Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictive Factors of Long-term Facial Nerve Function after Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery

Objective To assess predictive factors of long-term facial nerve function in a series of patients undergoing vestibular schwannoma surgery and to evaluate the reproducibility of the relevant parameters. Study Design Prospective. Setting Three tertiary referral neurotology units in two separate countries. Patients A total of 67 patients, with normal preoperative facial function and an anatomically intact facial nerve postoperatively, undergoing vestibular schwannoma surgery during a sequential 18-month period. Interventions Recording of intraoperative stimulus amplitudes (minimum intensity medial to the tumor after excision) and postoperative facial nerve function up to 2 years after surgery. Main Outcome Measures Long-term facial nerve function related to tumor size, early postoperative facial nerve function, and intraoperative electrophysiologic intensities. Results Multivariate logistic regression model identified tumor size and the minimum intensity required to provoke a stimulus threshold event medial to the tumor after excision as independent predictors of a favorable initial outcome. Immediate facial nerve function was the only independent predictor of long-term normal function. The sensitivity of this predictor was 95% (95% confidence interval [CI], 89–100%); specificity, 83% (95% CI, 62–100%); positive predictive accuracy, 96% (95% CI, 91–100%); and negative predictive accuracy, 77% (95% CI, 54–100%). Conclusion The combination of electrophysiologic intensities and tumor size are reproducible and better predictors of initial facial nerve function than any individual parameter, but long-term facial nerve function is more likely to have a better outcome if the nerve is left intact and a per-operative graft repair is not performed. The study suggests that although the best available predictor of overall long-term facial nerve outcome is the level of early postoperative function, this factor is not useful in surgical rehabilitation decision making.
Parameterizing age patterns of demographic rates with the multiexponential model schedule.

"For nearly 200 years actuaries, statisticians, and demographers have sought to summarize the age pattern of mortality rates by means of a limited number of parameters. Such 'model schedules' have also been useful in representing schedules of rates other than mortality.This paper illustrates a particular general functional form for such model schedules: the multiexponential function. It discusses the changing behavior of this function as its parameters take on different values and examines the quality of the fits of this function to observed data on mortality, fertility, and migration. " This is a revised version of a paper originally presented at the 1993 Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America. (SUMMARY IN FRE)
Mortality, mental disorders and addiction: A 5-year follow-up of 82 homeless men in Stockholm

A 5-year follow-up study was performed on 82 homeless men, with mental problems, who had been contacted by an outreach team run by the Social welfare administration of Stockholm 1995/1996. Data have been collected from the Cause of Death Register, death certificates, forensic autopsy reports, hospital medical reports, Hospital Discharge Register, interviews with social workers and with those men who were able to participate. The standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was 4.7 times higher than expected. The highest mortality was found in the group where drug addiction was dominant; 46% had died. In the group of men with severe psychiatric disorders, with diagnosis such as schizophrenia, none had died. Compared with the others, they had spent less time in homelessness. Among the survivors, 75% were still homeless at the follow-up in spite of considerable treatment interventions from the social services and health authorities. Residential institutions or treatment seemed to have some protective effect concerning misuse, diseases and injuries. Among the still homeless, the mental health problems combined with substance use problems had increased with 17%. The life and housing situation for the whole group seemed not to have improved, even if fewer of them were staying in hostels for homeless people.
Tax compliance, corruption and deterrence: An application of the slippery model.

Tax evasion has been a common problem in some countries with damaging consequences to national budgets. It is thus important to understand what informs attitudes towards tax compliance. Trust, perceptions of fairness and corruption have consistently been found to play a crucial role in compliance behaviour. However, research findings have been inconsistent regarding the use of deterrence power to discourage tax evasion. The current study aims at examining the influence of perceived fairness and corruption plus sanctions used by authorities to enforce tax compliance attitudes with a sample of Portuguese economics and management students (N= 330). Findings suggest that trust in authorities and their capacity to deter and punish tax evaders are interrelated and that both are important in securing tax compliance. Findings are discussed in the current Portuguese context.
The Influence of Interactivity on Visit and Purchase Frequency: The Moderating Role of Website Informational Features

As Internet use continues to grow and as firms become more sophisticated in their use of the web, the ability to make the online customer experience unique has become increasingly more difficult. One possible solution may lay in the firm's ability to manipulate interactive elements of its website. The authors propose and test a model depicting the influence of different dimensions of website interactivity (communication, control, and responsiveness) on customer behaviors including frequency of visit and frequency of purchase from a firm's website. They further assess the moderating influence that informational website features, including product specifications, promotions, brand comparisons, and expert ratings have on these relationships. Results show website communication and control significantly influence outcome behaviors. The authors then outline and discuss practical implications drawn from their findings.
The Obsession with High Dietary Protein Intake in ESRD Patients on Dialysis: Is It Justified?

Background: The belief that dialysis patients require a much higher intake of protein than the average person is widely held among nephrologists and a recent editorial review on the care of patients undergoing hemodialysis advised a protein intake of at least 1.5 g/kg/day in this population. In theory, the requirements for daily protein intake of dialysis patients should be the same as normals plus whatever extra obligatory nitrogen losses are imposed by the dialytic process. Since the average loss of protein and/or amino acids is about 8 g/day in peritoneal dialysis and 8 g per session in hemodialysis patients, the daily intake of protein in dialysis patients needs to be increased only by this small magnitude. Methods: All the literature reporting on nitrogen balance data on different protein intakes in chronic maintenance dialysis patients was reviewed and analyzed. Results: There were 3 balance studies adressing this issue in hemodialysis patients and 6 in peritoneal dialysis patients. These data show that dialysis patients are in nitrogen balance even with a protein intake as low as 0.7 g/kg/day. Conclusions: The nitrogen balance data confirm that in stable dialysis patients a safe requirement of protein intake is about 1 g/kg/day and attempts at increasing protein intake beyond this value are not warranted. The persistent recommendation of a high dietary intake of protein for dialysis patients may reflect the influence of two other issues: the belief that dialysis is a catabolic event, and the data showing an inverse correlation between protein intake and outcome.
Review of the evidence base of strategies to prevent ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

The English-language literature was reviewed to examine the evidence base for strategies that have been used to prevent ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Prediction of OHSS by pretreatment patient characteristics and ovarian response parameters is unreliable, with a significant number of OHSS cases occurring in patients not thought to be high risk, while the majority of ‘high-risk’ cycles do not result in OHSS. Alternatives to ovarian stimulation should always be considered, depending on the clinical situation. Monofollicular ovulation induction with a cautious step-up regime carries a lower risk of overstimulation than step-down regimes. In in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles, a low starting dose of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and the use of 5000 iu human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) for final follicular maturation may benefit patients at high risk of OHSS. The role of GnRH antagonists is unclear. In women with polycystic ovaries, who are undergoing ovarian stimulation for IVF, metformin co-treatment may reduce the risk of OHSS. Coasting of cycles with over-response is associated with a reduced risk of OHSS, although precise criteria for initiating and ending coasting are not definable at present. Elective cryopreservation of all embryos prevents late OHSS, but its value has been poorly researched. The literature does not support a role for intravenous albumin, administered around the time of oocyte retrieval, in preventing OHSS. Evidence is insufficient regarding a possible role for hexa-ethyl starch. hCG should not be used for luteal support, as it is associated with a higher risk of OHSS, and equivalent pregnancy rates are obtained with the use of progesterone.
Cement-associated peri-implantitis: a retrospective clinical observational study of fixed implant-supported restorations using a methacrylate cement.

BACKGROUND Cement-retained fixed implant-supported restorations involve the risk of excess cement, which can associate peri-implantitis. In connection with routine therapy using a methacrylate cement (Premier Implant Cement, Premier(®) Dental Products Company, Plymouth Meeting, PA, USA) to retain fixed implant-supported restorations, complications, that is, inflammations, were developed in some cases. After removing the suprastructure and the abutment, residual excessive cement was found. For this reason, all implant-supported restorations that had been fixed with this type of methacrylate cement were reevaluated and retreated. METHODS In a retrospective clinical observational study including 71 patients with 126 implants, the findings made during retreatment were documented. In all cases, the suprastructure and the abutment were removed. For recementation, Temp Bond (Kerr Sybron Dental Specialities, Washington, D.C., USA) was used. If an inflammation had developed, a follow-up appointment was scheduled 3-4 weeks later. RESULTS In 59.5% of the implants, cement residues were identified. Bleeding on probing was diagnosed at 80% of the implants with excess cement and suppuration at 21.3% of the implants. After removal of the excess cement and recementation with Temp Bond, a 76.9% reduction in bleeding on probing was found at follow-up. Suppuration was not found around any of the implants at follow-up. CONCLUSION Excess cement left in the implant-mucosal interface caused bleeding on probing in most cases and suppuration in some. The removal of excess cement after cementation should be given high priority. In this retrospective observational study, an unusually high number of implants with excess cement after cementation was found with the methacrylate cement applied in the study.
Renin activates PI3K‐Akt‐eNOS signalling through the angiotensin AT1 and Mas receptors to modulate central blood pressure control in the nucleus tractus solitarii

The renin‐angiotensin system (RAS) is critical for the control of blood pressure by the CNS. Recently, direct renin inhibitors were approved as antihypertensive agents. However, the signalling mechanism of renin, which regulates blood pressure in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) remains unclear. Here we have investigated the signalling pathways involved in renin‐mediated blood pressure regulation, at the NTS.
Effects of oxygenation and flow on the viability and function of rat hepatocytes cocultured in a microchannel flat-plate bioreactor.

The goal of this study was to investigate the viability and synthetic function of rat hepatocytes cocultured with 3T3-J2 fibroblasts in a small-scale microchannel flat-plate bioreactor with and without an internal membrane oxygenator under flow. Bioreactor channel heights ranged between 85 and 500 microm and medium flow rates ranged between 0.06 and 4.18 mL/min. The results showed that the bioreactor without the oxygenator resulted in significantly decreased viability and function of hepatocytes, whereas hepatocytes in the bioreactor with internal membrane oxygenator were able to maintain their viability and function. The shear stress calculations showed that, at lower wall shear stresses (0.01 to 0.33 dyn/cm(2)), hepatocyte functions, measured as albumin and urea synthesis rates, were as much as 2.6- and 1.9-fold greater, respectively, than those at higher wall shear stresses (5 to 21 dyn/cm(2)). Stable albumin and urea synthesis rates for 10 days of perfusion were also demonstrated in the bioreactor with internal membrane oxygenator. These results are relevant in the design of hepatocyte bioreactors and the eventual scaling-up to clinical devices.
In vitro activity of cefotetan compared with that of other antimicrobial agents against anaerobic bacteria

The activity of cefotetan against 430 strains of anaerobic bacteria was compared with that of cefoxitin, ceftizoxime, clindamycin, metronidazole, and chloramphenicol. Percent susceptible values for the Bacteroides fragilis group were 60, 80, 29, 86, 100, and 100%, respectively. Percent susceptible values for the B. fragilis species were 91, 92, 46, 98, 100, and 100%, respectively. Non-B. fragilis-group Bacteroides species were inhibited very well (90 to 100%) by all drugs except ceftizoxime (80%). Cefotetan and metronidazole were the most active agents against Clostridium difficile. Percent susceptible values for all strains were 72, 79, 44, 82, 93, and 98%, respectively.
Hemispheric Lateralization in Benign Focal Epilepsy in Childhood with Centrotemporal Spikes (BECTS)

Benign focal epilepsy in childhood with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) is one of the most common forms of epilepsy. In adults there is a higher percentage of lateralized epileptic discharges in the left cerebral hemisphere; however, in children this pattern does not seem to have the same distribution. The objective of this study was to evaluate the lateralization of interictal spikes in children with BECTS in relation to the sex of the child and the age of onset of epilepsy. We studied the electroencephalograms (EEGs) of 114 children with a clinical diagnosis of BECTS according to ILAE. The results obtained from two EEGs, performed at intervals of 6 and 12 months, were correlated with the age of onset of the epileptic seizures and the sex of the child. There was no association between the onset of epileptic seizures and the age of the child (p = 0.461). When we analyzed the relationship between laterality and sex we did not observe any difference in the first EEG (p = 0.767) results; however, in the results of the second EEG there was a difference (p = 0.002). In males, left and bilateral interictal spikes were predominant, and in females the right hemisphere showed predominant spikes and there were continuous spike-and-wave discharges during slow sleep (CSWSS). The analysis between laterality and a child's age did not show predominant interictal spikes in the hemispheres, except in males where there were predominant multifocal and generalized spikes, but not lateralization (p = 0.011). The conclusion was that in BECTS the lateralization of interictal spikes was not consistent as described in adult patients, but there was a slight left hemispheric predominance in boys and right hemispheric predominance in girls.
Pros and Cons of Existing Frequency Regulation Mechanism in Indian Power Industry

It is necessary for the system operators and regulators to manage ancillary services efficiently to maintain reliability of the system. Frequency regulation is one of the ancillary services to be supplied by the electricity market participants. The only way to regulate frequency is to maintain the balance between demand and supply in real time. In India, it is achieved through a regulatory approach. In this paper, an investigation is made on prevailing mechanism to demonstrate the pros and cons. The analysis has been carried with the data available from Northern Regional Load Dispatch Center.
Effect of Oral Habits on the Prevalence and Pattern of Dentin Hypersensitivity in Latur Population

Background: Dentin Hypersensitivity is a common oral health problem in Latur district, since problems like gutka, pan masala, tobacco chewing and smoking is more prevalent here. There is a growing awareness that Dentin Hypersensitivity has become an increasingly important condition that merits investigation from diagnostic and problem-management perspectives. Few studies have been attempted to determine its prevalence with associated risk factors. Aim: This study aims to determine the prevalence of clinically assessed and self-reported risk factors in a sample of Latur population affected with Dentin Hypersensitivity. Methodology: This epidemiological study was done among patients coming to M.I. D.S. R. Dental college, Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Latur regarding dentin hypersensitivity of teeth. Ethical committies permission was obtained from the institute and a sample size of 200 was selected. Patients were given questionnaire to evaluate the associated symptoms and their risk factors (habits). Oral examination was carried out and patients were categorized based on the associated risk factors for Hypersensitivity. Result: Of the 200 patient examined, 120 were diagnosed as having dentin hypersensitivity, giving prevalence of 60% among them male & age group of 31-40 years are more common. Tooth sensitivity was found to be common among patient having Para-functional habit i.e. 84.2%. Similarly smokers & those who brush abnormally had more cases of dentin hypersensitivity i.e. 75% & 65.2% respectively. Conclusion: A high level of dentin hypersensitivity has been in this study & more common among males. A linear finding was shown with age, para-functional, smoking & abnormal tooth brushing habit.
A COMPARISON OF SHORT- AND LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF AIS 1 NECK INJURIES, IN REAR IMPACTS

Despite a good prognosis for individual victims, Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) 1 neck injuries causing long-term consequences are the most common disability injury in Sweden. This study compares the characteristics of rear impacts causing both short- and long-term disability neck injuries. Real life data from Swedish insurance material during 1990-1993 were used, where the resultant impact injuries to the neck were divided into two groups: occupants reporting initial symptoms shortly after the crash, and a subgroup were the initial symptoms later developed into a long-term disability (chronic symptoms at least 1 year after the impact). The influence of velocity change, crash pulse of the struck car, and the risk of long-term disability to the neck in different car models, were evaluated. The relative risk of neck injury in terms of initial disability was strongly influenced by the mass ratio between the struck and the striking car while other parameters such as crash pulse were an influencing factor in crashes causing long-term disability. There was a 2.7 times higher risk of sustaining a long-term disabling neck injury in a vehicle manufactured at the end of the 1980s or beginning of the 1990s than in one manufactured at the beginning of the1980s. If one of the main reasons for the increasing number of long-term disabling neck injuries is associated with the influence of crash pulse and factors related to newer car models, the situation will gradually become worse as the older car fleet is replaced. There is an increasing need for effective preventive measures, based on long-term disability data. (A) For the covering abstract of the conference see ITRD E203725.
Effects of Taper Ratio on Aircraft Wing Aerodynamic Parameters: A Comperative Study

Wing design is one of the most important tasks for a designer to overcome during an aircraft design process. Therefore, a designer need to optimize so many wing geometrical parameters with the aim of obtaining an efficient wing geometry complying with requirements of the design. Taper ratio is one of these parameters, which is the ratio of root and tip chord lengths of a wing. In this study, firstly, a high aspect ratio rectangular aircraft wing was numerically investigated in terms of some aerodynamic parameters including induced drag coefficient, Oswald efficiency factor and lift coefficient together with its span-wise distribution by means of XFLR5 computational fluid dynamics program. The assessment of mesh accuracy of the program was done at the beginning of the analyses. Later on, with the aim of observing the effects of taper ratio on aircraft wing aerodynamic parameters, the revised versions of the wing, which have the taper ratios from 0.2 to 1.2 (with the increment of 0.2) were analyzed. In conclusion, depending on the analyses results, the wings having different taper ratios were compared in terms of obtained aerodynamic parameters and span-wise lift distributions. Moreover, tip vortices of each wing, together with their sizes, were obtained and also compared.
The Regulatory Role of the Antigen-Presenting Cell in the Development of Hepatic Immunopathology during Infection with Schistosoma mansoni

A recent meeting held in Berlin (2nd Teupitz Colloquium) focused on the striking ability of mononuclear phagocytes to either stimulate or inhibit a variety of immune and immunopathological responses, and ascribed a distinctive phenotype to the antigen-presenting cells (APC) when exercising these opposite functions. Thus, the phenotype and secretory profile of APC associated with ‘classical activation’ is achieved following stimulation with pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interferon-γ, and leads to full T cell activation. On the other hand, it has long been known that T cells may also be downregulated after interacting with certain APC. Many of such APC, originally simply thought to lack or have lost their stimulatory potential, are now thought to be in a state of ‘alternative activation’, which is associated with a different phenotype and secretory profile that can typically be induced with anti-inflammatory reagents, including the cytokines IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13. The purpose of this article is to analyze the immunopathological events that characterize the infection with Schistosoma mansoni in context with these distinct APC activation pathways. Available evidence from human and experimental data suggests that a desirable outcome of the APC during this parasitic disease is to attain ‘alternative activation’, which serves to promote and sustain a Th-2-polarized immune response associated with a more favorable anti-inflammatory and host-protective environment.