Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the mental foramen and accessory mental foramen in Turkish patients using cone‐beam computed tomography images reconstructed from a volumetric rendering program

This study determined the occurrence and location of the mental foramen (MF) and accessory mental foramen (AMF) in Turkish patients using cone‐beam computed‐tomography (CBCT) with 3D‐imaging software. CBCT scans of 386 sites in 193 (92 male, 101 female) patients were retrospectively analyzed to determine MF and AMF occurrence, sizes, and locations. Digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) data were transferred to surface‐rendering software to generate 3D images. Distances between the MF and AMF and from both foramina to the alveolar ridge and to the closest tooth were measured. Differences in AMF incidence by sex, side, and location were evaluated using chi‐squared tests, and MF and AMF measurements were evaluated using Mann–Whitney U‐tests. AMFs were observed in 6.5% of patients and were most commonly in an anteroinferior location. Mean AMF size did not differ significantly by sex or side [males: horizontal = 1.5 mm (1.0–2.4 mm), vertical = 1.4 mm (0.8–2.4 mm); females: horizontal = 1.5 mm (0.8–3 mm), vertical = 1.3 mm (0.8–2.1 mm); P > 0.05]. Males showed significantly greater mean vertical and horizontal MF dimensions compared with females [males: horizontal = 3.9 mm (1.0–7.0 mm), vertical = 3.6 mm (1.2–7.0 mm); females: horizontal = 3.5 mm (1.3–5.6 mm), vertical = 3.3 mm (0.8–5.8 mm); P < 0.05]. Awareness of the AMF is important to avoid mental nerve damage during surgical intervention and anesthetic applications. CBCT is useful for AMF detection, distributes less ionizing radiation, and allows 3D imaging. Clin. Anat. 25:584–592, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Effect of Unemployment Benefits and Nonemployment Durations on Wages

We estimate that unemployment insurance (UI ) extensions reduce reemployment wages using sharp age discontinuities in UI eligibility in Germany. We show this effect combines two key policy parameters: the effect of UI on reservation wages and the effect of nonemployment durations on wage offers. Our framework implies if UI extensions do not affect wages conditional on duration, then reservation wages do not bind. We derive resulting instrumental variable estimates for the effect of nonemployment durations on wage offers and bounds for reservation wage effects. The effect of UI on wages we find arises mainly from substantial negative nonemployment duration effects. (JEL J31, J64, J65)
CARACTERISTIQUES PHYSICO-CHIMIQUES DE L'AMANDE MATURE DES HYBRIDES DE «COCOTIERS GRANDS» AMELIORES (Cocos nucifera L.)

L'etude a eu pour objectif de determiner les caracteristiques physico-chimiques de l'amande des hybrides ameliores de «cocotiers grands», en vue d'une meilleure valorisation. Trois hybrides ameliores de «cocotiers grands» ont ete compares a un croisement temoin (nain par grand). Les travaux ont porte sur la determination des parametres physico-chimiques de l'amande de la noix mature de coco. Les resultats montrent que les teneurs en huile ont varie entre 69,47 et 71,06 % alors que celles des proteines se sont situees entre 23,18 et 25,83 %. Les sucres totaux de l'amande ont ete constitues en majorite de sucres non reducteurs (teneurs entre 20,37 et 30,06 %). Les acides gras totaux des huiles ont ete, en majorite satures, avec une forte proportion d'acide laurique variant entre 48,59 et 49,93 %. En consequence, l'hybride ameliore Grand Rennell x Grand Ouest Africain, qui a ete le plus riche en huile (71,06 %) et en proteines (25,83 %) apparait approprie pour la production d'aliment de betail. En revanche, l'hybride Grand Polynesie x Grand Ouest Africain, qui possede des taux d'acide laurique et un indice de saponification eleves (272,32 %), serait approprie pour la fabrication de savon.
Slx5 Promotes Transcriptional Silencing and Is Required for Robust Growth in the Absence of Sir2

ABSTRACT The broadly conserved Sir2 NAD+-dependent deacetylase is required for chromatin silencing. Here we report the discovery of physical and functional links between Sir2 and Slx5 (Hex3), a RING domain protein and subunit of the Slx5/8 complex column, which is a ubiquitin E3 ligase that targets sumoylated proteins. Slx5 interacted with Sir2 by two-hybrid and glutathione S-transferase-binding assays and was found to promote silencing of genes at telomeric or ribosomal DNA (rDNA) loci. However, deletion of SLX5 had no detectable effect on the distribution of silent chromatin components and only slightly altered the deacetylation of histone H4 lysine 16 at the telomere. In vivo assays indicated that Sir2-dependent silencing was functionally intact in the absence of Slx5. Although no previous reports suggest that Sir2 contributes to the fitness of yeast populations, we found that Sir2 was required for maximal growth in slx5Δ mutant cells. A similar requirement was observed for mutants of the SUMO isopeptidase Ulp2/Smt4. The contribution of Sir2 to optimal growth was not due to known Sir2 roles in mating-type determination or rDNA maintenance but was connected to a role of sumoylation in transcriptional silencing. These results indicate that Sir2 and Slx5 jointly contribute to transcriptional silencing and robust cellular growth.
Myristylation of Rous sarcoma virus Gag protein does not prevent replication in avian cells

Rous sarcoma virus is an example of a replication-competent retrovirus whose Gag protein is not modified with myristic acid. The purpose of the experiments described in this report was to determine whether the addition of this 14-carbon fatty acid would interfere with the replication of Rous sarcoma virus. We found that myristylated derivatives of the Rous sarcoma virus Gag protein are fully functional for particle formation in avian cells and that the addition of myristic acid has very little effect on infectivity.
Registration of Whole-Mount Histology and Volumetric Imaging of the Prostate Using Particle Filtering

Registration of histological slices to volumetric imaging of the prostate is an important task that can be used to optimize imaging for cancer detection. Such registration is challenging due to physical changes of the specimen during excision and fixation, and misalignment of the histological slices during preparation and digital scanning. In this work, we consider a multi-slice to volume registration method in which a stack of sparse, unaligned 2-D whole-mount histological slices is registered to a 3-D volumetric imaging of the prostate. We propose a particle filtering framework to contend with the high dimensionality of the search space and multimodal nature of the optimization. Such framework allows modeling of the uncertainty in the pose of the slices and in the imaged information, in order to derive optimal registration parameters in a Bayesian approach. Intensity-, region-, and point-based similarity metrics were incorporated into the registration algorithm to account for different imaging modalities. We demonstrate and evaluate our method on a diverse set of data that includes a synthetic volume, ex vivo and in vivo magnetic resonance imaging, and in vivo ultrasound.
Granulin mutations associated with frontotemporal lobar degeneration and related disorders: An update

Mutations in the gene encoding granulin (HUGO gene symbol GRN, also referred to as progranulin, PGRN), located at chromosome 17q21, were recently linked to tau‐negative ubiquitin‐positive frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLDU). Since then, 63 heterozygous mutations were identified in 163 families worldwide, all leading to loss of functional GRN, implicating a haploinsufficiency mechanism. Together, these mutations explained 5 to 10% of FTLD. The high mutation frequency, however, might still be an underestimation because not all patient samples were examined for all types of loss‐of‐function mutations and because several variants, including missense mutations, have a yet uncertain pathogenic significance. Although the complete phenotypic spectrum associated with GRN mutations is not yet fully characterized, it was shown that it is highly heterogeneous, suggesting the influence of modifying factors. A role of GRN in neuronal survival was suggested but the exact mechanism by which neurodegeneration and deposition of pathologic brain inclusions occur still has to be clarified. Hum Mutat 0, 1–14, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Treatment of adults with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in first bone marrow relapse: results of the ALL R‐87 protocol

Sixty‐one adults aged <55 years with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in first bone marrow relapse were enrolled in an Italian cooperative study (ALL R‐87 protocol) from 12 GIMEMA Institutions. The treatment programme consisted of: (1) an induction phase with intermediate‐dose cytarabine (IDARA‐C 1 g/m2, 6 h daily infusion ×6 d) plus idarubicin (IDA; 5 mg/m2/d × 6 d) and prednisone (40 mg/m2/d × 21 d), (2) a consolidation phase followed by (3) bone marrow transplant (BMT). Median first complete remission (CR) duration was 8.5 months (range 1–54 months). 34/61 patients achieved CR (56%); 24 (39%) failed to respond and three (5%) died during induction. Most responders (24 patients) could not enter the BMT programme; 15 relapsed early (median time to relapse 2 months); nine were withdrawn due to toxicity and one died in CR of infection. Nine of the 34 CRs underwent BMT (five autologous and four allogeneic). Three of the four allotransplanted patients are alive in continuous CR at 22, 43 and 63 months; only one of the five who underwent an autologous BMT is alive in CR at 46 months.
Acidosis Increases MHC Class II–Restricted Presentation of a Protein Endowed with a pH-Dependent Heparan Sulfate–Binding Ability

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) are ubiquitously expressed molecules that participate in numerous biological processes. We previously showed that HSPGs expressed on the surface of APCs can serve as receptors for a hybrid protein containing an HS ligand and an Ag, which leads to more efficient stimulation of Th cells. To investigate whether such behavior is shared by proteins with inherent HS-binding ability, we looked for proteins endowed with this characteristic. We found that diphtheria toxin and its nontoxic mutant, called CRM197, can interact with HS. However, we observed that their binding ability is higher at pH 6 than at pH 7.4. Therefore, as extracellular acidosis occurs during infection by various micro-organisms, we assessed whether HS-binding capacity affects MHC class II–restricted presentation at different pHs. We first observed that pH decrease allows CRM197 binding to HSPG-expressing cells, including APCs. Then, we showed that this interaction enhances Ag uptake and presentation to Th cells. Lastly, we observed that pH decrease does not affect processing and presentation abilities of the APCs. Our findings show that acidic pH causes an HSPG-mediated uptake and an enhancement of T cell stimulation of Ags with the inherent ability to bind HSPGs pH-dependently. Furthermore, they suggest that proteins from micro-organisms with this binding characteristic might be supported more efficiently by the adaptive immune system when acidosis is triggered during infection.
Molar replacement with 7 mm-wide diameter implants: to place the implant immediately or to wait 4 months after socket preservation?  1 year after loading results from a randomised controlled trial.

PURPOSE To test the hypothesis that there is no difference in clinical, radiographic and aesthetic outcomes positioning single post-extractive 7 mm-diameter implants or waiting 4 months after molar extraction and socket preservation procedure. MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients requiring one implant-supported single restoration to replace a failing tooth in the molar region of both maxilla and mandible were selected. Patients were randomised according to a parallel group design into two arms: implant installation in fresh extraction sockets grafted with cortico-cancellous heterologous bone and porcine derma (group A) or delayed implant installation 4 months after tooth extraction and socket preservation using the same materials (group B). Implants were submerged for 4 months. The primary outcome measures were the success rates of the implants and prostheses and the occurrence of any surgical and prosthetic complications during the entire follow-up. Secondary outcome measures were: peri-implant marginal bone level (MBL) changes, resonance frequency analysis (ISQ) and pink esthetic score (PES) values at implant placement (baseline) up to 1 year after loading. RESULTS Twelve patients were randomised to group A and 12 to group B. No patient dropped out within 1 year after loading. No implant and prosthesis failed and no complications occurred during the entire follow-up. One year after loading, statistically significant higher mean MBL loss was experienced in group A (0.63 mm ± 0.31 mm) compared to group B (0.23 mm ± 0.06 mm); difference 0.41 mm (95% CI 0.17-0.53; P = 0.001). Six months after implant placement, mean ISQ value was 78.8 ± 2.8 for group A and 79.9 ± 3.6 for group B, showing no statistically significant difference between groups (difference 1.1; 95% CI: 0.04 to 2.96; P = 0.422). One year after loading, mean PES was 10.6 ± 1.8 [range: 8 to13] in group A and 12.2 ± 1.2 [range: 11 to 14] in group B. The difference was statistically significant (1.6 ± 2.7; 95% CI -0.55-2.55; P = 0.019) with better results for group B. CONCLUSIONS Within the limitations of this study, both procedures achieved successful results over the 1-year follow-up period, but waiting 4 months after tooth extraction and socket preservation procedure was associated with less marginal bone loss and a better aesthetic outcome. Conflict-of-interest statement: Dr Marco Tallarico is Research Project Manager of Osstem AIC Italy. However no company supported this study and all authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Hypothalamic Proline-Rich Polypeptide Enhances Bone Marrow Colony-Forming Cell Proliferation and Stromal Progenitor Cell Differentiation

The AGAPEPAEPAQPGVY proline-rich peptide (PRP-1) was isolated from neurosecretory granules of the bovine neurohypophysis; it is produced by N. supraopticus and N. paraventricularis. It has been shown that PRP-1 has many potentially beneficial biological effects, including immunoregulatory, hematopoietic, antimicrobial, and antineurodegenerative properties. Here we showed that PRP increased colony-forming cell (CFC) proliferation in rat bone marrow (BM) cells in vivo. In PRP-treated rat BM, the CFU number at day 7 and day 14 was considerably increased in comparison with untreated rat BM and no difference was found at day 21 and day 28. The related peptide [arg8]vasopressin did not reveal CFC proliferation. PRP failed to farther increase CFC proliferation in vitro in BM obtained from PRP-treated or untreated rats. After 3–4 days of human BM stromal cell cultivation in the presence of 2–20 μg/ml PRP the appearance of cells expressing CD15, CD10, CD11a, CD11b, CD3, CD4, and CD16 surface antigens did not differ from the untreated cells. PRP increased the appearance of CD14-positive cells upon 3–4-day incubation with both adult and fetal BM stromal cells. Our results suggest a previously undescribed role for the hypothalamic peptide within neurosecretory hypothalamus–bone marrow humoral axis, because PRP enhances BM colony-forming cell proliferation and stromal cell differentiation.
The paradox of expertise: is the Wikipedia Reference Desk as good as your library?

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the quality of answers on the Wikipedia Reference Desk, and to compare it with library reference services. It aims to examine whether Wikipedia volunteers outperform expert reference librarians and exemplify the paradox of expertise.Design/methodology/approach – The study applied content analysis to a sample of 434 messages (77 questions and 357 responses) from the Wikipedia Reference Desk and focused on three SERVQUAL quality variables: reliability (accuracy, completeness, verifiability), responsiveness, and assurance.Findings – The study reports that on all three SERVQUAL measures quality of answers produced by the Wikipedia Reference Desk is comparable with that of library reference services.Research limitations/implications – The collaborative social reference model matched or outperformed the dyadic reference interview and should be further examined theoretically and empirically. The generalizability of the findings to other similar sites is questiona.
Distinct Cytokine Patterns Identified from Multiplex Profiles of Murine DSS and TNBS‐Induced Colitis

Background: The cytokine network in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a complex, dynamic system that plays an important role in regulating mucosal innate and adaptive immune responses. While several studies have been done to evaluate immunomodulatory profiles in murine IBD, they have been limited to a relatively small number of cytokines that do not take into account its dependency of the interplay of multiple factors, and therefore the diagnostic potential of their cytokine profiles have been inconclusive. Methods: A novel approach of comprehensive serum multiplex cytokine profiling with biometric immunosandwich ELISA's was used to describe the modulation of 16 Th1, Th2, Th17 cytokines and chemokines in both acute and chronic murine models of DSS and TNBS‐induced colitis. Advanced multivariate discriminant functional analyses (DFA) was used to identify statistically interrelated sets of variables with the most significant power to discriminate among the groups. Profiles of multiple cytokines seen systemically were also validated locally in colonic mucosa using Western blot analysis and fluorescent immunohistochemistry. Results: Distinctive disease‐specific cytokine profiles were identified with significant correlations to disease activity and duration of disease. TNBS colitis exhibits heightened Th1‐Th17 response (increased IL‐12 and IL‐17) as the disease becomes chronic. In contrast, DSS colitis switches from a Th1‐Th17‐mediated acute inflammation (increased TNF‐&agr;, IL6, IL‐17, and KC) to a predominant Th2‐mediated inflammatory response (increase in IL‐4 and IL‐10 and concomitant decrease in TNF‐&agr;, IL6, IL‐17, and KC) in the chronic state. Moreover, DFA identified discriminatory cytokine profiles that can be sufficiently used to distinguish unaffected controls from diseases, and one disease type from another. IL‐6 and IL‐12 stratified gender‐associated disease activity in chronic colitis. Conclusions: Our studies provide insight into disease immunopathogenesis and illustrate the significant potential of utilizing multiplex cytokine profiles and bioinformatics as diagnostic tools in IBD.
Variations of Celiac Artery in Dogs: Anatomic Study for Experimental, Surgical and Radiological Practice

El proposito de este estudio es comprender mejor las variaciones anatomicas de la arteria celiaca y de sus ramas en los perros. Estudiamos la arteria celiaca en 30 perros (Canis familiaris). La parte abdominal de la aorta y el tronco celiaco fueron inyectados con una solucion de Petrolatex S65, disecandose, desde su origen, la arteria celiaca y sus ramificaciones proximales. La arteria celiaca se originaba, de manera mas frecuente, a nivel de la primera vertebra lumbar. La longitud media de la arteria celiaca fue de 0.98 cm. El tronco gastrolienal era el elemento morfologico predominante, con una longitud promedio de 0.19 cm. La arteria lienal se originaba de un tronco y emitia, frecuentemente, dos ramas principales. En 4 animales, se originaba una rama de la arteria celiaca, la cual irrigaba la glandula adrenal izquierda. La arteria gastrica izquierda emitia una rama en 17 animales (56.7%), dos ramas en 11 animales (36.6%) y 3 ramas en 3 animales (10%). El lobulo pancreatico izquierdo recibia una rama principal de la arteria lienal en 24 animales (80.0%), 2 ramas en 4 animales (13.4%), y una rama que se originaba del tronco gastrolienal en 2 animales (6.6%). Los resultados obtenidos se deben tener presentes cuando son utilizados perros como modelo en cirugia experimental y practica radiolocal, especialmente, cuando se hacen comparaciones con la anatomia humana
Distinct Excitation to Pulpal Stimuli between Somatosensory and Insular Cortices

Somatosensory information from the dental pulp is processed in the primary (S1) and secondary somatosensory cortex (S2) and in the insular oral region (IOR). Stimulation of maxillary incisor and molar initially induces excitation in S2/IOR, rostrodorsal to the mandibular incisor and molar pulp-responding regions. Although S1 and S2/IOR play their own roles in nociceptive information processing, the anatomical and physiological differences in the temporal activation kinetics, dependency on stimulation intensity, and additive or summative effects of simultaneous pulpal stimulation are still unknown. This information contributes not only to understanding topographical organization but also to speculating about the roles of S1 and S2/IOR in clinical aspects of pain regulation. In vivo optical imaging enables investigation of the spatiotemporal profiles of cortical excitation with high resolution. We determined the distinct features of optical responses to nociceptive stimulation of dental pulps between S1 and S2/IOR. In comparison to S1, optical signals in S2/IOR showed a larger amplitude with a shorter rise time and a longer decay time responding to maxillary molar pulp stimulation. The latency of excitation in S2/IOR was shorter than in S1. S2/IOR exhibited a lower threshold to evoke optical responses than S1, and the peak amplitude was larger in S2/IOR than in S1. Unexpectedly, the topography of S1 that responded to maxillary and mandibular incisor and molar pulps overlapped with the most ventral sites in S1 that was densely stained with cytochrome oxidase. An additive effect was observed in both S1 and S2/IOR after simultaneous stimulation of bilateral maxillary molar pulps but not after contralateral maxillary and mandibular molar pulp stimulation. These findings suggest that S2/IOR is more sensitive for detecting dental pulp sensation and codes stimulation intensity more precisely than S1. In addition, contra- and ipsilateral dental pulp nociception converges onto spatially closed sites in S1 and S2/IOR.
TAT-SNAP-23 treatment inhibits the priming of neutrophil functions contributing to shock and/or sepsis-induced extra-pulmonary acute lung injury

Respiratory burst function of neutrophils is thought to play a pivotal role in the development of pathologies such as indirect (extra-pulmonary) acute lung injury (iALI), as well as sepsis. The current study was conducted to determine the effect of an HIV transactivator of transcription (TAT)-fusion protein containing a soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor domain from synaptosome-associated protein-23 (SNAP-23) on the shock/sepsis- and sepsis-enhanced neutrophil burst capacity using the clinical relevant two-hit iALI mouse model and the classical cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) septic model. TAT-SNAP-23 significantly decreased the blood neutrophil respiratory burst in vitro, and also in vivo in CLP and hemorrhaged mice. We found that the neutrophil influx to the lung tissue, as measured by myeloperoxidase levels and neutrophil-specific esterase+ cells, was also decreased in the TAT-SNAP-23-treated group. Consistent with this, treatment of TAT-SNAP-23 significantly reduced the disruption of lung tissue architecture and protein concentration of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in iALI mice compared with vehicle-treated iALI mice. In addition, although TAT-SNAP-23 did not alter the extent of local cytokine/chemokine expression, the in vitro migration capacity of neutrophils was blunted from septic and hemorrhagic mice. These data support our hypothesis that TAT-SNAP-23 reduces neutrophil dysfunction in iALI and sepsis by inhibiting neutrophil respiratory burst.