Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In vivo evaluation of a moisture-activated orthodontic adhesive: a comparative clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate and compare the clinical performance of a water-activated, ethyl-cyanoacrylate adhesive to a conventional composite resin. The null hypothesis tested was that there was no difference in bracket survival distribution, over a period of orthodontic treatment, for brackets bonded with either bonding agent. DESIGN Single center randomized controlled clinical study. SETTING AND SAMPLE POPULATION Twenty-five consecutive patients (15 females and 10 males) were selected and treated with fixed appliances in a university postgraduate orthodontic clinic. All teeth, but the molars, were bonded with twin stainless steel brackets (n = 429) using a split-mouth technique and random allocation of the two adhesives. OUTCOME MEASURE Bond failure rates during a period of 9 months were estimated for each adhesive system and the corresponding bracket survival curves were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier product-limit estimate. Bracket survival distributions with respect to adhesive material, tooth location, investigator, and bond failure interface were then compared by means of a log-rank test. Bond failure interface was determined using the Adhesive Remnant Index (ARI). RESULTS The water-activated bonding material recorded a significantly higher bond failure (22.4%) than the composite resin (5.1%). There were also statistically significant differences in bracket survival distributions between the two adhesives (log-rank test: p < 0.001). Premolars exhibited higher bond failure rates than incisors and canines (p < 0001). The predominant mode of failure was within the bonding material. CONCLUSION Further investigations focused on the improvement of the physical and mechanical properties of the water-activated bonding system are needed to make it a reliable alternative adhesive for the direct bonding of orthodontic brackets.
A retrospective review to assess whether spinal fusion and scoliosis correction improved activity and participation for children with Angelman syndrome

Abstract Objective: This study investigates outcome of scoliosis treatment for 11 children with Angelman syndrome (AS), with particular focus on activity, participation and the musculoskeletal factors that may affect these outcomes. Methods: Retrospective review of medical records, radiographs and questionnaires administered to caregivers of 11 children (8M:3F) with AS and scoliosis. Six underwent observational treatment during childhood and five underwent spinal fusion. The Activities Scale for Kids (ASKp) questionnaire was used to measure activity and participation. Questionnaire and radiographic data were recorded over a 2 year period. Results: In the observational group, scoliosis increased from 31° to 46°. Mean ASKp decreased from 13.8 to 11.9 (p = 0.06). In the operative group, scoliosis decreased from 68° to 29°. Mean ASKp increased from 11.4 to 15.9 (p < 0.01). There was also a reduction in spinal-related pain and mean number of hospital admissions for chest infection. However, there was a 60% major complication rate. There was no difference in mobility, GMFCS level, feeding or communication in either group before or after treatment. Conclusion: In children with significant scoliosis and AS, spinal fusion was associated with a small improvement in activity and participation, reduction in pain and a decrease in frequency of severe chest infections. Non-operative treatment resulted in progression of scoliosis during childhood and decrease in activity.
Mental Health Functioning in the Human Rights Field: Findings from an International Internet-Based Survey

Human rights advocates play a critical role in promoting respect for human rights world-wide, and engage in a broad range of strategies, including documentation of rights violations, monitoring, press work and report-writing, advocacy, and litigation. However, little is known about the impact of human rights work on the mental health of human rights advocates. This study examined the mental health profile of human rights advocates and risk factors associated with their psychological functioning. 346 individuals currently or previously working in the field of human rights completed an internet-based survey regarding trauma exposure, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), resilience and occupational burnout. PTSD was measured with the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C) and depression was measured with the Patient History Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). These findings revealed that among human rights advocates that completed the survey, 19.4% met criteria for PTSD, 18.8% met criteria for subthreshold PTSD, and 14.7% met criteria for depression. Multiple linear regressions revealed that after controlling for symptoms of depression, PTSD symptom severity was predicted by human rights-related trauma exposure, perfectionism and negative self-appraisals about human rights work. In addition, after controlling for symptoms of PTSD, depressive symptoms were predicted by perfectionism and lower levels of self-efficacy. Survey responses also suggested high levels of resilience: 43% of responders reported minimal symptoms of PTSD. Although survey responses suggest that many human rights workers are resilient, they also suggest that human rights work is associated with elevated rates of PTSD and depression. The field of human rights would benefit from further empirical research, as well as additional education and training programs in the workplace about enhancing resilience in the context of human rights work.
Ontogeny of the visual system in the cuttlefish, Sepiella japonica. I. Morphological differentiation of the visual cell

To provide morphological bases for functional studies, the differentiation of photoreceptors in the retina of a cuttlefish, Sepiella japonica, was examined by electron microscopy. Development of the retina occurs in four phases. In phase 1 (stages 21–23), the retinal epithelium consists of uniform columnar cells. In phase 2 (stages 24–29), the epithelial cells are classified into light and dark cells on the basis of the electron‐density of their cytoplasm. The perikarya of the light cells are located in the distal half of the epithelium, each extending proximally (i.e., sclerad) a thin foot, which protruded out of the epithelium through a narrow break in the basal lamina. The nuclei of the dark cells are distributed in the proximal half of the epithelium. Both cell types have a short cilium in the distal end. In phase 3 (stages 30–35), the light and the dark cells morphologically differentiate into receptor and supporting cells, respectively. The distal end of the light (receptor) cell begins to form an apical process, which gives off short irregular microvilli from its lateral surface. Beneath the basal lamina the feet of the receptor cells swell and the nuclei migrate into them through narrow breaks in the basal lamina. Thus, at the end of phase 3, each receptor cell becomes divided into an outer and inner segment. In phase 4 (stages 36–40), the receptor cells complete the specific structure as photoreceptive cells. The microvilli arising from the apical processes increase in length, density, and regularity to be organized into rhabdomes. The lamellated membranes of the myeloid bodies appear first in the outer segment and later increase in number in the inner segment. Morphometric data on the rhabdomeric microvilli in the adult and embryonic retinas are presented.
Identification and removal of proteins that co‐purify with infectious prion protein improves the analysis of its secondary structure

Prion diseases are neurodegenerative disorders associated with the accumulation of an abnormal isoform of the mammalian prion protein (PrP). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) has previously been used to show that the conformation of aggregated, infectious PrP (PrPSc) varies between prion strains and these unique conformations may determine strain‐specific disease phenotypes. However, the relative amounts of α‐helix, β‐sheet and other secondary structures have not always been consistent between studies, suggesting that other proteins might be confounding the analysis of PrPSc secondary structure. We have used FTIR and LC‐MS/MS to analyze enriched PrPSc from mouse and hamster prion strains both before and after the removal of protein contaminants that commonly co‐purify with PrPSc. Our data show that non‐PrP proteins do contribute to absorbances that have been associated with α‐helical, loop, turn and β‐sheet structures attributed to PrPSc. The major contaminant, the α‐helical protein ferritin, absorbs strongly at 1652 cm−1 in the FTIR spectrum associated with PrPSc. However, even the removal of more than 99% of the ferritin from PrPSc did not completely abolish absorbance at 1652 cm−1. Our results show that contaminating proteins alter the FTIR spectrum attributed to PrPSc and suggest that the α‐helical, loop/turn and β‐sheet secondary structure that remains following their removal are derived from PrPSc itself.
Paranodal transverse bands are required for maintenance but not initiation of Nav1.6 sodium channel clustering in CNS optic nerve axons

The rapid, efficient, and faithful propagation of action potentials in myelinated nerve fibers depends on the appropriate complement and localization of ion channels. Recent work has suggested that specific voltage‐dependent sodium (Nav) channel isoforms are differentially regulated both spatially and temporally in a myelin‐dependent manner. Since the principal site of axoglial contact occurs at the paranode, we postulated that disrupted paranodal structure might result in altered nodal Nav channel isoform localization and clustering. We have used UDP‐galactose/ceramide galactosyl transferase (CGT)‐deficient mice, which form compact myelin and paranodal loops but lack the transverse bands normally found at the interface of the axon and overlying glial cell, to determine if this structure contributes to the signaling machinery responsible for clustering and localization of distinct Nav channel isoforms. We find that as in control animals, most mutant nodes of Ranvier had Nav1.6 in high‐density clusters in the peripheral and central nervous systems; the localization of Nav1.2 and the protein levels of Nav1.2 and Nav1.6 were also normal in the CGT‐deficient mouse. However, with increasing age, in the mutant mouse we observed a decrease in the total number of nodal Nav1.6 clusters, a decrease in the density of Nav1.6 channels at nodes, and an increase in the average size of the Nav1.6 clusters. Thus, transverse bands are not required for Nav1.6 clustering and localization at nodes or for exclusion of Nav1.2 from myelinated nerve fibers, but are required for the maintenance of nodal Nav1.6 cluster size and density. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Non-fragile guaranteed cost control for a class of uncertain singular time-delay systems

The non-fragile guaranteed cost control (GCC) problem is studied for a class of uncertain time-delay singular systems via memoryless state feedback controllers. The system is assumed to have time-varying parameter uncertainties in the matrices of state, delayed state, input, delayed input and the control gain. New sufficient conditions for the existence of guaranteed cost controllers are derived in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMI) and a design procedure for the guaranteed cost controllers is presented. An example is given to illustrate the proposed results.
Echocardiographic changes following hemodialysis initiation in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease and symptomatic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

BACKGROUND In patients without overt cardiac disease, the degree of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) gets worse following hemodialysis (HD) initiation; however, in patients with both advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) and symptomatic heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (EF), the short-term effect of HD on LVH and LV geometry has not been examined. We hypothesized that left ventricular mass index (LVMI) would decrease following HD initiation in CKD patients with symptomatic HF. METHODS We retrospectively evaluated changes in LVMI, LV geometry, and LV fractional shortening (LVFS), assessed by 2D transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), in 41 patients with HF initiating HD while hospitalized from 1995 to 2006. HF was defined by LVEF ≤ 45% or dyspnea plus two of the following: raised jugular venous pressure, bibasilar crackles, pulmonary venous hypertension, interstitial edema on chest X-ray, or both. TTE was performed within 3 months prior to first HD and repeated 8.6 ± 5.2 months after start of HD. TTE recordings were obtained from storage and analyzed by a cardiologist blinded to patient clinical characteristics. RESULTS Before initiation of HD, LVMI in 39 patients was 167.9 ± 53.1 g/m2 and it decreased by -24.3 ± 35.4 g/m2 by follow-up, p < 0.001. 26% of patients with concentric LVH at baseline had concentric remodeling or eccentric LVH at follow-up. LVFS did not significantly change over time in all 41 patients with HF (25.7 ± 8.7% vs. 26.4 ± 8.7%, p = 0.66). However, in an expanded analysis of all 69 patients with serial TTEs, a 1% increase in LVFS after starting HD was associated with a 16% reduction in risk of cardiovascular hospitalization at follow-up (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.73 - 0.96, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS LVMI decreases following HD initiation in CKD patients with symptomatic HF and reduced LVEF, possibly due to relief of venous congestion. Increase in LVFS following HD initiation predicts improved cardiac outcome.
Wideband and Low-Profile Omnidirectional Circularly Polarized Antenna With Slits and Shorting-Vias

A novel wideband and low-profile omnidirectional circularly polarized (CP) patch antenna is proposed. The antenna is constructed on a via-shorted circular patch with slits cut on the bottom and top planes. By loading vias on the circular patch antenna, the TM01 mode is generated and coupled to the original TM02 mode. Then, a wide bandwidth is achieved. Moreover, the asymmetrically placed slits will generate a horizontal polarization, while the nonslit monopolar antenna will provide a vertical polarization. With a quadrature phase difference and equal amplitudes for the two orthogonal polarizations, a CP radiation could then be obtained. A prototype is fabricated and measured. With a low profile of 0. 028λ0, the antenna has a 10-dB return-loss impedance bandwidth of 16.6% and a 3-dB axial-ratio bandwidth of 14.8%.
Relationship of Pre-1918 Avian Influenza HA and NP Sequences to Subsequent Avian Influenza Strains

Abstract Wild waterfowl that were captured between 1915 and 1919 and preserved in 70% ethyl alcohol were tested for influenza A virus RNA. Most of the HA1 domain of the hemagglutinin (HA) gene segment was sequenced from one bird, captured in 1917, that was infected with a virus of the same HA subtype as the 1918 human pandemic virus. The 1917 HA sequence is closely related to modern avian HA sequences, suggesting little drift in avian sequences in 80 years and that the 1918 pandemic virus probably did not acquire its hemagglutinin directly from a bird. A 151-bp fragment of the nucleoprotein gene segment was sequenced from two pre-1918 birds and compared to avian and mammalian influenza strains. The 1917 avian NP sequences are also closely related to modern avian sequences and distinct from the mammalian clade in which the 1918 NP sequence is found.
Effects of Vasoactive Drugs on Thromboxane A2 Mimetic-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension in Newborn Lambs

ABSTRACT: Isoproterenol, dobutamine, dopamine, and nitroprusside are four vasoactive drugs used to decrease pulmonary arterial pressure and increase cardiac output in newborns, infants, and children with sepsis. Thromboxane A2 likely produces some of the hemodynamic changes in sepsis, and U46619, a thromboxane A2 mimetic, produces similar changes in lambs. We studied the hemodynamic effects of these four vasoactive drugs in 10 spontaneously breathing newborn lambs during an infusion of U46619. After baseline hemodynamic measurements, U46619 (1–2 μg/kg/min) was infused to increase pulmonary arterial pressure and to decrease cardiac output. Then, either isoproterenol (0.05–1.0 μg/kg/min), dobutamine (5–20 μg/kg/min), dopamine (3–30 μg/kg/min), or nitroprusside (0.5–10.0 μg/kg/min) was infused. Every 10 min, measurements were repeated and the dose increased. U46619 significantly increased pulmonary arterial pressure by 182% and decreased cardiac output by 25% (p < 0.05). Isoproterenol decreased pulmonary arterial pressure by 30% (p < 0.05) and increased cardiac output by 25% (p < 0.05) at low doses, and increased cardiac output by 115% at the maximum dose (p < 0.05). Dobutamine decreased pulmonary arterial pressure by 11% (p < 0.05) and increased cardiac output by 28% (p < 0.05) at low doses, and increased cardiac output by 71% at the maximum dose (p < 0.05). Dopamine did not decrease pulmonary arterial pressure or increase cardiac output. Nitroprusside decreased pulmonary arterial pressure by 11% at the maximum dose (p < 0.05). Isoproterenol and dobutamine may be more useful than dopamine and nitroprusside in the management of pulmonary hypertension and decreased cardiac output during sepsis.
Plasma clomipramine levels in adult patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder

The aim of this study was to explore the possible relationship between plasma clomipramine and its major metabolite (N-desmethylclomipramine) levels and related parameters, and clinical features in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Twenty-six outpatients (13 men, 13 women), suffering from OCD were consecutively enrolled in this study. The severity of OCD was assessed by the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). The measurements were taken after 4 weeks and 6 months from the beginning of the treatment. The drug levels were measured by a high-performance liquid chromatography method developed by us. The correlations between biological and clinical parameters were analyzed by means of Spearman’s correlation coefficient. The Mann–Whitney test was used for comparing biological and clinical variables between men and women. The results showed that clomipramine levels were related to the doses at the two assessment times. A significant and positive correlation was detected at the beginning between the N-desmethylclomipramine ratio and the Y-BOCS total score; however, this was true only for men, where the similar correlations were measured also with the Y-BOCS subscale. After 6 months of clomipramine, men showed a significant improvement of the compulsions. These findings would highlight the potential impact of assessing clomipramine plasma levels and their relationships with specific symptoms, as well as the influence of the sex on the drug response.
Estimated breeding values for meat characteristics of crossbred cattle with an animal model.

Longissimus muscle area, shear force measure, and sensory panel scores for flavor, juiciness, and tenderness, and marbling score were obtained from 682 steer carcasses, resulting from crosses among five Bos taurus and Bos indicus breeds. The single-trait model used included birth year and as covariates breed fractions, weaning age, and days on feed. The numerator relationship matrix was for 1,350 animals (682 steers, 74 pure breed and 52 F1-cross sires and 542 dams). The coefficient matrix was inverted to examine standard errors of prediction. Estimated breeding value is the sum of the estimate of genetic deviation and the weighted (fractions) sum of estimates of breed effects. Heritabilities used in estimating breeding values were . 62, . 06, . 05, . 11, . 05, and . 43 for longissimus muscle area, shear force, flavor, juiciness, tenderness, and marbling score. Sires within a breed or crossbred group tended to rank similarly due to large differences among breed effects (e.g., the six Sahiwal sires ranked in the highest six places for shear force). These results illustrate that for traits with large breed differences, selection of the proper breed should be done before selection within that breed.
Role of Toll‐like receptors in costimulating cytotoxic T cell responses

Stimulation of Toll‐like receptors (TLR) by pathogen‐derived compounds leads to activation of APC, facilitating the induction of protective immunity. This phenomenon is the basis of most adjuvant formulations currently in development. Here, we tested the ability of TLR2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9 signaling to enhance CTL responses upon vaccination with virus‐like particles. Stimulation of TLR2 and 4 failed to increase CTL responses, whereas ligands for TLR3, 5 and 7 exhibited moderate adjuvant function. In contrast, stimulation of TLR9 dramatically increased CTL responses, indicating that ligands for TLR9 are likely to be the most promising candidates for the development of novel adjuvant formulations for stimulating CTL responses.
The limited success of formal water markets in the Segura River basin, Spain

ABSTRACT The Segura basin in south-eastern Spain is one of the most water-scarce regions in Europe. Its water economy has characteristics that constitute very favourable conditions for water market activity, and there are significant trading opportunities. However, the traded volumes have been rather small even though most of the water market activity in continental Spain is concentrated there. This paper describes the few formal water market experiences in the Segura basin since water trading was legislated on and regulated in 1999. As a result of this analysis, some hypotheses are made regarding the causes of the limited operation of this economic instrument.
Neostigmine does not prolong the duration of analgesia produced by caudal bupivacaine in children undergoing urethroplasty.

CONTEXT Neostigmine extends the duration of analgesia produced by caudal bupivacaine in children. AIMS To study the effect of different doses of caudal neostigmine on the duration of postoperative analgesia. SETTINGS AND DESIGN A randomized, double-blind study was conducted in 120 boys aged 1-12 years undergoing urethroplasty under combined general and caudal anesthesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS Children were administered 1.875 mg/kg bupivacaine alone (Group B) or with 2, 3 or 4 microg/kg of neostigmine (groups BN 2, BN 3 or BN 4 respectively) as caudal drug (0.75 ml/kg). Children with a pain score of 4 or more (OPS and NRS) postoperatively were administered rescue analgesic. Time to first analgesic and the number of analgesic doses administered in the 24h were recorded. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Parametric data were analyzed using ANOVA. Kaplan-Meier survival curves for the time to first analgesic administration were plotted and compared using log rank analysis. Chi-square test was used to analyze the incidence data. RESULTS The median [IQR] time to first analgesic in Group B (540 [240-1441] min) was similar to that in Groups BN 2 (450 [240-720]), BN 3 (600 [360-1020]) and BN 4 (990 [420-1441]). Significantly more patients in Groups B (9 [34.6%]) and BN 4 (13 [44.8%]) required no supplemental analgesic for 24h than those in Groups BN 2 and BN 3 (4 [13.8%] and 4 [13.3%]). The number of analgesic doses required in 24h in the four groups was similar. CONCLUSION Addition of neostigmine to 1.875 mg/kg of caudal bupivacaine did not prolong the analgesia following urethroplasty in children.