Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cytokine signalling in rat pulp interstitial fluid and transcapillary fluid exchange during lipopolysaccharide‐induced acute inflammation

The dental pulp consists of loose connective tissue encased in rigid dentinal walls. Because of its topography the tissue has low interstitial compliance and limited capacity to expand during fluid volume changes. Due to limitations regarding access to interstitial fluid, basic knowledge on transcapillary fluid transport parameters is lacking for this organ. The scope of this project was dual: first we aimed at establishing a method for isolation of pulp interstitial fluid (IF), and second we applied the method in rats subjected to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced endotoxaemia. The aim was to measure colloid osmotic pressure (COP) and pro‐inflammatory cytokines in the pulp IF during acute inflammation. Fluid volumes and pulpal blood flow (PBF) were measured to obtain more information about microcirculatory changes that take place in this pulpitis model. By centrifugation of incisor pulp at 239 g we were able to extract fluid representative for IF. Pulp IF had a relative high control COP (∼83% of plasma COP) and was similar to plasma COP 3 h after LPS challenge. The pulp exhibited a high content of IF (0.60 ± 0.03 ml (g wet weight)−1) and a vascular volume of 0.03 ± 0.01 ml (g w.w.)−1 No differences were observed in the distribution of fluid volumes after 1.5 and 3 h LPS exposure. PBF and systemic blood pressure dropped significantly after LPS administration. PBF remained low whereas systemic blood pressure was re‐established during the 3‐h period, implying organ dysfunction. There was a differential pattern of cytokine expression in pulp IF and serum with cytokines such as IL‐1α, IL‐1β and TNF‐α locally produced, whereas others such as IFN‐γ and IL‐6 were produced systemically and probably spilled over to the pulp IF after LPS exposure. Our findings show that pulp IF can be isolated by centrifugation and that this method is useful when studying fluid balance and extracellular signalling mechanisms in the dental pulp in normal and pathological conditions.
Seasonality in contaminant accumulation in Arctic marine pelagic food webs using trophic magnification factor as a measure of bioaccumulation

Seasonality in biomagnification of persistent organic pollutants (POPs; polychlorinated biphenyls, chlorinated pesticides, and brominated flame retardants) in Arctic marine pelagic food webs was investigated in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, Norway. Trophic magnification factors (TMFs; average factor change in concentration between two trophic levels) were used to measure food web biomagnification in biota in May, July, and October 2007. Pelagic zooplankton (seven species), fish (five species), and seabirds (two species) were included in the study. For most POP compounds, highest TMFs were found in July and lowest were in May. Seasonally changing TMFs were a result of seasonally changing POP concentrations and the δ15N‐derived trophic positions of the species included in the food web. These seasonal differences in TMFs were independent of inclusion/exclusion of organisms based on physiology (i.e., warm‐ versus cold‐blooded organisms) in the food web. The higher TMFs in July, when the food web consisted of a higher degree of boreal species, suggest that future warming of the Arctic and increased invasion by boreal species can result in increased food web magnification. Knowledge of the seasonal variation in POP biomagnification is a prerequisite for understanding changes in POP biomagnification caused by climate change. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2011; 30:1026–1035. © 2011 SETAC
Time Course of Cerebral Magnetic Resonance Changes after Electroconvulsive Therapy

Nuclear magnetic resonance images of the non-dominant cerebral hemisphere were obtained in 20 unipolar depressed patients immediately before and 25 minutes after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). T 1 values rose about 1 %. Repeated scanning up to 24 hours after ECT was carried out in 13 of these patients. The greatest change in magnetic resonance images was two hours after ECT, and thereafter images gradually returned to baseline values. There was no correlation between magnetic resonance changes and the time taken to become re-orientated after ECT.
The Use of Mother Tongue in Moroccan Classes of English

This study deals with one of the most contentious phenomena in English language teaching, meaning here the use of mother tongue, Arabic, in teaching English as a foreign language. The study at hand aims at examining the degree to which Arabic is used in Moroccan High School classes of English. It reflects and explores the attitudes of high school instructors towards the usage of Arabic and their reasons behind using it. It also aims at investigating which gender uses Arabic more in classes of English. Besides, this paper tries to discuss the relationship between the use of the mother tongue and years of teaching experience. The findings of this study which were accumulated through a questionnaire and classroom observations suggest that Arabic is rarely used in the high school classrooms of English by teachers. Furthermore, the findings indicate that Arabic is used more by teachers in order to translate vague or difficult words and concepts.
Exploring the Relationship between Entrepreneurial Orientation, CEO Dual Values, and SME Performance in State–Owned vs. Nonstate–Owned Enterprises in China

Most entrepreneurial orientation (EO)–performance research focuses on identifying organizational–level contingent factors in developed countries. In this study, we advance EO research by examining how CEO self–enhancing and self–transcending values shape the relationship between EO and performance, differentially, in Chinese state–owned enterprises vs. nonstate–owned enterprises. Supporting self–concern and other–orientation theory, our sample of 148 manufacturing firms in the chemical industry in Eastern China indicates that the EO–performance relationship is stronger for high self–enhancing CEOs in state–owned enterprises, whereas the focal link is stronger for low self–enhancing CEOs in nonstate–owned enterprises.
Prevalence and predictors of metamorphopsia after successful rhegmatogenous retinal detachment surgery: a cross-sectional, comparative study

Aims To evaluate the prevalence of metamorphopsia after successful rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) surgery and determine the independent predictors of metamorphopsia. Methods A cross-sectional, comparative study. The study included 380 eyes of 357 patients who underwent a successful RRD surgery between 2009 and 2015. The presence of metamorphopsia was tested with an Amsler grid and the foveal microstructure was scanned with high-resolution spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) at a follow-up visit. Medical records were reviewed for preoperative and intraoperative factors associated with postoperative visual recovery. Results The mean follow-up period was 35.1±19.6 months. The prevalence of metamorphopsia in our study was 46.58% (177/380), whereas in macula-off cases this number increased to 56.69% (144/254). Stepwise logistic regression analysis indicated that younger age at the diagnosis (OR=0.97, p<0.01), preoperative macula-off status (OR=3.34, p<0.01), postoperative presence of subretinal fluid (SRF) (OR=3.58, p=0.01) and disrupted external limiting membrane (ELM) junction (OR=1.79, p=0.02) were the independent predictors for metamorphopsia after surgery. The abnormal foveal microstructures after successful surgeries mainly included six types: disrupted inner segment/outer segment (133 eyes, 35.00%), disrupted ELM (131 eyes, 34.47%), epiretinal membrane (44 eyes, 11.58%), SRF (26 eyes, 6.84%), macular hole (9 eyes, 2.37%) and cystoid macular oedema (6 eyes, 1.58%). Conclusions Considering metamorphopsia, special attention should be paid to young patients and/or the cases with involvement of macula. High-resolution OCT is informative in detecting anatomic abnormalities after RRD surgery. The postoperative presence of SRF and disrupted ELM line are independent predictors of metamorphopsia.
Refractive errors in children and adolescents in Bucaramanga (Colombia).

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to establish the frequency of refractive errors in children and adolescents aged between 8 and 17 years old, living in the metropolitan area of Bucaramanga (Colombia). METHODS This study was a secondary analysis of two descriptive cross-sectional studies that applied sociodemographic surveys and assessed visual acuity and refraction. Ametropias were classified as myopic errors, hyperopic errors, and mixed astigmatism. Eyes were considered emmetropic if none of these classifications were made. The data were collated using free software and analyzed with STATA/IC 11.2. RESULTS One thousand two hundred twenty-eight individuals were included in this study. Girls showed a higher rate of ametropia than boys. Hyperopic refractive errors were present in 23.1% of the subjects, and myopic errors in 11.2%. Only 0.2% of the eyes had high myopia (≤-6.00 D). Mixed astigmatism and anisometropia were uncommon, and myopia frequency increased with age. There were statistically significant steeper keratometric readings in myopic compared to hyperopic eyes. CONCLUSIONS The frequency of refractive errors that we found of 36.7% is moderate compared to the global data. The rates and parameters statistically differed by sex and age groups. Our findings are useful for establishing refractive error rate benchmarks in low-middle-income countries and as a baseline for following their variation by sociodemographic factors.
Influence of gestational diabetes mellitus on human umbilical vein endothelial cell miRNA.

We aimed to identify miRNAs whose expression levels in fetal tissues are altered by exposure to a diabetic milieu and elucidate the impact on target protein expression. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects both immediate and future disease risk in the offspring. We hypothesized that GDM alters miRNA expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) that may influence metabolic processes. A cross-sectional design compared differences in miRNA expression in HUVECs and target protein abundance in placentae between infants of women with GDM (IGDM) and infants born to normoglycaemic controls. miRNAs were identified using microarray profiling and literature review and validated by quantitative PCR (qPCR). In vitro transfection studies explored the impact of the miRNA on target protein expression. Expression of seven miRNA species, miR-30c-5p, miR-452-5p, miR-126-3p, miR-130b-3p, miR-148a-3p, miR-let-7a-5p and miR-let-7g-5p, was higher in the HUVECs of IGDM. Abundance of the catalytic subunit of AMP-activated protein kinase α1 (AMPKα1) was decreased in the HUVECs and BeWo cells (transformed trophoblast cell line) transfected with miR-130b and miR-148a mimics. AMPKα1 expression was also decreased in placental tissues of IGDM. The expression of several miRNAs were altered by in utero exposure to DM in infants of women whose dysglycaemia was very well controlled by current standards. Decreased expression of AMPKα1 as a result of increased levels of miR-130b and miR-148a may potentially explain the decrease in fat oxidation we reported in infants at 1 month of age and, if persistent, may predispose offspring to future metabolic disease.
Variation of Implied Volatility and Return Predictability

The variation of the shape of the implied volatility function (IVF) has significant predictive power for future performance, above that previously documented for the shape of the IVF itself. We find that standard deviations of IV spreads describing the shape of the IVF over the current month are negatively correlated with next month's realized returns. This effect is strongest during expansionary periods, during contractions this relation becomes weaker. Return predictability is strongest in small firms with the most variable IVFs, but IVF variability yields significant return predictability and cross-sectional variation even with size and liquidity controls. We find support for interpreting the volatility of the IVF as a proxy of heterogeneous beliefs. The realized return relationship we observe is consistent with the Miller (1977) result that divergence of opinions leads to lower expected returns.
Domain Adaptation for Test Report Classification in Crowdsourced Testing

In crowdsourced testing, it is beneficial to automatically classify the test reports that actually reveal a fault – a true fault, from the large number of test reports submitted by crowd workers. Most of the existing approaches toward this task simply leverage historical data to train a machine learning classifier and classify the new incoming reports. However, our observation on real industrial data reveals that projects under crowdsourced testing come from various domains, and the submitted reports usually contain different technical terms to describe the software behavior for each domain. The different data distribution across domains could significantly degrade the performance of classification models when utilized for cross-domain report classification. To build an effective cross-domain classification model, we leverage deep learning to discover the intermediate representation that is shared across domains, through the co-occurrence between domain-specific terms and domain-unaware terms. Specifically, we use the Stacked Denoising Autoencoders to automatically learn the high-level features from raw textual terms, and utilize these features for classification. Our evaluation on 58 commercial projects of 10 domains from one of the Chinese largest crowdsourced testing platforms shows that our approach can generate promising results, compared to three commonly-used and state-of-the-art baselines. Moreover, we also evaluate its usefulness using real-world case studies. The feedback from real-world testers demonstrates its practical value.
Clinical Study and Literature Review of Nasal Irrigation

Objectives/Hypothesis Nasal disease, including chronic rhinosinusitis and allergic rhinitis, is a significant source of morbidity. Nasal irrigation has been used as an adjunctive treatment of sinonasal disease. However, despite an abundance of anecdotal reports, there has been little statistical evidence to support its efficacy. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of the use of pulsatile hypertonic saline nasal irrigation in the treatment of sinonasal disease.
Increase in Ceramide Level Alters the Lysosomal Targeting of Cathepsin D prior to Onset of Apoptosis in HT-29 Colon Cancer Cells

Abstract Ceramide has been suggested as an important mediator of apoptosis. In HT-29 colorectal cancer cells increased ceramide levels, induced by exogenous Nacetylsphingosine (NAS, also known as C2-ceramide) or by 1-phenyl-2-(decanoylamino)-3-morpholino-1- propanol (PDMP), inhibited the transport and processing of cathepsin D (CD), a lysosomal protease implicated in apoptosis of tumour cells. C2-dihydroceramide (DHC2), an inactive analogue of NAS, had no effect on CD transport and maturation. The treatment with either NAS or PDMP was revealed to be cytotoxic for HT-29 cells and led to cell death with classical features of apoptosis. Morphological signs of apoptosis and DNA fragmentation became apparent only between 24 and 48 h of incubation and poly(ADP ribose)polymerase cleavage, a hallmark of caspase 3 activity, occurred no earlier than 8 h from incubation. Secretion of proCD was almost abolished and the formation of doublechain mature CD was reduced and delayed by NAS, whereas PDMP largely inhibited the lysosomal targeting and maturation of proCD. NAS and PDMPinduced alteration of proCD transport and maturation were apparent already 2 h after incubation with the drugs, which is much earlier than when classical biochemical and morphological evidence of apoptosis could be detected. These data indicate that alteration of CD (and possibly of other glycoproteins) transport along the secretory pathway due to increased levels of cellassociated ceramide is an early event in cells undergoing apoptosis.
The Effects of Statins on Pulmonary Artery Pressure in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: Pulmonary hypertension is a serious complication in patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of atorvastatin in reducing pulmonary arterial pressure in COPD patients. Methods: This double-blind, randomized trial was conducted on 42 known cases of COPD with systolic pulmonary arterial pressure of more than 25 mmHg. The patients were randomly assigned into two groups, 21 patients with atorvastatin treatment (40 mg/daily for 6 months) and 21 patients without receiving atorvastatin. All the patients participated voluntarily and provided written informed consent. The trial was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials. Pulmonary pressure was also anticipated by Doppler echocardiography with peak pressure gradient of tricuspid regurgitation. Both groups were tested with echocardiography to measure systolic pulmonary pressure at baseline and posttreatment. Statistical analysis includes Chi-square, Student's t-test, and Wilcoxon test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Findings: The mean age was 65.8 ± 11.5 years for atorvastatin group and 63.7 ± 7.6 years for control group (P = 0.45). Baseline and posttreatment mean systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) levels in the atorvastatin group were 48.9 ± 3.3 and 38.4 ± 1.9 mmHg, respectively (P = 0.007). In the control group, mean systolic PAP levels at baseline and 6 months later were 45.6 ± 3.1 and 38.9 ± 2.4 mmHg, respectively (P = 0.073). The patients treated with atorvastatin showed significant decrease in total cholesterol (P = 0.001) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.008). Conclusion: A 40 mg dose of atorvastatin daily for 6 months may have beneficial effects in reducing PAP in patients with COPD. Further studies are necessary to find long-term effects of statins in COPD patients.
Denitrifying Alphaproteobacteria from the Arabian Sea That Express nosZ, the Gene Encoding Nitrous Oxide Reductase, in Oxic and Suboxic Waters

ABSTRACT Marine ecosystems are significant sources of the powerful greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O). A by-product of nitrification and an intermediate in the denitrification pathway, N2O is formed primarily in oxygen-deficient waters and sediments. We describe the isolation of a group of alphaproteobacteria from the suboxic waters of the Arabian Sea that are phylogenetically affiliated with Labrenzia spp. and other denitrifiers. Quantitative PCR assays revealed that these organisms were very broadly distributed in this semienclosed ocean basin. Their biogeographical range extended from the productive, upwelling region off the Omani shelf to the clear, oligotrophic waters that are found much further south and also included the mesotrophic waters overlying the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) in the northeastern sector of the Arabian Sea. These organisms actively expressed NosZ (N2O reductase, the terminal step in the denitrification pathway) within the OMZ, an established region of pelagic denitrification. They were found in greatest numbers outside the OMZ, however, and nosZ mRNAs were also readily detected near the base of the upper mixed layer in nutrient-poor, oxic regions. Our findings provide firm molecular evidence of a potential sink for N2O within well-ventilated, oceanic surface waters in this biogeochemically important region. We show that the Labrenzia-like denitrifiers and their close relatives are habitual colonizers of the pseudobenthic environment provided by Trichodesmium spp. We develop the conjecture that the O2-depleted microzones that occur within the colonies of these filamentous, diazotrophic cyanobacteria might provide unexpected niches for the reduction of nitrogen oxides in tropical and subtropical surface waters.
Topology and Growth of the Intracytoplasmic Membrane System of Rhodopseudomonas spheroides: Protein, Chlorophyll, and Phospholipid Insertion into Steady-State Anaerobic Cells

An equilibrium density gradient centrifugation study involving the separation of “old” and “new” membranes has been developed to determine the manner in which protein, lipid, and chlorophyll are incorporated into growing intracytoplasmic membranes (chromatophores) of Rhodopseudomonas spheroides. Chromatophores derived from cells grown in an H2O-medium had a density of 1.175 to 1.180 g/cm3 and were readily separable from chromatophores having a density of 1.220 to 1.230 isolated from cells grown in a 70% D2O-medium. After a shift from “D2O-” to “H2O”-based media, only hybrid chromatophores derived from a combination of “heavy” (old) and “light” (new) chromatophore material could be detected. The experimentally determined, median density values for the growing intracytoplasmic membrane system followed a theoretically determined profile which was calculated from the density of full “heavy” and full “light” material assuming random, homogeneous incorporation of new material into old membrane. The distribution of the radioactive labels for protein (leucine) and chlorophyll (delta-aminolevulinic acid) were identical and showed a reproducible displacement of the “old” material to the heavy side of the optical density at 365 nm (OD365) absorbance and a displacement of the “new” material to the light side of the OD365 absorbance profile. Specific phospholipid growth showed no displacement for either the “old” or “new” material from the median absorbance profile.
Ανοικτή Εκπαίδευση: το περιοδικό για την Ανοικτή και εξ Αποστάσεως Εκπαίδευση και την Εκπαιδευτική Τεχνολογία

This survey investigates the support given to postgraduate students of the Hellenic Open University (HOU) program "Studies in Education" by the persons of their work environment during their studies. It was an ex post facto survey conducted during 2005-2006 with a questionnaire with open and closed ended questions. The results indicate that the persons from the work environment expressed limited interest and will to support the students
A review of sonographic estimate of fetal weight: Vagaries of accuracy

Purpose. To determine the factors that might influence the accuracy of sonographic estimated fetal weight. Study design. A PubMed search (Jan 1975 to Jan 2003) of articles published in the English language was carried out and the inclusion criterion was that estimates were within 10% of birth weight. A Chi-square test for trend was used and odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was calculated. Results. Over 28 years, 175 articles were identified but only 54 (31%) met the inclusion criterion. Overall 62% (8895/14 384) of the predictions were within 10% of the actual weight. The accuracy was significantly different in articles where <7 vs. >7 days were allowed to lapse between examination and delivery (OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.93, 2.45); where examinations were done by registered diagnostic medical sonographers (RDMS; 65%) versus physicians (59%) or residents (57%; p < 0.0001); in term vs. preterm patients (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.67, 2.13); and in studies with >1000 vs. <1000 cohorts (OR 1.62; 95% CI 1.51, 1.74). Conclusions. If feasible the sonographic examination should be done by RDMS and within a week of delivery.