Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A systematic review of dowel (post) and core materials and systems.

PURPOSE The aim of this systematic review was to determine which dowel (post) and core system is the most successful when used in vivo to restore endodontically treated teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS A MEDLINE, a Cochrane, and an EMBASE search (three specified searches) were conducted to identify randomized (RCT) and nonrandomized controlled clinical trials (CCT), cohort (CS), and case control studies (CCS) until January 2008, conducted on humans, and published in English, German, and French, relating to dowel and core systems for restoring endodontically treated teeth. Also, a hand search was conducted, along with contact with the authors when needed. RESULTS The MEDLINE, Cochrane, and EMBASE searches identified 997, 141, and 25 published articles, respectively. Ten articles from the MEDLINE and seven articles from the Cochrane search (that were also identified in the MEDLINE search) met the inclusion and validity assessment criteria. Six out of the ten studies were RCTs, two were CCTs, and two CSs. The RCT studies suggest that carbon fiber in resin matrix dowels are significantly better than precious alloy cast dowels (number needed to treat, NNT = 8.30). Tapered gold alloy cast dowels are better than ParaPost gold alloy cast dowels (NNT = 13.15). ParaPost prefabricated dowels are slightly better than ParaPost cast dowels (NNT = 175.4). Glass fiber dowels are significantly better than metal screw dowels (NNT = 5.46), but worse than titanium (NNT =-21.73) (moderately). Carbon fiber dowels are worse than gold alloy cast dowels (significantly) (NNT =-5.81) and than amalgam dowels (NNT =-125) (slightly). The CCT studies suggest that metal dowels are better (NNT = 21.73) but also worse than cast dowels (NNT =-33.33) depending on the remaining amount of coronal hard tissue. Quartz fiber dowels show success rates similar to and worse than glass fiber-reinforced dowels (NNT =-37.03). The results from the CS studies suggest that carbon fiber in resin matrix dowels are better (moderately) than carbon fiber + quartz and quartz fiber dowels. Titanium dowels with a composite build-up are better (moderately) than gold alloy cast dowels. CONCLUSIONS According to the studies of the highest levels of evidence, carbon fiber in resin matrix dowels are significantly better than precious alloy cast dowels (RCT). Glass fiber dowels are significantly better than metal screw dowels (RCT) and moderately better than quartz fiber dowels (CCT). Carbon fiber dowels are significantly worse than metal dowels (of precious alloy) (RCT). Prefabricated metal dowels are slightly better than cast dowels (RCT), but moderately worse when no collar of the dentin above the gingiva could be achieved (CCT).
Effects of growth hormone on craniofacial growth.

OBJECTIVE This study determined the effects of growth hormone (GH) therapy on craniofacial growth in idiopathic growth hormone deficiency (GHD). MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifty-seven patients (33 boys and 24 girls; age range 4.5 to 16.7 years) with GHD were investigated and categorized into three groups according to the duration of GH therapy: the untreated group, the short-term therapy group, and the long-term therapy group. Their lateral cephalometric radiographs were studied, and craniofacial measurements were assessed by age and sex by using matched standard deviation scores. RESULTS In the untreated group, the anterior cranial base, total facial height, maxillary length, mandibular total length, mandibular body length, and ramus height were smaller than the standard values. In comparison with the untreated group, the long-term therapy group had a significantly larger upper facial height (P < .05), maxillary length (P < .01), and ramus height (P < .01) measurements. CONCLUSIONS Children who received long-term GH replacement therapy showed increased growth of the craniofacial skeleton, especially the maxilla and ramus. These findings suggest that GH accelerates craniofacial development, which improves occlusion and the facial profile.
Orbital Nerve Seath Myxoma with Extraocular Muscle Involvement: A Rare Case

Abstract A 66-year-old woman with breast cancer presented with a painless mass in the left orbit. MRI revealed a well-defined intraconal mass in the temporal quadrant of the orbit. Fifteen months later, a further MRI indicated the mass had grown, displacing the left optic nerve and making contact with the lateral rectus muscle, suggesting its possible intramuscular origin. Despite the clinical and radiological characteristics of the lesion and its slow growth, a PET/CT study was developed because of the history of malignant disease. No metabolic activity of the mass or malignant lesion in other locations was observed. After surgical excision, histopathological examination revealed an abundant myxoid matrix with few spindle-shaped cells and no signs of malignancy. The cells were immunopositive for CD34, positive for S-100 protein, and negative for EMA, actin, and CD57. A diagnosis was made of a nerve sheath myxoma. The orbital location of these tumors is extremely rare.
Product market competition on the effectiveness of internal control*

This paper investigates the impact of product market competition on a firm’s internal control system, which is an important corporate control mechanism. We measure the effectiveness of a firm’s internal control system based on the material weakness disclosure under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX). Using several measures to capture different dimensions of product market competition, we find that firms operating in competitive markets are more likely to have material weakness under Section 404 of the SOX; further, they are more inclined to disclose multiple internal control weaknesses. These results are robust after controlling for both internal and external governance mechanisms. The results indicate that market competition reduces the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting and hampers the quality of a firm’s information environment.
Antibacterial Mechanisms of Metallic Nanoparticles : A Review

Given the slow approval rate for new antibiotics and the inability of current antibiotics to fully control bacterial infection, it is obvious that there is a great demand for unconventional biocides. Metallic nanoparticles, another possible route for fighting bacteria, should be considered. Metallic bactericidals have been in use for several years as external sanitizers and disinfectants and have shown biocidal effectiveness against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as against fungi. The mechanism of interaction of these metallic biocides includes protein membrane damage, production of superoxide radicals, and ions release that interact with the cellular granules and form condensed molecules. This article presents a review of the metallic nanoparticles antimicrobial mode of interaction against bacteria. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Emotional reactivity in depression: diminished responsiveness to anticipated reward but not to anticipated punishment or to nonreward or avoidance

Objectives: This study compared depressed and nondepressed participants' emotional reactivity to anticipated reward, anticipated punishment, failure to obtain a reward, and successful avoidance of punishment. Experimental design: This study compared residualized change scores on target emotions for currently depressed (n=19), previously depressed (n=19), and never‐depressed (n=43) participants during four experimental conditions: anticipated reward (cash), anticipated punishment (cold pressor), nonreward (failure to earn cash), and avoidance (successful avoidance of a cold pressor). Principal observations: Currently depressed participants' reactivity in response to anticipated reward was significantly diminished compared with never depressed participants', and marginally diminished compared with previously depressed participants'. Currently depressed, previously depressed, and never‐depressed participants did not differ significantly in their emotional reactivity to anticipated punishment or to nonreward or avoidance. Conclusions: These results suggest that depressed individuals' diminished emotional reactivity may be mainly a state effect and may be limited to anticipated reward. Depression and Anxiety, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Risk of stroke in women exposed to low-dose oral contraceptives: a critical evaluation of the evidence.

BACKGROUND Use of the oral contraceptive pill (OCP) has been reported to be associated with stroke. With current OCPs containing less than 50 micro g of ethinyl estradiol, and many earlier studies reporting the association between OCPs and stroke, subjected to biases, we determined whether such an association exists and, if so, the magnitude of the risk. METHODS Two independent searches were conducted to obtain relevant articles from MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Science Citation (1970 to June 2000). Eligible articles published in English describing OCP use and stroke outcomes were retrieved, and relevant data were abstracted. Pooling of results from these studies was performed using odds ratios (ORs) provided, and heterogeneity was calculated using chi(2) analysis. RESULTS From 779 potential articles, 36 eligible studies describing 20 distinct populations were retrieved (4 cohort and 16 case-control studies). The pooled OR from the cohort studies demonstrated no increased stroke risk with OCP use (0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.51-1.78; P =.01); the pooled OR from the case-control studies showed a significant association (2.13; 95% CI, 1.59-2.86; P<.001). The risk of stroke with OCP use, however, was significant only with thrombotic stroke (2.74; 95% CI, 2.24-3.35; P =.009) and not with hemorrhagic stroke or stroke death. There was statistically significant heterogeneity among these studies, and potential biases and confounders were not adequately addressed. CONCLUSIONS These results cast doubt on a true association between low-dose OCPs and stroke because of the low absolute magnitude of the ORs, the severe methodological limitations, and the ORs of less than 1.0 in the cohort studies. The association is tenuous at best and perhaps nonexistent.
Effect of the Asp298 Variant of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase on Survival for Patients With Congestive Heart Failure

Background—Significant variation exists within the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS3) gene that may influence cardiovascular risk. The Asp298 variant of NOS3 has a shorter half-life in endothelial cells. Given the importance of nitric oxide in the heart failure syndrome, we evaluated the effect of this variant on event-free survival in a population with systolic dysfunction. Methods and Results—Four hundred sixty-nine patients (72% male, 49% ischemic; mean age, 56±12 years) with systolic dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction ≤0.45) were enrolled in a study of Genetic Risk Assessment of Cardiac Events (GRACE). The polymorphism in exon 7 of NOS3, a G-T transition at position 894 that results in a Glu to Asp amino acid substitution for codon 298, was genotyped and subjects were followed prospectively to the end point of death or heart transplantation. Event-free survival was compared on the basis of the presence (group 1, n=266) or absence (group 2, n=203) of the Asp298 variant. Event-free survival was significantly poorer in patients with the Asp298 variant (percent event-free survival group 1 at 1/2/3 years=78/65/54; group 2=82/72/64, P =0.03). In subset analysis, the adverse impact of the Asp298 variant was primarily in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy (group 1=82/73/63; group 2=87/79/71, P =0.03) and was not apparent among patients with ischemic heart disease (group 1=75/59/47; group 2=74/62/54, P =0.71). Conclusions—For patients with heart failure caused by systolic function, the Asp298 variant of NOS3 is associated with poorer event-free survival, particularly in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy.
Recent interdecadal changes in the interannual variability of precipitation and atmospheric circulation over northern Eurasia

This study investigated the interannual variability and trends in precipitation and atmospheric circulation patterns over northern Eurasia using long-term Precipitation REConstruction over Land and atmospheric Japanese 55-year Reanalysis data (JRA-55) from 1958 to 2012. Special emphasis was placed on the recent increase in summer (June, July and August) precipitation around the Lena river basin in eastern Siberia. We found interdecadal modulation in the relationships between interannual variability in summer precipitation and atmospheric circulation patterns among the three major Siberian river basins (Lena, Yenisei, and Ob). The interannual variations in summer precipitation over the Ob and Lena river basins were negatively correlated from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s. However, after the mid-1990s, this negative correlation became insignificant. In contrast, a significant positive correlation was apparent between the Yenisei and Lena river basins. We also found that there has been a significant increasing (positive) trend in geopotential height in the low-level troposphere since the mid-1980s over Mongolia and European Russia, resulting in an increasing trend of westerly moisture flux into the Yenisei and Lena river basins. Summer precipitation in both basins was continuously high from 2005 to 2008 under a trough that broadly extended from the Yenisei and Lena river basins, which has been a typical pattern of interannual variation since the mid-1990s. This trough increased the meridional pressure gradient between Mongolia and eastern Siberia in combination with the trend pattern. This further enhanced the eastward moisture flux towards the Lena river basin and its convergence over the basin, resulting in high summer precipitation from 2005 to 2008.
Capacity for diagnosis and treatment of heart failure in sub-Saharan Africa

Objective Heart failure is a major cause of disease burden in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). There is an urgent need for better strategies for heart failure management in this region. However, there is little information on the capacity to diagnose and treat heart failure in SSA. We aim to provide a better understanding of the capacity to diagnose and treat heart failure in Kenya and Uganda to inform policy planning and interventions. Methods We analysed data from a nationally representative survey of health facilities in Kenya and Uganda (197 health facilities in Uganda and 143 in Kenya). We report on the availability of cardiac diagnostic technologies and select medications for heart failure (β-blockers, ACE inhibitors and furosemide). Facility-level data were analysed by country and platform type (hospital vs ambulatory facilities). Results Functional and staffed radiography, ultrasound and ECG were available in less than half of hospitals in Kenya and Uganda combined. Of the hospitals surveyed, 49% of Kenyan and 77% of Ugandan hospitals reported availability of the heart failure medication package. ACE inhibitors were only available in 51% of Kenyan and 79% of Ugandan hospitals. Almost one-third of the hospitals in each country had a stock-out of at least one of the medication classes in the prior quarter. Conclusions Few facilities in Kenya and Uganda were prepared to diagnose and manage heart failure. Medication shortages and stock-outs were common. Our findings call for increased investment in cardiac care to reduce the growing burden of heart failure.
Unrealized Earnings, Dividends and Reporting Aggressiveness: An Examination of Firms’ Behavior in the Era of Fair Value Accounting

Our sample consists of 508 Israeli public companies listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) during the sample period of 2001 to 2012: the six years prior to the adoption of IFRS (2001-2006) and the six years following its adoption (2007-2012). The final number of firm-year observations is 5,332 firm-years. We hand-collected all of the information pertaining to unrealized revaluation earnings from the annual financial statements of these firms for the six years following its adoption (2007-2012). Of our 508 sample firms, we identify 168 firms (33%) that distributed dividends from unrealized earnings (henceforth, ‘DFU firms’). A comparison between DFU and non-DFU firms prior to IFRS adoption shows no difference in the dividend payout ratios between the two groups of firms. These findings strengthen our confidence with respect to the identification of DFU versus non-DFU firms in our sample. supplement our with multivariate dividend payout regressions designed to allow us to estimate the difference between DFU and non-DFU firm-years and examine the direct effect of fair value accounting as per IFRS on the firms’ dividend policy. estimate various of: In a study in progress examining the impact of dividend distributions based on unrealized earnings on the firm’s cost of debt, we find evidence for a direct positive association between an increase in debt and dividend payments from revaluation earnings.
Ensemble Recordings Of Human Subcortical Neurons as a Source Of Motor Control Signals For a Brain-Machine Interface

OBJECTIVE:Patients with severe neurological injury, such as quadriplegics, might benefit greatly from a brain-machine interface that uses neuronal activity from motor centers to control a neuroprosthetic device. Here, we report an implementation of this strategy in the human intraoperative setting to assess the feasibility of using neurons in subcortical motor areas to drive a human brain-machine interface. METHODS:Acute ensemble recordings from subthalamic nucleus and thalamic motor areas (ventralis oralis posterior [VOP]/ventralis intermediate nucleus [VIM]) were obtained in 11 awake patients during deep brain stimulator surgery by use of a 32-microwire array. During extracellular neuronal recordings, patients simultaneously performed a visual feedback hand-gripping force task. Offline analysis was then used to explore the relationship between neuronal modulation and gripping force. RESULTS:Individual neurons (n = 28 VOP/VIM, n = 119 subthalamic nucleus) demonstrated a variety of modulation responses both before and after onset of changes in gripping force of the contralateral hand. Overall, 61% of subthalamic nucleus neurons and 81% of VOP/VIM neurons modulated with gripping force. Remarkably, ensembles of 3 to 55 simultaneously recorded neurons were sufficiently information-rich to predict gripping force during 30-second test periods with considerable accuracy (up to R = 0.82, R2 = 0.68) after short training periods. Longer training periods and larger neuronal ensembles were associated with improved predictive accuracy. CONCLUSION:This initial feasibility study bridges the gap between the nonhuman primate laboratory and the human intraoperative setting to suggest that neuronal ensembles from human subcortical motor regions may be able to provide informative control signals to a future brain-machine interface.
Indeterminate fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid: identification of subgroups at high risk for invasive carcinoma.

BACKGROUND We examined the various cytologic features of indeterminate thyroid fine-needle aspirates along with known clinical and radiologic risk factors to determine whether any parameters were predictive of malignancy. METHODS Indeterminate fine-needle aspirates were prospectively categorized into four subgroups: (1) suspicious for papillary carcinoma, (2) follicular neoplasm, (3) Hürthle cell neoplasm, and (4) hypercellular follicular aspirates with colloid. Several clinical risk factors were examined, and subgroup comparisons were performed with Fisher's exact test. RESULTS Of 571 fine-needle aspirate cytologic findings 104 were interpreted as indeterminate for malignancy, and 81 patients underwent thyroidectomy. Invasive cancer was diagnosed in 9 of 10 lesions cytologically suspicious for papillary carcinoma, 8 of 43 follicular neoplasms, 5 of 18 Hürthle cell neoplasms, and 0 of 10 hypercellular aspirates. Cytologic subgroup (p < 0.0001) and age of 50 years or older (p = 0.008) were the only significant predictors of malignancy. When used together, age of 50 years or older and a cytologic diagnosis of follicular or Hürthle cell neoplasm also identified a subgroup of patients at high risk (9 of 20) of invasive malignancy (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The majority of invasive cancers (18 of 22, 82%) were found in patients whose lesions were suspicious for papillary carcinoma or in patients 50 years or older with follicular or Hürthle cell neoplasms. The risk of carcinoma in these combined subgroups (18 of 30, 60%) warrants early surgical intervention.
Coronary blood flow in rats is dependent on the release of vascular nitric oxide.

The present study evaluated the role of nitric oxide (NO) in determining basal coronary vascular tone and the mechanism by which NO regulates coronary blood flow. Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized and instrumented for recording arterial pressure (AP), heart rate (HR) and coronary blood flow (CBF; Doppler). In rats without ventricular pacing, N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (LNAME) (10 mumol/kg, i.v.), an inhibitor of NO synthesis, produced an increase in AP and a decrease in HR. The LNAME-induced bradycardia was inhibited by sinoaortic denervation. LNAME also produced a reduction in left anterior descending (LAD) CBF. When the same dose of LNAME was administered to a separate group of rats measuring CBF in the right coronary artery (RCA), the decrease in CBF was found to be more prominent in the LAD compared to the RCA. Removal of the sympathetic innervation to the heart and adrenal demedullation did not alter the decrease in CBF, indicating that the effects of LNAME were not centrally mediated. To determine if the effect of LNAME on CBF was due to a direct action on the coronary vasculature or was secondary to the change in HR, dose-response curves were performed for LNAME (0.3-300 mumol/kg, i.v.) in rats with ventricular pacing. Under these conditions, LNAME still produced an increase in AP and a decrease in CBF, resulting in an increase in coronary vascular resistance. Administration of L-arginine (100-300 mg/kg, i.v.) resulted in a reversal of the cardiovascular effects of LNAME with the reversal being sustained for 1 to 5 min.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Optical imaging of breast cancer oxyhemoglobin flare correlates with neoadjuvant chemotherapy response one day after starting treatment

Approximately 8–20% of breast cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy fail to achieve a measurable response and endure toxic side effects without benefit. Most clinical and imaging measures of response are obtained several weeks after the start of therapy. Here, we report that functional hemodynamic and metabolic information acquired using a noninvasive optical imaging method on the first day after neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatment can discriminate nonresponding from responding patients. Diffuse optical spectroscopic imaging was used to measure absolute concentrations of oxyhemoglobin, deoxyhemoglobin, water, and lipid in tumor and normal breast tissue of 24 tumors in 23 patients with untreated primary breast cancer. Measurements were made before chemotherapy, on day 1 after the first infusion, and frequently during the first week of therapy. Various multidrug, multicycle regimens were used to treat patients. Diffuse optical spectroscopic imaging measurements were compared with final postsurgical pathologic response. A statistically significant increase, or flare, in oxyhemoglobin was observed in partial responding (n = 11) and pathologic complete responding tumors (n = 8) on day 1, whereas nonresponders (n = 5) showed no flare and a subsequent decrease in oxyhemoglobin on day 1. Oxyhemoglobin flare on day 1 was adequate to discriminate nonresponding tumors from responding tumors. Very early measures of chemotherapy response are clinically convenient and offer the potential to alter treatment strategies, resulting in improved patient outcomes.