Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Bending mechanical properties of NiTi round wire].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the bending mechanical properties and provide reference for orthodontists to select the proper wires during alignment stage. METHODS In order to analyze the load deflection rate of NiTi round wire quantitatively, some NiTi round wires of different cross-sectional dimension (0.36, 0.41, 0.46 mm) were selected. Then loading-unloading experiments were carried out with the micro-orthodontic archwire testing apparatus and double end bending test could be accomplished with the wire in a 0.56 mm x 0.71 mm standard incisor edgewise bracket slot. RESULTS Under the load of 0.03 N.m, 0.36 and 0.41 mm NiTi round wire showed excellent super-elasticity, while 0.46 mm NiTi round wire didn't. When the optimal moment produced by the archwire was between 0.01 N.m and 0.02 N.m, the bending range of 0.36, 0.41 and 0.46 mm NiTi round wires was from 21.0 degrees to 49.5 degrees , 7.2 degrees to 23.7 degrees , and 6.5 degrees to 9.5 degrees , respectively after deducting the contact angle. CONCLUSIONS On the premises of yielding effective orthodontic force, the preferable NiTi round wire for alignment was the one which could produce continuous and slowly declining force.
Functional biomarkers in cervical precancer: An overview

Cervical cancer develops over a long time through precursor lesions that can be detected by cytological screening. Majority of these lesions regress spontaneously. Therefore, the challenge of cervical cancer screening is to detect the lesions that have a high risk of progression. Several promising biomarkers have been described that may improve screening of cervical cancer, but to date, new biomarkers have not been thoroughly validated in high‐quality studies.
Changes in expression of the δ subunit of the GABAA receptor and in receptor function induced by progesterone exposure and withdrawal

Type A receptors for GABA (GABAA receptors) that contain the δ subunit are located predominantly at extrasynaptic sites and are implicated in modulation of neuronal excitability through tonic inhibition. We have examined the effects of chronic exposure to and subsequent withdrawal of progesterone or the progesterone metabolite 3α‐hydroxy‐5α‐pregnan‐20‐one (3α,5α‐THPROG) on expression of the δ subunit of GABAA receptors and on receptor function in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. Progesterone treatment for 1 day increased the amounts of both δ subunit mRNA and protein, whereas such treatment for 6 days induced marked decreases in the abundance of both the mRNA and protein. Subsequent progesterone withdrawal up‐regulated expression of the δ subunit, which was significantly increased at 9–12 h after withdrawal. These effects of progesterone were mimicked by 3α,5α‐THPROG and blocked by the 5α‐reductase inhibitor finasteride. They were also accompanied by parallel changes in the function of GABAA receptors in hippocampal neurons. These results show that chronic exposure to and withdrawal of progesterone induce differential effects on both expression of the δ subunit of GABAA receptors and receptor function that are mediated by 3α,5α‐THPROG. They are consistent with the notion that this progesterone metabolite plays a key physiological role in modulation of GABAergic synapses.
Effects of an Assistive Technology Intervention on Older Adults with Disabilities and Their Informal Caregivers: An Exploratory Randomized Controlled Trial

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to demonstrate experimentally that an assistive technology (AT) intervention improves older AT users’ activity performance and satisfaction with activity performance and decreases their caregivers’ sense of burden. DesignThis study was a delayed intervention, randomized control trial. Baseline data were collected on 44 community-dwelling AT user-caregiver dyads in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Montreal, Quebec. The primary outcome measures for AT users were the satisfaction and accomplishment scales from the Assessment of Life Habits. The primary outcome measure for caregivers was the Caregiver Assistive Technology Outcome Measure, which assessed burden associated with dyad-identified problematic activities. ResultsAfter the intervention, assistance users in the immediate intervention group reported significantly increased satisfaction with activity performance (P < 0.001) and improved accomplishment scores (P = 0.014). Informal caregivers in the immediate intervention group experienced significantly decreased burden with the dyad-identified problematic activity (P = 0.013). Participants in the delayed intervention group experienced similar benefits after the intervention. Improvements for both groups were mostly maintained 4 mos after the conclusion of the intervention. ConclusionsThis is the first experimental study to demonstrate that the provision of AT decreases caregiver burden. If confirmed and extended by subsequent research, the findings have significant policy and practice implications and may enable health care providers to advocate for improved access to AT provision and the related follow-up services.
Combined Proteome and Metabolite-profiling Analyses Reveal Surprising Insights into Yeast Sulfur Metabolism*

Metabolomics is considered as an emerging new tool for functional proteomics in the identification of new protein function or in projects aiming at modeling whole cell metabolism. When combined with proteome studies, metabolite-profiling analyses revealed unanticipated insights into the yeast sulfur pathway. In response to cadmium, the observed overproduction of glutathione, essential for the detoxification of the metal, can be entirely accounted for by a marked drop in sulfur-containing protein synthesis and a redirection of sulfur metabolite fluxes to the glutathione pathway. A kinetic analysis showed sequential and dramatic changes in intermediate sulfur metabolite pools within the first hours of the treatment. Strikingly, whereas proteome and metabolic data were positively correlated under cadmium conditions, proteome and metabolic data were negatively correlated during other growth conditions, i.e. methionine supplementation or sulfate starvation. These differences can be explained by alternative mechanisms in the regulation of Met4, the activator of the sulfur pathway. Whereas Met4 activity is controlled by the cellular cysteine content in response to sulfur source and availability, the present study suggests that Met4 activation under cadmium conditions is cysteine-independent. The results clearly indicate that the metabolic state of a cell cannot be safely predicted based solely on proteomic and/or gene expression data. Combined metabolome and proteome studies are necessary to draw a comprehensive and integrated view of cell metabolism.
A randomized clinical trial comparing the efficacy of mandibular implant-supported overdentures and conventional dentures in diabetic patients. Part IV: Comparisons of dietary intake.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM It is unclear whether the replacement of conventional mandibular dentures with implant-supported overdentures alters the diet and thus improves the nutritional intake of edentulous persons. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to compare the pretreatment and posttreatment diets of edentulous diabetic patients who received new dentures with either a conventional complete mandibular denture (CD) or a mandibular implant-supported overdenture (IOD). MATERIAL AND METHODS New dentures were made for 89 edentulous diabetic patients with acceptable metabolic control without insulin (NIT) or with insulin (IT). A randomized approach was used to assign 37 patients a mandibular CD and 52 patients a mandibular IOD supported by 2 cylindrical implants. Of the 89 patients, 58 submitted a dietary log for 7 consecutive days before treatment (PT) and 6 months after treatment completion (PTC). An average daily intake of 28 essential nutrients was determined for each patient at each time interval. Separate 2 x 2 x 2 repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests were performed for each nutrient to compare the means of the 2 denture groups (CD and IOD), 2 diabetic groups (NIT and IT), and 2 time intervals (PT and PTC). The intakes were also compared with the recommended daily allowance (RDA). RESULTS ANOVAs for all 28 nutritional variables showed no main effect for either denture type or diabetic treatment. Time effects were seen for magnesium, potassium, copper, and monounsaturated fats. The PTC mean intake of the total sample (N = 58) decreased for all 3 minerals and increased for monounsaturated fats with study dentures. Post hoc tests showed the differences between PT and PTC means to be statistically significant for only magnesium (P=.043) and potassium (P=.015). The percentage of patients with PT intake 25% or more below the RDA ranged from 33% to 85% in the CD group and from 24% to 100% in the IOD group for the same 11 nutrients. PTC fiber intake deficiency was noted in almost all participants. Carbohydrate consumption was markedly lower than that recommended by the American Diabetic Association. CONCLUSION As is often the case with elderly groups, this group of edentulous diabetic patients showed highly comprised nutritional intakes of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The replacement of old dentures with new dentures that included either a mandibular CD or IOD did not alter patient diets such that the patients improved their nutritional intakes of essential micronutrients and macronutrients.
The Triangular Causality among Education, Health and Economic Growth: A Time Series Analysis of Nepal

This research examines the presence of the long run relation and triangular causality among per capita education expenditures, GDP per capita and per capita health expenditures in Nepal. In this study ARDL bounds testing approach is used to examine the presence of long-run relationship and Granger Causality test for calculating short run, long run and both short run and long run triangular causality between the variables for the time series data of Nepal from 1995 to 2013/14.This research paper started with the aim of finding the triangular casualty between education, health and economic growth of Nepal. The results of the research analysis also supported the view that there is co-integration and interrelation between these three macroeconomic variables. The results from OLS also shows that there is high contribution of education and health in economic growth. There is also strong triangular casualty between education, health and economic growth of the nation in the long run which is tested through ADRL mode, Granger Causality test and VECM approach. It also focused on that there is long run casualty between these three macroeconomic variables. This research clearly shows that there is crucial role of education in health, economic growth (say GDP) and socioeconomic development of Nepal and many more least developed and developing countries.
miR-128 promoted adipogenic differentiation and inhibited osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells by suppression of VEGF pathway

Abstract Context: MicroRNA-128 (miR-128), a brain-enriched microRNA, has been reported to participate in the regulation of cell differentiation, but its potential roles in adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have not been addressed. Objective: The study was conducted to investigate the effects and mechanism of miR-128 on adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs. Materials and methods: Morphology of hMSCs, lipid droplets and calcium nodules were observed and photographed by LSM microscopy. Expression of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α (C/EBPα), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), miR-128, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), osteocalcin (OCN) and Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) was determined by RNA preparation and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), protein expression of VEGF was analyzed by Western blot. Results: It was suggested that miR-128 expression showed a 4.56-fold induction by adipogenic treatment and a 58.8% reduction by osteogenic treatment. Over-expression of miR-128, promoted adipogenic differentiation while inhibited osteogenic differentiation. In contrast, adipocyte formation was inhibited and osteogenesis was enhanced in cells slicing miR-128. Furthermore, over-expression of miR-128 down-regulated VEGF expression in adipogenically and osteogenically differentiated cells. We further identified VEGF as a key regulator in miR-128-induced adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation. Following knockdown of VEGF, the effects of over-expression of miR-128 on adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs were limited. Conclusion: It was indicated that miR-128 could regulate adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs significantly through the suppression of VEGF pathway.
Tooth- and implant-supported prostheses: a retrospective clinical follow-up up to 8 years.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical treatment outcome of fixed prostheses in different sizes and with combinations of different numbers of teeth and implants as abutments. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 115 implants were placed in 36 patients, 75 (65%) in the maxilla and 40 (35%) in the mandible. The implants were connected to 85 abutment teeth, 50 in the maxilla and 35 in the mandible. Of the prosthetic restorations, 19 were gold ceramic, 17 were gold acrylic, three were titanium acrylic, one was titanium ceramic, and one was titanium composite. The observation period ranged from 14 months to 8.9 years. The treatments comprised both fixed partial dentures supported by one tooth and one implant as well as complete-arch fixed prostheses supported by a number of teeth and implants. RESULTS A total of nine implants were lost, three during healing and six after loading. The postloading cumulative implant survival rate was 89.8% after 5 years. Five abutment teeth were lost, and of the 41 prostheses included in the study, only two (5%) were lost during the observation period. Marginal bone loss was registered around 46 implants at the 1-year follow-up examination. During the following observation period, only slight changes in the marginal bone level adjacent to the implants and teeth were registered. The magnitude of technical complications was low. CONCLUSION This investigation confirms the findings in similar studies that treatments with periodontally healthy teeth and implants splinted together in rigid one-piece superstructures show excellent long-term follow-up results.
The role of local government in community informatics success prospects: the Autonomy/Harmony model

The purpose of the paper is to analyze the emerging literature on community informatics as the backdrop for a model that can explain and predict the success prospects of community informatics projects. We start by presenting the major themes in the research on community informatics to date. The review highlights issues that have attracted most research efforts on community informatics. We conclude this discussion by asserting that issues related to the explanation and/or prediction of community informatics success prospects, particularly in the context of local government working with communities have not received enough attention. Hence, the need for a theoretical model that focuses on this area. We proceed to present the Autonomy/Harmony model, with examples from a series of Australian regional projects where local government authorities played a leading role. We conclude the paper with an outline of the major directions for future research emanating from the Autonomy/Harmony model.
Nonadherence is Associated with Lack of HIV-Related Knowledge

Background: Poor treatment adherence is a main barrier for effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) globally. HIV-related knowledge may affect understanding and utilization of HIV medical information, hence limited health literacy is a known barrier to treatment adherence. Design and Methods: A cross-sectional study included 494 HIV-infected individuals from the Bissau HIV Cohort in Guinea-Bissau. They completed a questionnaire designed for assessment of adherence and HIV-related knowledge. Results: A majority were female, 41% were illiterate, 25% did not take the medicine during the last 4 days, and 23% skipped their medicine during weekends. The most frequent reasons for not taking medicine were simply forgetting, side effects, lack of food, and being too ill to attend the clinic. Nonadherent patients had a lower level of HIV-related knowledge. Conclusion: Main barriers for nonadherence were side effects, food insecurity, and simply forgetting. Lack of HIV-related knowledge about ART and HIV may be a barrier to nonadherence.
Morningness–Eveningness and Risk Taking

ABSTRACT. Depending on individual differences in biological rhythms and diurnal preferences, people have long been described as either “larks” or “owls. ” Larks and owls differ greatly in personality aspects, but from the behavioral perspective it is unclear whether they have significant differences in terms of risky behaviors. Whether morning types or evening types are consistently more risk-taking or risk-averse in different domains remains unknown. This study adopted a general American adult sample to systematically investigate the relationship between chronotype and individuals’ risky behaviors in different domains. By using different methods to measure risky behaviors in different domains, the current research obtained convergent results that morningness was negatively related only to financially risky behaviors for American adults. More specifically, by using the composite scale of morningness and the domain-specific risk attitude scale, Study 1 showed that for American adults, morning types were less likely than evening types to engage in financially risky behaviors (N = 212). In Study 2, after scenario-based methods were used to measure risky behavior, results showed that that participants engaged less in risky behaviors in the domains of gambling and investment (N = 187). A mediator test showed that the negative relationship between morningness and financially risky behaviors was partly mediated by individuals’ self-control ability (self-control scale, Study 1).
Cerebrovascular hemodynamics, gait, and falls in an elderly population

Objective: To determine whether alterations in cerebral blood flow regulation are associated with slow gait speed and falls in community-dwelling elderly individuals. Methods: The study sample consisted of 419 individuals from the MOBILIZE Boston Study (MBS) who had transcranial Doppler ultrasound measures of cerebral blood flow velocity. The MBS is a prospective cohort study of a unique set of risk factors for falls in seniors in the Boston area. We measured beat-to-beat blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery in response to 1) changes in end-tidal CO2 (cerebral vasoreactivity) and 2) blood pressure changes during a sit-to-stand protocol (cerebral autoregulation). Gait speed was measured during a 4-meter walk. Falls were tracked by monthly calendars, and demographic and clinical characteristics were assessed at baseline. Results: A multivariate linear regression analysis showed that cerebral vasoreactivity was cross-sectionally related to gait speed (p = 0.039). Individuals in the lowest quintile of vasoreactivity had lower gait speeds as compared to those in the highest quintile (p = 0.047). In a negative binomial regression analysis adjusted for relevant covariates, the relationship between cerebral vasoreactivity and fall rate did not reach significance. However, when comparing individuals in the lowest to highest quintile of cerebral vasoreactivity, those in the lowest quintile had a higher fall rate (p = 0.029). Conclusions: Impaired cerebral blood flow regulation, as measured by cerebral vasoreactivity to CO2, is associated with slow gait speed and may lead to the development of falls in elderly people.
Relationship between serum C3 levels and traditional risk factors for myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE Serum C3, a complement component produced by macrophages, the liver and the adipose tissue, is associated with the risk of myocardial infarction in men. This study was performed to ascertain the relationships between serum C3 and traditional risk factors in an unselected population sample. METHODS AND RESULTS A random population of 1,068 subjects (537 men and 531 women, 23 to 90 years old) was examined for risk factor assessment. Serum C3 was measured by nephelometry. C3 was independently associated with body mass index (P < 0.0005, especially in women), LDL-cholesterol (P = 0.0014 in men and 0.0215 in women), systolic blood pressure (P < 0.05) and, in women, with triglycerides (P = 0.0133) and blood glucose (P = 0.0383), as assessed by multivariate analysis (multiple linear regression). The overall R2 were 0.07 and 0.21 for men and women, respectively. Women over 50 years of age had significantly higher C3 levels, LDL-cholesterol and body mass index than younger women. The correlation of C3 with LDL-cholesterol was present after the age of 40 in men, and 2 decades later in women. CONCLUSIONS These data show that serum C3 correlates with a cluster of conventional risk factors for myocardial infarction resembling insulin resistance. Such correlations may be either independent of, or mediated by the development of coronary atherosclerosis.
Expansion of Human Neural Precursor Cells in Large‐Scale Bioreactors for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders

The transplantation of in vitro expanded human neural precursor cells (hNPCs) represents a potential new treatment alternative for individuals suffering from incurable neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD) and Huntington's disease (HD). However, in order for cell restorative therapy to have widespread therapeutic significance, it will be necessary to generate unlimited quantities of clinical grade hNPCs in a standardized method. We report here that we have developed a serum‐free medium and scale‐up protocols that allow for the generation of clinical quantities of human telencephalon‐derived hNPCs in 500‐mL computer‐controlled suspension bioreactors. The average hNPC aggregate diameter in the bioreactors was maintained below a target value of 500 μm by controlling the liquid shear field. The human cells, which were inoculated at 105 cells/mL, exhibited a doubling time of 84 h, underwent a 36‐fold expansion over the course of 18 days, and maintained an average viability of over 90%. The bioreactor‐derived hNPCs retained their nestin expression following expansion and were able to differentiate into glial and neuronal phenotypes under defined conditions. It has also been demonstrated that these hNPCs differentiated to a GABAergic phenotype that has recently been shown to be able to restore functional behavior in rat models of HD and neuropathic pain (Mukhida, K. et al. Stem Cells 2007; DOI 10.1634/stemcells.2007–0326). This study demonstrates that clinical quantities of hNPCs can be successfully and reproducibly generated under standardized conditions in computer‐controlled suspension bioreactors.