Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of orthodontic treatment on oral health-related quality of life.

OBJECTIVE To assess changes in oral health-related quality of life (OHQoL) in children undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment and compare it to that of two groups not receiving treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two hundred eighty-four subjects aged 12-15 years were followed for 2 years; 87 were undergoing treatment at a university clinic (TG), 101 were waiting for treatment at this clinic (WG), and 96 were attending a public school and had never sought treatment (SG). OHQoL was assessed using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). All subjects were examined and interviewed at baseline (T1), 1 year later (T2), and 2 years later (T3). OHIP-14 scores were analyzed using negative binomial regression in generalized estimating equations for correlated data. RESULTS During the follow-up period, the WG and TG OHIP-14 scores showed a statistically significant increase and decrease, respectively (P < .001). At T1, the TG had an OHIP-14 score that was 1.9 times higher than that of the SG; however at T3, the TG score was 60% lower than the initial score of the SG. Adjusting for age, gender, dental health status (DMFT), socioeconomic position, malocclusion severity, and self-perceived esthetics did not change the effect of orthodontic treatment on OHQoL. CONCLUSION Fixed orthodontic treatment in Brazilian children resulted in significantly improved OHQoL after 2 years.
High strains near femoral insertion site of the superficial medial collateral ligament of the Knee can explain the clinical failure pattern

The three dimensional (3D) deformation of the superficial medial collateral ligament (sMCL) of the knee might play an important role in the understanding of the biomechanics of sMCL lesions. Therefore, the strain and deformation pattern of the sMCL during the range of motion were recorded in five cadaveric knees with digital image correlation. During knee flexion, the sMCL was found to deform in the three planes. In the sagittal plane, a rotation of the proximal part of the sMCL relative to the distal part occurred with the center of this rotation being the proximal tibial insertion site of the sMCL. This deformation generated high strains near the femoral insertion site of the sMCL. These strains were significantly higher than in the other parts and were maximal at 90° with on average +3.7% of strain and can explain why most lesions in clinical practice are seen in this proximal region. The deformation also has important implications for sMCL reconstruction techniques. Only a perfect anatomic restoration of the insertion sites of the sMCL on both the proximal and distal tibial insertion sites will be able to reproduce the isometry of the sMCL and thus provide the adequate stability throughout the range of motion. The fact that knee motion between 15° and 90° caused minimal strain in the sMCL might suggest that early passive range of motion in physical therapy postoperatively should have little risk of stretching a graft out in the case of an anatomical reconstruction. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:2016–2024, 2016.
ESG Shareholder Engagement and Downside Risk

Direct institutional shareholder engagement on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues has become increasingly important. We show that ESG shareholder engagement reduces downside risk, measured using lower partial moments and value at risk. We document this effect by exploiting proprietary access to the complete engagement database of one of the world’s largest institutional shareholder activist. We document a risk-reduction effect only for engagements where portfolio firms respond with real actions to the investor’s demands. The risk effect of ESG engagement varies across engagement themes. It is effective when governance or strategy & risk topics are addressed, and if changes in firms’ environmental policies are coupled with governance improvements.
Characterization of [3H]quinpirole binding to D2-like dopamine receptors in rat brain.

The putative D2 dopamine receptor agonist quinpirole (LY 171,555) is the most widely used D2 agonist in in vivo and in vitro studies of D2 receptor-mediated effects. In addition, quinpirole may have even higher affinity for the recently described D3 dopamine receptor. The present study describes the in vitro binding properties of newly developed [3H]quinpirole in rat brain. [3H]Quinpirole binding was characterized in striatal membrane homogenate preparations using a filtration assay. Nonspecific binding was defined by 1 microM (+)-butaclamol. Specific [3H]quinpirole binding was saturable, and dependent on temperature, membrane concentration, sodium concentration and guanine nucleotides. Saturation analysis revealed high affinity binding characteristics (KD = 2.3 +/- 0.3 nM) which were confirmed by association-dissociation kinetics. The pharmacological profile of [3H]quinpirole binding in striatum was: (-)-N-n-propylnorapomorphine (+/-)-2-amino-6,7-dihydroxyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene greater than or equal to quinpirole greater than apomorphine greater than bromocriptine greater than dopamine greater than SKF 38393 much greater than 5-hydroxytryptamine for putative dopamine agonists; spiperone greater than (+)-butaclamol greater than haloperidol greater than (-)-sulpiride greater than clozapine greater than SCH 23390 much greater than cinanserin for antagonists. [3H]Quinpirole binding exhibited stereoselectivity: (-)-sulpiride greater than (+)-sulpiride and (+)-butaclamol greater than (-)-butaclamol. This pharmacological profile is similar, though-not identical, to that observed for [3H] spiperone-labeled D2 receptors. The regional distribution of [3H]quinpirole binding sites roughly paralleled the distribution of [3H]spiperone binding sites, with greatest densities present in the striatum, nucleus accumbens and olfactory tubercles. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Intraoperative use of an automated chest compression device.

We appreciate the opportunity to respond to the issue raised by Ramachandran regarding our article on perioperative outcomes in patients with modified metabolic syndrome (mMetS) who undergo noncardiac surgery. We thank the author for his comment that “[our] findings may indeed change the way physicians . look at obese patients in the future. ” In his letter, the author raises the issue about whether the current study proves the increased risk of mMetS or simply proves “that the preoperative presence of two independent risk factors (and one protective factor) is more significant than having one protective factor? ” Our study was designed to better understand the obesity paradox, the apparent protective effect of obesity on surgical mortality, by distinguishing patients who were obese but “metabolically healthy” from patients with MetS. The major new findings of our study were that patients with mMetS undergoing noncardiac surgery were at higher risk for cardiac, pulmonary, renal, and central nervous system complications. Unlike the obesity paradox observed for mortality, our study did not detect any evidence of a “protective effect” of obesity for these complications. Our analysis does not indicate whether the increased risk associated with the mMetS is due simply to the additive effects of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, which together make up the modified metabolic syndrome (mMetS). In other words, we have not answered the question of whether the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. However, whether our findings represent, in a statistical sense, an additive effect or an interaction effect is less important than the simple recognition that mMetS is associated with a significantly higher risk of major postoperative complications. In particular, patients with mMetS have a 2to 3-fold increased risk of cardiac complications and a 3to 7-fold increased risk of renal complications. These findings are especially striking in light of the previous literature demonstrating an apparently protective effect of obesity on mortality during the perioperative period. From the standpoint of regression modeling, the increased risk associated with mMetS may boil down to the question of “simple math or aberrant physiology. ” However, in clinical practice, the recognition that patients with mMetS are at a much higher risk of cardiac, pulmonary, and renal complications has both biologic plausibility and important implications for the management of these patients.
Numerical simulation of pulsatile turbulent flow in tapering stenosed arteries

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the geometric effects and pulsatile characteristics during the stenotic flows in tapering arteries.Design/methodology/approach – The low Reynolds number k − ω turbulence model is applied to describe the stenotic flows in the tapering arteries in this paper. The results are divided into two sections. The first section characterizes the geometric effects on the turbulent flow under steady condition. The second section illustrates the key physiological parameters including the pressure drop and wall stress during the periodic cycle of the pulsatile flow in the arteries.Findings – The tapering and stenoses severity intensify the turbulent flow and stretch the recirculation zones in the turbulent arterial flow. The wall shear stress, pressure drop and velocity vary most intensively at the peak phase during the periodic cycle of the pulsatile turbulent flow.Originality/value – This paper provides a comprehensive understanding of the spatial‐temporal fluid dy.
HeartMate III: Pump Design for a Centrifugal LVAD with a Magnetically Levitated Rotor

A long-term, compact left ventricular assist device (LVAD), the HeartMate III, has been designed and fabricated, featuring a centrifugal pump with a magnetically levitated rotor. The pump has been optimized by in vitro testing to achieve a design point of 7 L/min against 135 mm Hg at high hydrodynamic efficiency (30%) and to be capable of up to 10 L/min under such a load. Furthermore, the pump has demonstrated no mechanical failures, low hemolysis (4–10 mg/dl plasma free Hb), and low thrombogenicity during six (40, 27, 59, 42, 27, and 49-day) in vivo bovine studies.
Systematic analysis of domain motions in proteins from conformational change: New results on citrate synthase and T4 lysozyme

Methods developed originally to analyze domain motions from simulation [Proteins 27:425–437, 1997] are adapted and extended for the analysis of X‐ray conformers and for proteins with more than two domains. The method can be applied as an automatic procedure to any case where more than one conformation is available. The basis of the methodology is that domains can be recognized from the difference in the parameters governing their quasi‐rigid body motion, and in particular their rotation vectors. A clustering algorithm is used to determine clusters of rotation vectors corresponding to main‐chain segments that form possible dynamic domains. Domains are accepted for further analysis on the basis of a ratio of interdomain to intradomain fluctuation, and Chasles' theorem is used to determine interdomain screw axes. Finally residues involved in the interdomain motion are identified. The methodology is tested on citrate synthase and the M6I mutant of T4 lysozyme. In both cases new aspects to their conformational change are revealed, as are individual residues intimately involved in their dynamics. For citrate synthase the beta sheet is identified to be part of the hinging mechanism. In the case of T4 lysozyme, one of the four transitions in the pathway from the closed to the open conformation, furnished four dynamic domains rather than the expected two. This result indicates that the number of dynamic domains a protein possesses may not be a constant of the motion. Proteins 30:144–154, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Strategy implementation challenges at the heritage insurance company limited

With the accelerating dynamics of competition, the key to competitiveness no longer lies in employing strategies, which have been successful in the past or in emulating strategies of successful competitors. Real competitive advantage results from developing strategies that will differentiate the organization from its competitors in the eyes of the customers. The aim of this study was to establish implementation challenges faced by Heritage Insurance Co. Ltd. As well as determine how the company has overcome these challenges. The study was conducted through a case study design, focusing on strategy implementation at Heritage Insurance Company Ltd, interpreting in-depth details concerning the challenges to strategy implementation and how these challenges have been overcome by the insurance company. The targeted respondents were the director underwriting and claims, manager marketing, deputy managers from legal, underwriting and claims as well as executive officers. The researcher used primary data collected by use of interview guide with both closed and open-ended questions. Data analysis was done using content analysis. From the study the researcher concludes that, the major challenges encountered by Heritage Insurance Co. Ltd while implementing strategies included some aspects of organizational culture and structure, high degree of staff turnover and resistance to change. Others included lack of infrastructural facilities, government decisions, inadequate resources and conflict among some employees. Therefore Insurance companies should ensure that employees affected by the strategy are the core aspect in strategy implementation focusing on the outcome and also ensure that the necessary resources are available during strategy implementation. Moreover, insurance companies should assess the customer-employees needs to ensure that it is in line with strategy implementation and make sure that strategy implementation is a team effort.
Antioxidant activity of inflorescences, leaves and fruits of three Sorbus species in relation to their polyphenolic composition

The antioxidant potential of 70% methanolic extracts from the inflorescences, leaves and fruits of Sorbus aucuparia, S. aria and S. intermedia was evaluated using three in vitro test systems (DPPH: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl; TEAC: trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity and FRAP: ferric reducing/antioxidant power). High activities found were expressed as micromoles trolox equivalents per gram dry weight and were in the range of 86.9–956.2 for the DPPH test, 65.3–577.2 for the TEAC assay and 221.1–1915.2 for the FRAP method. Significant linear correlations (R 2 in the range of 0.75–0.98) between these values and the contents of total phenolics, total flavonoids, total proanthocyanidins and chlorogenic acid isomers showed that the listed phenolic compounds are determinants of the antioxidant capacity tested. As the superior activity and the highest phenolic levels (11.83% of total phenolics calculated as gallic acid equivalents, 4.35% of chlorogenic acid isomers, 5.01% of proanthocyanidins and 1.28% of flavonoid aglycones) were found for S. aucuparia inflorescence, this plant material has the greatest potential as a source for natural health products.
Disposition and Antimuscarinic Effects of the Urinary Bladder Spasmolytics Propiverine: Influence of Dosage Forms and Circadian‐Time Rhythms

Propiverine extended release is expected to be better tolerated compared to immediate release tablets because of slower drug release and reduced formation of active metabolites in the colon. CYP3A4 and ABCC2, the major variables in pharmacokinetics of propiverine, are less expressed in the colon. Therefore, disposition and pharmacodynamics of propiverine were measured in a double‐blind, double‐dummy, crossover study with administration of 15 mg immediate release 3 times daily for 7 days compared to 45 mg extended release once daily for 7 days in 24 healthy subjects. Twelve subjects also received 15 mg propiverine intravenously. Serum and urine propiverine levels were measured repeatedly following oral administration on day 7 for up to 72 hours and correlated to duodenal expression of CYP3A4, ABCB1, and ABCC2. Propiverine immediate release 3 times daily was not different to extended release once daily in areas under the serum concentration‐time curve (0–24 hours) and peak‐trough fluctuation. The areas under the serum concentration‐time curve of propiverine immediate release was circadian‐time‐dependent, with the lowest values during the night. Disposition of intravenous propiverine and propiverine immediate release administered in the night was influenced by intestinal expression of ABCC2. We concluded that oral absorption of propiverine is site‐dependent and influenced by dosage form and circadian‐time‐dependent elimination processes.
[Autoimmune hepatitis in children and adolescents: clinical study, diagnosis and therapeutic response].

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical, laboratory and histopathological characteristics and the response to immunosuppression in children and adolescents with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). METHODS The present research is a descriptive study consisting of 39 children and adolescents with AIH who receive care at the Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology of Hospital das Clínicas (UFMG) from 1986 to 1998. RESULTS Children's age ranged from 1.6 to 17 years (mean 8.7 +/- 3.49), most of them were females (87.2%). There were three types of clinical presentations: chronic (53.9%), acute (41%), and serious hepatic failure (5.1%). The most relevant laboratory parameters were the aminotransferases and gamma-globulin increase. Antinuclear antibodies were positive in 66.7% of the patients, while smooth muscle antibodies were positive in 52.8% and anti-LKM1 in 3% of the patients. In the histopathology the most important findings were the piecemeal necrosis (93.7%), moderate to severe portal inflammation (78.1%), definitive or incomplete cirrhosis (76.9%), absence of lesion of biliary ducts (93.7%) and presence of rosettes (90.6%). During the treatment, 77.8% obtained complete resolution, associated to side effects in 27.8% of them. Seven patients died (17.9%). During the treatment there was significant z score reduction (p<0.05) for height/age. CONCLUSIONS After carrying out this study, we observed that the typical characteristics of AIH were: female sex, several clinical presentations, increased aminotransferase, and hypergammaglobulinemia. Histopathology showed a predominance of incipient and/or definitive cirrhosis associated with moderate to severe portal inflammation and piecemeal necrosis. Treatment using corticosteroids and azathioprine, turned out to be effective. However, the reduction in the height/age z score probably represents an adverse effect of corticoid treatment.
Influence of Chronic Alcohol Abuse on Hepatitis C Virus Replication

Background: Patients with alcoholic liver disease have a high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Several workers have shown that HCV-infected alcoholics have more severe biochemical and histological evidence of liver disease than anti-HCV-negative patients. One possible mechanism for the increased liver damage is that alcohol may have a stimulatory effect on HCV replication. The present study was carried out to examine this issue in detail. Methods: Sixty-eight HCV-infected patients, comprising of 50 chronic alcoholics, consuming 80 g or more of alcohol daily for at least 5 years, and 18 completely abstinent subjects were included in the study. Quantitative HCV-RNA was performed by the branched chain DNA (bDNA) technique. Results: There was no significant difference in the mean serum HCV titers in chronic alcoholics compared to nonalcoholic subjects. Linear regression analysis showed no correlation between the daily ethanol consumption and HCV titers. Seven of the chronic alcoholics, 4 of whom were continuing to drink and 3 who had become abstinent, were retested after 6 months. There was no definite trend in the viral titers, either in abstinent individuals or in those who continued to drink. Conclusions: These findings suggest that chronic alcohol abuse does not influence the HCV load in the serum. Therefore, the observation that alcoholics with HCV infection have more severe liver damage requires some other explanation than increased HCV viral titers.
Interactively Matching Hand-Drawings Using Induction

In this paper we consider the task of matching patterns, as occur in hand-drawn symbols and schematic diagrams, by their parts and relationships. Of particular interest for computer vision is the integration of two approaches to the recognition by parts problem? graph matching and syntactic rule-based approaches. A new procedure is developed, named CLARET, which matches parts and relationships by tightly coupling the processes of matching and rule generation at run time. We have developed an interactive system for interpreting hand-drawn symbols and schematic drawings. The system operates invariant to rotation, scale, and position and projects images onto a drawing canvas. The procedure is analyzed for its ability to accommodate new symbols and answer orientation queries, and it is compared empirically with machine learning techniques.
Effect of Communication Strategy on Strategic Planning in African Banking Corporation Kenya

Due to competition, most organizations are adopting communication strategies to effectively portray their message in manner that captures the attention of their target market. It is important to have a proper plan on how to reach the predetermined target audiences this call for a strong communication strategy that would be appealing to the audience in order to ensure that the message is delivered in the easiest way. The study objective was to examine the factors affecting communication strategy on strategic planning at African Banking Corporation in Kenya and find out the challenges facing implementation of communication strategy on strategic planning at African Banking Corporation in Kenya. This was done by the use of a use a case study design. The case in this study was African Banking Corporation in Kenya. This was done through interviews with the human resources director, the chief finance officer, the public relation manager, the corporate banking director, the country head of treasury and the chief operating officer. The data for the research was qualitative in nature. The qualitative data was done using content analysis. The findings indicate that effective communication is important for successful implementation of strategy at the African Banking Corporation in Kenya. The benefits of effective communication include: helping the managers to perform the basic functions such as planning, organizing, motivating and controlling. The main challenges facing communication in strategic planning include; poor authority structure lack of coordination and support from other levels of management and resistance from lower levels and lack of or poor planning activities.