Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Moyers mixed dentition analysis in school children.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to test the reliability of Moyers mixed dentition analysis in school children. MATERIALS AND METHODS A study was conducted on a sample of 150 school children within the age group of 13 to 16 years old who had all permanent teeth that were fully erupted. Dental impressions were taken with alginate impression material and immediately poured with dental stone. Mesiodistal dimensions of permanent mandibular incisors, maxillary and mandibular canines, and premolars were measured using a digital caliper with a resolution of 0.01 mm. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS The coefficient of correlation (r) was calculated to find the correlation between the sums of the canine, premolars in both arches, and mandibular incisors. A Student's unpaired t test was calculated to compare the tooth dimension between male and female subjects. The actual measurements were compared with the predicted values obtained with the Moyers prediction tables at the 35 th , 50 th , and 75 th percentile confidence levels. A Student's t test was calculated to compare the actual and predicted values. Using this data, linear regression equations were formulated for tooth size prediction. The coefficient of determination [r2] was calculated to find the accuracy of the formulated prediction equations. The standard error of estimate (SEE) was calculated to determine the validity of the proposed equations. RESULTS Moyers prediction tables are not an accurate method to estimate tooth dimension in our samples. The mesiodistal crown dimension in the buccal segment of the mandibular arch was larger in males (p=0.04) than in females. CONCLUSION The differences noted between predicted values from the Moyers tables and that of the present investigation is the result of racial and ethnic diversity. The accuracy of the prediction equation should be tested in a larger sample.
In vitro effects of transcatheter injection on structure, cell viability, and cell metabolism in fibroblast-impregnated alginate microspheres.

PURPOSE To determine if microsphere-encapsulated cell preparations can be delivered through a microcatheter without compromising microsphere structure, cell viability, or metabolism. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fibroblast-impregnated microspheres were fabricated by using 1.0% alginate and rabbit synovial fibroblasts. Fibroblast-impregnated alginate microspheres injected through microcatheters were analyzed in parallel with identical noninjected microspheres. The effects of transcatheter injection on structure and cell viability (percentage of viable cells per microsphere) were correlated with microsphere size. Structural effects were analyzed by using light microscopy, and 7-day percentage (ratio of live cells to dead cells) cell viability was assessed with confocal microscopy and fluorescent staining. In a second series of experiments, the metabolism of small microspheres was studied during a course of 7 days by using a spectrophotometric bioanalyzer. RESULTS Transcatheter injection caused fracturing and/or fragmentation of large (800-1,000 microm) and medium (500-750 microm) microspheres, while small (250-400 microm) microspheres were structurally unaffected by transcatheter injection. Fracturing and fragmentation were associated with cell release from the alginate matrix. Although transcatheter injection reduced cell viability by 17%-23% in all size categories, it did not cause a detectable alteration in the rate of glucose metabolism. CONCLUSION Transcatheter injection was physiologically well tolerated by fibroblasts encapsulated in alginate microspheres; however, when microsphere diameter exceeded the catheter diameter, fracturing and fragmentation of microspheres compromised the sequestration function of the microsphere vector.
Mother–infant interaction in post-partum women with schizophrenia and affective disorders

Background. Psychiatric mother and baby units are increasingly asked to assess parenting in people with severe mental illness, particularly schizophrenia, but little research evidence exists on which to base assessments. Method. Mother–infant interaction was assessed in 26 women who had recovered from the acute phase of severe post-partum mental disorder, a validated rating scale based on direct observation was used. Results. Women with schizophrenia showed greater interaction deficits than those with affective disorders, being more remote, insensitive, intrusive and self-absorbed. The 4-month-old infants of women with schizophrenia were more avoidant, and the overall quality of mother–infant interaction in schizophrenia was poorer. Conclusion. The long-term significance of these preliminary findings is not known but they raise concerns about the parenting capacity of women with schizophrenia and suggest the need for an intervention to improve parenting skills in this group.
Prognostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in acute pulmonary embolism: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) have been reported to predict prognosis of acute pulmonary embolism (PE). However, the prognostic value of NLR and PLR remained inconsistent between studies. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the prognostic role of NLR and PLR in acute PE. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION We systematically searched Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science and CNKI for relative literature up to March 2017. The pooled statistics for all outcomes were expressed as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). The statistical analyses were performed using Review Manager 5.3. 5 analysis software and Stata software. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS Totally 7 eligible studies consisting of 2323 patients were enrolled in our meta-analysis. Elevated NLR was significantly associated with overall (short-term and long-term) mortality (OR 10.13, 95% CI 6.57-15.64, P<0.001) and short-term (in-hospital and 30 days) mortality (OR 8.43, 95% CI 5.23-13.61, P<0.001). And elevated PLR was significantly associated with overall mortality (OR 6.32, 95% CI 4.52-8.84, P<0.001), short-term mortality (OR 6.69, 95% CI 2.86-15.66, P<0.001) and long-term mortality (OR 6.11, 95% CI 3.90-9.55, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Our meta-analysis revealed that NLR and PLR are promising biomarkers in predicting prognosis in acute PE patients. We suggest NLR and PLR be used routinely in the PE prognostic assessment.
Suture technique and wound healing in midline laparotomy incisions.

OBJECTIVE To study the influence of suture technique on healing of midline laparotomy wounds. DESIGN Prospective clinical study. SETTING County hospital, Sweden. SUBJECTS 467 patients who underwent midline laparotomy between September 1991 and June 1993. INTERVENTIONS Wounds were sutured by a continuous technique. The suture length: wound length ratio, the stitch length, and the interval between stitches were recorded together with the body mass index and operative variables. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Incidence of postoperative wound infection and of incisional hernia at 12 months. RESULTS Wound infection developed in 25 of 150 (17%) wounds if the stitch length was 5 cm or more and in 21 of 307 (7%) if it was shorter than 5 cm (p < 0.01). Overweight patients were sutured with a longer stitch and there was a high rate of infection among these patients: 20/253 (14%) compared with 30/211 (8%) (p < 0.05). In a multivariate analysis stitch length 5 cm or more and degree of wound contamination were independent risk factors for wound infection. Incisional hernias developed in 42 of 368 patients (11%). In a multivariate analysis suture length: wound length ratio less than 4, overweight, and wound infection were independent risk factors. CONCLUSION Suture technique affects both early and late wound complications. The rate of incisional hernia is lower if the suture length: wound length ratio is 4 or more. However, a high ratio should not be achieved by suturing with a stitch length of 5 cm or more as this is associated with an increase in the rate of wound infection.
Gait, Balance, and Coordination Impairments in Niemann Pick Disease, Type C1

This is the first study to objectively measure gait, balance, and upper limb coordination in a group of patients with NPC1 and compare the results to age and gender matched controls. This is also the first study to report effect sizes in these measures. Spatiotemporal gait analysis, static and dynamic posturography, and upper limb reaching motion analysis were performed. The findings showed that the NPC1 subjects had statistically significant deficits on 12 out of the 16 parameters investigated compared to controls, and large effect sizes for all but 1 parameter. When ranking the variables in terms of the effect sizes, the top 5 included at least 1 parameter from each of the 3 motor domains investigated. These results can provide insight to clinical researchers on the selection of outcome measures for longitudinal and interventional studies.
Stimulation of Inositol Phospholipid Hydrolysis by Excitatory Amino Acids Is Enhanced in Brain Slices from Vulnerable Regions after Transient Global Ischemia

Abstract: Stimulation of inositol phospholipid hydrolysis by transmitter receptor agonists was measured in slices from hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and corpus striatum at various intervals after transient global ischemia in rats. Ischemia was induced through the four‐vessel occlusion model. Stimulation of [3H]inositol monophosphate formation by excitatory amino acids was greatly enhanced in hippocampal slices prepared from ischemic rats at 24 h or 7 days after reperfusion. This potentiation was more evident using ibotenic acid and was also observed in cerebral cortex, but not in corpus striatum. This regional profile correlated with the pattern of ischemia‐induced neuronal damage observed under our experimental conditions. The enhanced responsiveness to excitatory amino acids was always accompanied by an increase in both basal and norepinephrine‐stimulated [3H]inositol monophosphate formation. In contrast, stimulation of [3H]inositol monophosphate formation by carbamylcholine was not modified in hippocampal or cortical slices from ischemic animals
Uniformly modified 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro phosphorothioate oligonucleotides as nuclease-resistant antisense compounds with high affinity and specificity for RNA targets.

"Uniformly" modified phosphodiester or phosphorothioate oligonucleotides incorporating 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoroadenosine, -guanosine, -uridine, and -cytidine, reported herein for the first time, when hybridized with RNA afforded consistent additive enhancement of duplex stability without compromising base-pair specificity. CD spectra of the 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-modified oligonucleotides hybridized with RNA indicated that the duplex adopts a fully A-form conformation. The 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-modified oligonucleotides in phosphodiester form were not resistant to nucleases; however, the modified phosphorothioate oligonucleotides were highly nuclease resistant and retained exceptional binding affinity to the RNA targets. The stabilizing effects of the 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro modifications on RNA-DNA duplexes were shown to be superior to those of the 2'-O-methylribo substitutions. RNA hybrid duplexes with uniformly 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-modified oligonucleotides did not support HeLa RNase H activity; however, incorporation of the modifications into "chimeric" oligonucleotides has been shown to activate mammalian RNase H. "Uniformly" modified 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro phosphorothioate oligonucleotides afforded antisense molecules with (1) high binding affinity and selectivity for the RNA target and (2) stability toward nucleases.
A performance analysis of a Stand Up Paddle Board marathon race.

Stand up paddle boarding (SUP) is a rapidly growing sport and recreational activity in which little scientific research exists. A review of the literature failed to identify a single article pertaining to the physiological demands of SUP competition. The purpose of this study was to conduct a performance analysis of a national level SUP marathon race. Ten elite SUP athletes (6 male, 4 female) were recruited from the Stand Up Paddle Surfing Association of Australia to have their race performance in the Australian Titles analyzed. Performance variables included SUP speed, course taken and heart rate, measured with a 15Hz GPS unit. Results demonstrated that there was a variation in distance covered (13.3km-13.9km), peak speed (18.8km/hr-26.4km/hr) and only moderate correlations (r=0.38) of race result to distance covered. Significantly greater amounts of time were spent in 5-10km/hr speed zones (p<0.05) during the race. Peak heart rate varied from 168-208bpm amongst the competitors with the average heart rate was 168.6±9.8bpm. Significantly higher durations were spent in elevated heart rate zones (p<0.05) with participants spending 89.3% of their race within 80-100% of their age-predicted HRmax. Marathon SUP races appear to involve a high aerobic demand, with maintenance of near max heart rates required for the duration of the race. There is a high influence of tactical decisions and extrinsic variables to race results. These results provide a greater understanding of the physiological demands of distance events and may assist in the development of specialised training programs for SUP athletes.
CD8+ T Lymphocytes in Double αβ TCR Transgenic Mice. I. TCR Expression and Thymus Selection in the Absence or in the Presence of Self-Antigen1

We derived Rag2-deficient mice bearing two rearranged αβ TCR transgenes, one specific for the HY male Ag and the second specific for the gp33-41 peptide of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, both restricted to the MHC H-2Db class I molecule. We found that, in female double transgenic (DTg) mice, most CD8 T cells express only the TCRβ chain from the aHY transgene. By comparing the mRNA species for both β-chains, we observed that in T cells from DTg mice the aHY TCRβ chain transcripts are abundant, whereas the anti-lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus TCRβ chain transcripts are rare. In contrast to TCRβ chain expression, most of the T cells from DTg mice express two TCRα chains. We examined the thymus selection of the dual-receptor CD8 T cells in the presence of self-Ag. We found that the presence of a second TCRα chain allows a significant number of CD8 T cells expressing a self-reactive receptor to escape central deletion and migrate to the peripheral pools of male mice. Differences in TCR and coreceptor expression between female and male MoaHY and DTg mice suggest that peripheral T cell survival requires an optimal level of signaling, which implies a process of “adaptation” of lymphocyte populations to the host environment.
Quality of life in long-term and very long-term cancer survivors versus population controls in Germany

Abstract Background: With the increasing number and diversity of cancer survivors, studies of survivors’ physical, emotional, and social health are of growing importance. While there is a growing body of literature on the quality of life (QoL) of cancer patients during the early years past diagnosis, less is known regarding QoL in long-term survivors (LTS) (5 + years past diagnosis) and particularly in very long-term survivors (VLTS) (10 + years past diagnosis). The objective of our study is to: (1) compare QoL of long-term cancer survivors and population norms; and (2) assess whether any deficits in QoL of survivors observed 5–10 years past diagnosis persist beyond the 10th year past diagnosis. Methods: In total 6952 long-term cancer survivors (5–16 years past diagnosis of breast, colorectal, or prostate cancer) from Germany recruited in the context of the population-based CAESAR + study were compared with 1878 population-based controls without a history of cancer. QoL was assessed with the EORTC QLQ-C30. Differences in QoL between survivors and controls were assessed via multiple regression while controlling for age, gender, education, and case mix for survivors 5–9 years and 10 + years past diagnosis separately. Results: Overall QoL in long-term cancer survivors was comparable to population norms but specific deficits in social, role, emotional, cognitive, and physical functioning and symptoms such as insomnia, fatigue, dyspnea, constipation, diarrhea, and financial difficulties were more prevalent in LTSs. Detriments in QoL persisted during the observation period and affected particularly cancer survivors at younger ages (<50 years). Non-significant aggravations in QoL with longer time since diagnosis were observed in very young and very old cancer survivors. Conclusions: Detriments in health-related quality of life persist over more than a decade and affect predominantly younger patients. Improvements both in early and long-term follow-up care of cancer survivors seem warranted.
Who is afraid of math? Two sources of genetic variance for mathematical anxiety.

BACKGROUND Emerging work suggests that academic achievement may be influenced by the management of affect as well as through efficient information processing of task demands. In particular, mathematical anxiety has attracted recent attention because of its damaging psychological effects and potential associations with mathematical problem solving and achievement. This study investigated the genetic and environmental factors contributing to the observed differences in the anxiety people feel when confronted with mathematical tasks. In addition, the genetic and environmental mechanisms that link mathematical anxiety with math cognition and general anxiety were also explored. METHODS Univariate and multivariate quantitative genetic models were conducted in a sample of 514 12-year-old twin siblings. RESULTS Genetic factors accounted for roughly 40% of the variation in mathematical anxiety, with the remaining being accounted for by child-specific environmental factors. Multivariate genetic analyses suggested that mathematical anxiety was influenced by the genetic and nonfamilial environmental risk factors associated with general anxiety and additional independent genetic influences associated with math-based problem solving. CONCLUSIONS The development of mathematical anxiety may involve not only exposure to negative experiences with mathematics, but also likely involves genetic risks related to both anxiety and math cognition. These results suggest that integrating cognitive and affective domains may be particularly important for mathematics and may extend to other areas of academic achievement.
The Digital Divide in Farming: A Problem of Access or Engagement?

This article explores farmers’ use of computers for farm business purposes by analyzing the computer access and usage decisions of almost 900 Irish farmers. The findings reveal that computer ownership is influenced by a combination of farm business and household characteristics, but that farm business characteristics dominate if the computer is used for the business. More detailed findings suggest that computers are most likely to be used on larger dairy farms, while farmers who are living alone have limited access to computers. Public policy needs to support the adoption of information technologies, and the role of computers in tackling social isolation and providing farm information is critically discussed.
The aftershock of deindustrialization--trends in mortality in Scotland and other parts of post-industrial Europe.

BACKGROUND Post-industrial decline is frequently cited as one of the major underlying reasons behind the poor health profile of Scotland and, especially, West Central Scotland (WCS). This begs the question: to what extent is poor health a common outcome in other post-industrial regions and how does Scotland's experience compare to these other comparable regions? METHODS Regions were identified by means of an expert-based consultation, backed up by analysis of regional industrial employment loss over the past 30 years. Mortality rates and related statistics were calculated from data obtained from national and regional statistical agencies. RESULTS Twenty candidate regions (in: Belgium; France; Germany; Netherlands; UK; Poland; Czech Republic) were identified, of which ten were selected for in-depth analyses. WCS mortality rates are generally higher and-crucially-appear to be improving at a slower rate than in the other post-industrial regions. This relatively poor rate of improvement is largely driven by mortality among the younger working age (especially male) and middle-aged female populations. CONCLUSION WCS mortality trends compare badly with other, similar, post-industrial regions of Europe, including regions in Eastern Europe which tend to be characterized by higher levels of poverty. This finding challenges any simplistic explanation of WCS's poor health being caused by post-industrial decline alone, and begs the question as to what other factors may be at work.
Cold Stress Induces an Adrenocortical Response in Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

Abstract: Two adult bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) were individually housed in aboveground pools over a 10-day period and exposed to decreasing water temperatures to determine whether cold stress activated the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. To serve as controls, two additional adult dolphins were similarly housed for the same duration but at ambient water temperatures (16.8–19.6°C). Across all subjects, water temperatures ranged from 4.2 to 19.6°C. Voluntary blood draws were made from each dolphin every 2–3 days, and serum was analyzed via radioimmunoassay for cortisol and aldosterone. Dolphins exposed to cold water showed an increase in serum cortisol and aldosterone as temperature declined; at the coldest water exposure, cortisol was more than three times and aldosterone more than two times the levels measured at ambient temperature. Elevations occurred before the water temperature declined below the individual animal's lower critical temperature, the point at which the metabolic rate increases to compensate for the loss of body heat. Variations in corticosteroids were unrelated to the 10-day isolation period, suggesting that the response was related to the cold stress and not impacted by the isolation. Elevations in cortisol and aldosterone were lower than those observed in force captured and stranded dolphins. Although potentially related to the general adaptive stress response, elevations in cortisol and aldosterone may have other adaptive functions related to mitigating impacts resulting from cold environmental temperatures.
ODD, ADHD, Versus ODD+ADHD in Clinic and Community Adults

Objective: To seek evidence for the validity of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) as a behavioral syndrome in adults. Method: Two samples of adults, mental health outpatient clinic referrals (N = 490) and community controls (N = 900), completed a Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders—referenced rating scale and a brief questionnaire (social, educational, occupational, and treatment variables). Participants were separated into four groups: ODD-only, ADHD-only, ODD+ADHD, and NONE. Results: In general, the three symptom groups were more severe than the NONE group; the ODD+ADHD and NONE groups were the most and least severe, respectively; and there were clear differences between the ODD-only and ADHD-only groups. The pattern of group differences was generally similar in both samples. Conclusion: Findings support the distinction between ADHD and ODD symptom presentations in adults, and the notion that the comorbid condition is a unique clinical entity, both of which are consistent with the child literature. Nevertheless, additional research with larger samples of patients will be necessary to establish ODD as a potential behavioral syndrome in adults. (J. of Att. Dis. 2007; 11(3) 374-383)