Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Current Controversies — Is There Merit?

The authors declare no conflict of interest. Xylitol has become a debated measure in caries prevention. This paper aims to examine and comment on some possible controversies, with emphasis on the most recent literature. A search for clinical trials was conducted through 2007 in PubMed, and papers describing a controlled xylitol intervention with reported endpoints were assessed. The main reasons for the conflicting results were weak study designs, underpowered groups, mixed outcome measures, and use of low-xylitol regimens. Definitive evidence for a caries-preventive effectiveness of xylitol is still lacking, and it is concluded that the controversies cannot be solved without well-designed double-blind randomized placebo-controlled caries trials in defined populations. Furthermore, as a ‘candidate’ for public health intervention, the economical aspects of xylitol administration must be taken into account at the planning stages of future projects. Until further evidence is available, xylitol should be regarded as an adjunct to other preventive measures in targeted individuals.
AN OVERVIEW OF NONINTRUSIVE CHARACTERIZATION, PROPAGATION, AND SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS OF UNCERTAINTIES IN COMPUTATIONAL MECHANICS

In this paper, we offer a short overview of a number of methods that have been reported in the computational-mechanics literature for quantifying uncertainties in engineering applications. Within a probabilistic framework, we describe the characterization of uncertainties using mathematical statistics methods, the propagation of uncertainties through computational models using either Monte Carlo sampling or stochastic expansion methods, and the sensitivity analysis of uncertainties using variance- and differentiation-based methods. We restrict our attention to nonintrusive methods that can be implemented as wrappers around existing computer programs, thus requiring no modification of the source code. We include some recent advances in the propagation and sensitivity analysis of uncertainties that are characterized by arbitrary probability distributions that may exhibit statistical dependence. Finally, we demonstrate the methods integrated in the proposed overview through a nonlinear engineering application relevant to metal forming.
Fault diagnosis in analogue circuits using AI techniques

The authors describe a technique for detecting and locating faults in analogue circuits by checking that the measurements are consistent with the circuit function. The unique representation used accommodates the imprecise nature of analogue circuits. A model of the circuit is formed from the constraints imposed by the behavior of the components and the interconnections. The values of parameters within the circuit are deduced by propagating the effects of measurements through this model. Faults are implied from the detection of inconsistencies and located by suspending constraints within the model. The method does not use fault simulation and is therefore applicable to any type of fault. It is able to detect performance variations, as well as catastrophic failures. Values are represented as ranges within which the true value lies. This overcomes the difficulty of representing the uncertainty inherent in any analogue design or measurements. The method has been successfully used to detect and locate a number of faults in several circuits. <<ETX>>
Spatial patterning of cholinergic amacrine cells in the mouse retina

The two populations of cholinergic amacrine cells in the inner nuclear layer (INL) and the ganglion cell layer (GCL) differ in their spatial organization in the mouse retina, but the basis for this difference is not understood. The present investigation examined this issue in six strains of mice that differ in their number of cholinergic cells, addressing how the regularity, packing, and spacing of these cells varies as a function of strain, layer, and density. The number of cholinergic cells was lower in the GCL than in the INL in all six strains. The nearest neighbor and Voronoi domain regularity indexes as well as the packing factor were each consistently lower for the GCL. While these regularity indexes and the packing factor were largely stable across variation in density, the effective radius was inversely related to density for both the GCL and INL, being smaller and more variable in the GCL. Consequently, despite the lower densities in the GCL, neighboring cells were more likely to be positioned closer to one another than in the higher‐density INL, thereby reducing regularity and packing. This difference in the spatial organization of cholinergic cells may be due to the cells in the GCL having been passively displaced by fascicles of optic axons and an expanding retinal vasculature during development. In support of this interpretation, we show such displacement of cholinergic somata relative to their dendritic stalks and a decline in packing efficiency and regularity during postnatal development that is more severe for the GCL. J. Comp. Neurol. 508:1–12, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
How Long Will It Take to Reduce Gastric Cancer Incidence by Eradicating Helicobacter Pylori Infection?

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the most important risk factor for the development of gastric cancer. The objective of this article is to estimate how the number of clinically diagnosed cases caused by H. pylori would reduce in the years after the eradication of the infection from a population. It is assumed that the eradication of H. pylori will prevent the start of some new gastric tumors, but those that have passed the “point of no return” will continue to develop until diagnosed clinically. The observed reduction in the number of clinically diagnosed cases of gastric cancer will depend on the form and parameters of the distribution of the time t taken for tumor to develop into a clinical case after passing the “point of no return. ” This analysis assumes that the time t follows normal and log-normal distributions with means 5, 10, and 15 years. If the mean value of time t were 5 years, H. pylori caused cases should be almost eliminated after 10 years, whereas if the mean were 10 years, the number of cases should be halved. If the mean were 15 years, the reduction would only be about 15% after 10 years. The eradication of H. pylori from a population will reduce the incidence of gastric cancer, but the follow-up time needed to show and evaluate the reduction may be longer than that that has been used in studies published so far. Cancer Prev Res; 6(7); 695–700. ©2013 AACR.
Optimization for crosstalk suppression with noncoordinating users

A joint transmitter/receiver optimization problem for multiuser communications in a symmetric crosstalk environment based on the minimum mean squared error (MMSE) criterion is addressed. It is assumed that each user employs an identical transmit pulse shaping filter and sees identical direct and crosstalk channel responses. All the channels are assumed to be bandlimited with identical support that, in general, extends beyond the basic Nyquist zone [-(1/2T), 1/2T], corresponding to the common symbol period T. Necessary conditions for the optimum transmitter and receiver are derived and several useful insights generated. In particular, the performance advantage obtained by exploitation of the cyclostationary nature of the interference is demonstrated, corroborating earlier results. An algorithmic procedure to solve for the jointly optimal transmit-receive pair is outlined and used for numerical evaluation of the system performance as a function of several parameters of interest such as system bandwidth, the number of users and the number of points at which the transmitter is nonzero in the set (f: f/sub 0/+k/T) where T is the symbol period, and f/sub 0/ /spl isin/[-(1/2T),1/2T].
Household Choice of Purifying Drinking Water in Cameroon

This study contributes to the still short literature on demand for drinking water quality in Africa by modeling Cameroonian households’ choice of purifying drinking water. Specifically, the study seeks to: analyze households’ access to water and various measures undertaken to improve water quality; identify the factors driving households’ decision to purify drinking water. Our analysis uses data from the second Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey carried out in 2006 by the National Institute of Statistics. In order to control for possible simultaneity of the choice of drinking water source and the decision to purify water or not before drinking it, a bivariate probit model is used for discrete analysis. Most previous studies have neglected to consider this issue in their analysis. Our findings suggest that households’ educational level has a positive and statistically significant impact on households’ decision to purify water before drinking it. Results also reveal that wealth quintile, health status and number of children less than five years strongly affect households’ decision. In particular, the magnitude of the wealth quintile impact on households’ decision is larger than those of the other variables. Implications for drinking water policies are discussed.
Surface‐enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for Trace Identification of Controlled Substances: Morphine, Codeine, and Hydrocodone

Abstract: We obtain the normal Raman and surface‐enhanced Raman spectrum of three controlled substances: morphine, codeine, and hydrocodone. The spectra are assigned with the aid of density functional theory. Because of rather intense fluorescence, normal Raman spectra suffer from poor signal‐to‐noise, even when differential subtraction techniques are employed. On the other hand, surface enhancement by Ag nanoparticles both enhances the Raman signal and suppresses the fluorescence, enabling far more sensitive detection and identification. We also present a set of discriminant bands, useful for distinguishing the three compounds, despite the similarities in their structures.
Lone Motherhood in Zimbabwe: The Socioeconomic Conditions of Lone Parents and Their Children

This paper explores the nature and characteristics of lone motherhood in Zimbabwe. We argue that endogenous and exogenous forces associated with failing economies and gendered public policy structures, practices, and initiatives exacerbated by HIV/AIDS and intermittent droughts have worsened national poverty with much more devastation experienced by lone mothers and their children. Using vignettes of lone parents drawn from Zimbabwe, this paper extends the perspectives on lone motherhood to show the extent of poverty experienced by lone mothers as well as the varied formations and structures of lone parenthood. The vignettes highlight the socioeconomic concerns for these families regarding inadequate income, lack of access to employment, lack of housing, and problematic governmental policies that affect the well-being of lone mothers and their families. We conclude with a discussion of the role of social policy in managing the context in which lone mothers and their families must live and function.
Relationship Between Serum Vitamin D Level and the Presence of Allergies in a Pediatric Population: A Case Study

Background: Vitamin D plays an important immunological role in the body and a deficiency of vitamin D is suggested to be linked to the incidence of allergies in childhood. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between allergies and vitamin D levels in this given pediatric population. Methods: A case study using 105 children from Decatur, Georgia was done to assess the relationship between childhood allergies and serum vitamin D levels. Results: Vitamin D levels were assessed and grouped as deficient, insufficient or sufficient. There is a relationship between children who suffer from allergies and also display low levels of vitamin D. Conclusion: Findings from this study suggest that there is a possible relationship between presence of allergies and low levels of serum vitamin D. Int J Clin Pediatr. 2016;5(2):29-31 doi: http://dx.doi. org/10.14740/ijcp251w
Vertical acetabular positioning with an inclinometer in total hip arthroplasty.

Vertical acetabular implant positioning is an important technical aspect in total hip arthroplasty. To evaluate the potential benefit of an inclinometer, 50 cup insertions were done on a cadaver pelvis. Acetabular cup vertical angles averaged 44.4 degrees +/- 11.4 degrees by visuospatial perception and 42.2 degrees +/- 3.8 degrees with the inclinometer. All cups were within the safe angle range of 40 degrees to 49 degrees with the inclinometer compared with 64% of cups by visuospatial perception. Use of the inclinometer reduced variability by a factor of 2.0 to 4.5. The addition of an inclinometer for acetabular cup insertion increases the probability of positioning the cup within a vertical safe range during total hip arthroplasty on a cadaver pelvis, suggesting that it could be a useful adjunct in clinical practice.
Skeletal Stability and Relapse Patterns after Le Fort I Osteotomy Using Miniplate Fixation in Patients with Isolated Cleft Palate

We present a series of 14 consecutive isolated cleft palate patients aged 17 to 25 years (mean 19 years) who underwent Le Fort 1 maxillary advancement fixed with miniplates by the senior author (Posnick) over the period 1987–1991. Ten of the patients underwent autogenous bone grafting; all were stabilized intraoperatively with four miniplates, a prefabricated acrylic splint, and intermaxillary fixation. The patients were analyzed to determine amount and timing of horizontal and anterior and posterior vertical relapse, correlation between advancement and relapse, effect of a pharyngoplasty in place at time of osteotomy, effect of performing multiple jaw procedures, and maintenance of overjet and overbite. Tracings of preoperative and serial postoperative lateral cephalograms (immediate, 6 to 8 weeks, and 1 year) were analyzed to calculate horizontal and vertical maxillary changes and the amount of overjet and overbite maintained. Clinical follow-up ranged from 1.5 to 5.5 years (mean 2.5 years). No significant difference was seen in vertical or horizontal change or relapse between patients who had maxillary surgery alone (n = 10) and those who had operations in both jaws (n = 4), nor did outcome vary significantly for those who had a pharyngoplasty in place (n = 8) at the time of their Le Fort I osteotomy. The mean “effective” maxillary advancement for the group was 6.4 mm, with 5.4 mm maintained 1 year later (mean relapse 1.0 mm). The mean anterior vertical change of the maxilla was 2.0 mm, with 1.4 mm maintained after 1 year (mean relapse 0.6 mm), while the mean posterior vertical change was 2.7 mm, with 1.9 mm maintained 1 year later (mean relapse 0.8 mm). All patients maintained a positive overjet and overbite. The extent of skeletal relapse in this series fell within a range small enough that problems could be managed effectively through a combination of planned surgical overcorrection and orthodontic treatment.
Do Random Errors Explain Newsvendor Behavior?

Previous experimental work showed that newsvendors tend to order closer to mean demand than prescribed by the normative critical fractile solution. A recently proposed explanation for this mean ordering behavior assumes that the decision maker commits random choice errors, and predicts the mean ordering pattern because there is more room to err toward mean demand than away from it. Do newsvendors exhibit mean ordering simply because they make random errors? We subject this hypothesis to an empirical test that rests on the fact that the random error explanation is insensitive to context. Our results strongly support the existence of context-sensitive decision strategies that rely directly on (biased) order-to-demand mappings, such as mean demand anchoring, demand chasing, and inventory error minimization.
Agonist Liraglutide Activates Cytoprotective Pathways and Improves Outcomes After Experimental Myocardial Infarction in Mice

RESULTS—Male C57BL/6 mice were treated twice daily for 7 days with liraglutide or saline followed by induction of MI. Survival was significantly higher in liraglutide-treated mice. Liraglutide reduced cardiac rupture (12 of 60 versus 46 of 60; P 0.0001) and infarct size (21 2% versus 29 3%, P 0.02) and improved cardiac output (12.4 0.6 versus 9.7 0.6 ml/min; P 0.002). Liraglutide also modulated the expression and activity of cardioprotective genes in the mouse heart, including Akt, GSK3 , PPAR , Nrf-2, and HO-1. The effects of liraglutide on survival were independent of weight loss. Moreover, liraglutide conferred cardioprotection and survival advantages over metformin, despite equivalent glycemic control, in diabetic mice with experimental MI. The cardioprotective effects of liraglutide remained detectable 4 days after cessation of therapy and may be partly direct, because liraglutide increased cyclic AMP formation and reduced the extent of caspase-3 activation in cardiomyocytes in a GLP-1R–dependent manner in vitro.
The human mitochondrial Hsp60 in the APO conformation forms a stable tetradecameric complex

ABSTRACT The human mitochondrial chaperonin is a macromolecular machine that catalyzes the proper folding of mitochondrial proteins and is of vital importance to all cells. This chaperonin is composed of 2 distinct proteins, Hsp60 and Hsp10, that assemble into large oligomeric complexes that mediate the folding of non-native polypeptides in an ATP dependent manner. Here, we report the bacterial expression and purification of fully assembled human Hsp60 and Hsp10 recombinant proteins and that Hsp60 forms a stable tetradecameric double-ring conformation in the absence of co-chaperonin and nucleotide. Evidence of the stable double-ring conformation is illustrated by the 15 Å resolution electron microscopy reconstruction presented here. Furthermore, our biochemical analyses reveal that the presence of a non-native substrate initiates ATP-hydrolysis within the Hsp60/10 chaperonin to commence protein folding. Collectively, these data provide insight into the architecture of the intermediates used by the human mitochondrial chaperonin along its protein folding pathway and lay a foundation for subsequent high resolution structural investigations into the conformational changes of the mitochondrial chaperonin.
Time-course pattern of blood 25-hydroxycholecalciferol is a significant predictor of survival outcome in metastatic colorectal cancer: a clinical practice-based study.

Vitamin D deficiency has been implicated in the epidemiology of common malignancies including colorectal cancer. We studied consecutive blood levels of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OHD) in relation to other clinical and laboratory variables in metastatic colorectal cancer patients to ascertain whether their variations may be prognostic or predictive parameters of survival outcomes. Eighty four patients treated with first-line oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab were included. The patients were enrolled on the intent-to-treat basis considering their performance status, comorbidities and laboratory parameters to be medically apt for intensive chemotherapy. Overall survival and progression-free survival were selected as the primary outcomes. Progression free survival and overall survival medians were 15.4 months and 41.2 months, respectively. The cut-off levels of 40 nmol/l for 25-OHD and 11 µg/l for first CEA were identified to be clinical decision levels stratifying patients to the respective prognostic groups. We found that the most consistent outcome predictors were i) any patient surgery, ii) CEA and, independently, iii) time-related blood levels of 25-OHD. We confirmed fundamental and consistent vitamin D deficiency in metastatic colorectal cancer. We demonstrated that all patients with at least one blood level above 40 nmol/l versus all below this cut-off showed profound differences in their disease outcomes. The primary disease stage or time to metastatic stage did not influence the predictive power of blood 25-OHD levels, implying that the time-course pattern of 25-OHD but not the first single measurement may be an independent prognostic factor.
Hepatitis B virus infection and prevention in the dental clinic: knowledge and factors determining vaccine uptake in a Nigerian dental teaching hospital.

BACKGROUND hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a well recognised occupational risk for dental health care workers in an endemic area like Nigeria. It is however effectively vaccine preventable. There had been a suboptimal uptake of this vaccination. OBJECTIVES This study assesed the knowledge of respondents on pre-exposure prevention and post exposure management of HBV infection. It also investigated level of compliance with the vaccination and factors associated with non-compliance. METHODS The study was conducted by self-administered questionnaires distributed to clinical students and all cadres of staff working at the dental clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. RESULTS 159 persons participated. Knowledge of the infection was inadequate. There was an overall vaccination rate of 40.3%. However, dentists were significantly more likely to be vaccinated than either the other cadres of staff or the students (p = 0.014). Students had the poorest compliance. 54% of respondents gave reasons suggestive of complacency for non-uptake. CONCLUSIONS Students and staff of the Dental School of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital are not adequately protected against HBV. We recommend mandatory immunisation of both students and-staffs before exposure to clinical practice
Increased Prevalence of Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders in Pediatric PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndromes

Objectives: The PTEN hamartoma tumor syndromes (PHTSs) are a collection of disorders caused by germline mutations of the tumor suppressor gene PTEN. Eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGIDs) are rare diseases characterized by food-induced, eosinophil-dominant inflammation in various segments of the gastrointestinal tract. On the basis of our clinical observations of several patients with EGID-PHTS, we investigated whether there is an association between these 2 disorders. Methods: The Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) Informatics for Integrating Biology and the Bedside (i2b2) warehouse was queried for the years 2007 to 2012 using International Classification of Diseases-9 codes for PTEN-related diseases; the results were cross-referenced with participants enrolled in the Cincinnati Center for Eosinophilic Disorder's EGID database to identify patients with both disorders. In an effort to replicate our findings, the Cleveland Clinic Genomic Medicine Institute PTEN database was queried for cases between 2005 and 2012. Inclusion criteria were age ⩽18 years, history of PHTS, and an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and/or colonoscopy with at least 1 histologic EGID diagnosis confirmed by a CCHMC pathologist. The Pearson &khgr;2 test was used to determine the odds of EGID enrichment in PHTS. Results: Of the 1,058,260 CCHMC distinct patients identified by the i2b2 search, 53 had clinical diagnoses suggestive of PHTS. Thirteen of the 53 had PTEN mutations, with 8 of 13 (62%) having had an EGD and/or colonoscopy. Five of the 8 had confirmed EGID. At the Cleveland Clinic, 3 of 75 patients (3/4 who had EGD and/or colonoscopy) with PHTS had confirmed EGID. CCHMC i2b2 query data showed a substantial enrichment of EGIDs in PHTSs (odds ratio 272; confidence interval 89–831, P < 0.0001). An EGID prevalence estimate from the i2b2 query supported a marked enrichment of EGIDs in PHTSs in the Cleveland Clinic database (P < 0.0001). Among the 8 subjects with EGIDs and PHTSs, the age at EGID and PHTS diagnosis was 7.6 ± 3.2 and 7.9 ± 5.8 years, respectively. Patients with EGID-PHTS had excess eosinophils in biopsies of the esophagus (75%), stomach (38%), and colon (13%), with a notable presence of eosinophil-rich gastrointestinal polyposis (88%). Conclusions: EGID is a previously unrecognized comorbid disease in pediatric patients with PHTS. These data suggest a potential role of PTEN in contributing to EGID susceptibility.