1 mutations with wild type TERC‐bearing lentiviral vectors. We found that transduction with exogenous TERC alone was capable of increasing telomerase activity in mutant T lymphocytes and B lymphocyte lines and improved the survival and thus overall growth of B‐lymphocyte lines over a prolonged period, regardless of their disease mutation. Telomeres in TERC‐treated lines were longer than in the untreated cultures. This is the first study of its kind in DC lymphocytes and the first to demonstrate that transduction with TERC alone can improve cell survival and telomere length without the need for exogenous TERT.
Mifepristone (RU486) protects Purkinje cells from cell death in organotypic slice cultures of postnatal rat and mouse cerebellum

Mifepristone (RU486), which binds with high affinity to both progesterone and glucocorticosteroid receptors (PR and GR), is well known for its use in the termination of unwanted pregnancy, but other activities including neuroprotection have been suggested. Cerebellar organotypic cultures from 3 to 7 postnatal day rat (P3—P7) were studied to examine the neuroprotective potential of RU486. In such cultures, Purkinje cells enter a process of apoptosis with a maximum at P3. This study shows that RU486 (20 μM) can protect Purkinje cells from this apoptotic process. The neuroprotective effect did involve neither PR nor GR, because it could not be mimicked or inhibited by other ligands of these receptors, and because it still took place in PR mutant (PR-KO) mice and in brain-specific GR mutant mice (GRNes/Cre). Potent antioxidant agents did not prevent Purkinje cells from this developmental cell death. The neuroprotective effect of RU486 could also be observed in pathological Purkinje cell death. Indeed, this steroid is able to prevent Purkinje cells from death in organotypic cultures of cerebellar slices from Purkinje cell degeneration (pcd) mutant mice, a murine model of hereditary neurodegenerative ataxia. In P0 cerebellar slices treated with RU486 for 6 days and further kept in culture up to 21 days, the synthetic steroid increased by 16.2-fold the survival of pcd/pcd Purkinje cells. Our results show that RU486 may act through a new mechanism, not yet elucidated, to protect Purkinje cells from death.
Shifts in ECB communication: a text mining approach.

This thesis investigates how fundamental changes to communication, made by the European Central Bank (ECB) during the press conference following monetary policy decision, affect stock market volatility. First, the ECB press conferences are dissected into topics using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA), an unsupervised generative model for text. Then turning points in ECB communication are captured using the estimated topic probabilities. The proposed approach does not rely on subjective interpretation of topical content. The thesis finds that the topics surge and die out over time, revealing communication patterns that match the ECB monetary policy stance. Furthermore, the content of the ECB press conference is informative for the market, consistent with the previous literature. Market uncertainty increases if the ECB switches to a different communication regime. The main revisions to communication on the monetary analysis and the economic analysis are perceived to be of high importance, whereas the Q&A session does not convey incremental information.
Common Dimensional Reward Deficits Across Mood and Psychotic Disorders: A Connectome-Wide Association Study.

OBJECTIVE Anhedonia is central to multiple psychiatric disorders and causes substantial disability. A dimensional conceptualization posits that anhedonia severity is related to a transdiagnostic continuum of reward deficits in specific neural networks. Previous functional connectivity studies related to anhedonia have focused on case-control comparisons in specific disorders, using region-specific seed-based analyses. Here, the authors explore the entire functional connectome in relation to reward responsivity across a population of adults with heterogeneous psychopathology. METHOD In a sample of 225 adults from five diagnostic groups (major depressive disorder, N=32; bipolar disorder, N=50; schizophrenia, N=51; psychosis risk, N=39; and healthy control subjects, N=53), the authors conducted a connectome-wide analysis examining the relationship between a dimensional measure of reward responsivity (the reward sensitivity subscale of the Behavioral Activation Scale) and resting-state functional connectivity using multivariate distance-based matrix regression. RESULTS The authors identified foci of dysconnectivity associated with reward responsivity in the nucleus accumbens, the default mode network, and the cingulo-opercular network. Follow-up analyses revealed dysconnectivity among specific large-scale functional networks and their connectivity with the nucleus accumbens. Reward deficits were associated with decreased connectivity between the nucleus accumbens and the default mode network and increased connectivity between the nucleus accumbens and the cingulo-opercular network. In addition, impaired reward responsivity was associated with default mode network hyperconnectivity and diminished connectivity between the default mode network and the cingulo-opercular network. CONCLUSIONS These results emphasize the centrality of the nucleus accumbens in the pathophysiology of reward deficits and suggest that dissociable patterns of connectivity among large-scale networks are critical to the neurobiology of reward dysfunction across clinical diagnostic categories.
Effects of probiotic therapy on the activity and activation of mild rheumatoid arthritis – a pilot study

Objective: To study the effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) on rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: Twenty‐one RA patients were randomised to receive 2 capsules of LGG or a placebo twice daily in double‐blind fashion for 12 months. Arthritis activity was evaluated by clinical examination, HAQ index, and laboratory tests (e.g. ESR, CRP, pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory cytokines). Results: There were no statistical differences in the clinical parameters, biochemical variables and HAQ index between the study groups over the intervention period. The mean number of tender and swollen joints decreased from 8.3 to 4.6 in the Lactobacillus group and from 5.5 to 4.8 in the placebo group (p=0.41). According to the global assessment the RA activity was reduced in 71% (LGG group) vs. 30% (controls) (p=0.15). Serum IL‐1β increased slightly in the LGG group (p=0.07), but no differences were seen in IL‐6, TNF‐α, MPO, IL‐10 or 1L‐12. Conclusions: Although there were no statistical significant differences in the activity of RA, more subjects in the LGG group reported subjective well being. More studies on the effects of probiotic bacteria in RA are needed.
Regulation of CC chemokine receptor 5 in Hepatitis G virus infection

Introduction: Epidemiological data demonstrate an association between hepatitis G virus (HGV) co-infection and improved survival of HIV-positive individuals. However, the mechanism by which HGV affects progression of HIV disease remains unclear. As down-regulation of CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) delays HIV progression, we investigated whether CCR5 expression is altered by exposure of lymphocytes to HGV proteins. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of CCR5 expression was carried out on CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes of 11 HGV-positive and 12 HGV-negative persons, who were homozygous for the CCR5 wild-type gene. Binding of the HGV E2 protein to CD81 was analysed by flow cytometry. Lymphocytes were stimulated with immobilized HGV E2, anti-CD81 or serum proteins from HGV-infected subjects and changes in CCR5 expression and CC chemokine secretion were determined. Results: We demonstrate that the HGV envelope protein E2 specifically binds to CD81 on T lymphocytes. This interaction induces a dose-dependent release of RANTES and down-regulation of CCR5 surface expression with concomitant intra-cellular accumulation of CCR5 proteins. This effect of HGV E2 on CCR5 expression was confirmed when lymphocytes were incubated with serum proteins from HGV-infected subjects. Finally, our cross-sectional analysis revealed CCR5 expression to be reduced by 53% and 36% on CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes of HGV-infected subjects, respectively (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that an interaction of HGV E2 with CD81 leads to increased RANTES secretion and decreased CCR5 surface expression. This mechanism might contribute to the delayed progression of HIV-infection in HGV-coinfected patients.