Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factors related to utilization of dental services during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES The purposes of this study were to investigate factors related to utilization of dental services during pregnancy and to assess the extent of mothers' knowledge regarding oral health during pregnancy and its effect on pregnancy outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cross-sectional data were collected from 625 women using a structured questionnaire mailed to mothers who had given birth in Johnson County, Iowa from August 2001 to March 2002. The survey assessed knowledge, behaviours, attitudes toward dental care during pregnancy, and personal, demographic and pregnancy-related factors. Variables which showed associations in bivariate analysis (p< or =0.1) were considered as candidates for building logistic regression models separately by domain (demographics, dental health care behaviours, lifestyle, financial variables, pregnancy-related variables, and knowledge of the possible association between oral health and pregnancy). Significant domain-specific regression results (p< or =0.05) were used to develop a final model using forward stepwise logistic regression analyses. RESULTS The overall response rate was 69%. Dental visits during pregnancy were reported by 49% of respondents. Forty-three percent were aware of the possible connection between oral health and pregnancy outcomes. In the final logistic regression analysis, factors significantly associated with reporting dental visits during pregnancy were: (1) personal factors (being married, greater frequency of visiting the dentist when not pregnant and use of inter-proximal cleaning aids); (2) financial factors (dental insurance); and (3) knowledge of the possible connection between oral health and pregnancy outcomes. CONCLUSIONS There was limited knowledge of the possible relationships between oral health and pregnancy outcomes in a fairly homogeneous population of women who were of relatively high socioeconomic standing. This study suggests that better education of the importance of dental care before and during pregnancy is needed.
High levels of intravenous mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone) self-administration in rats: Neural consequences and comparison with methamphetamine

Mephedrone (MMC) is a relatively new recreational drug that has rapidly increased in popularity in recent years. This study explored the characteristics of intravenous MMC self-administration in the rat, with methamphetamine (METH) used as a comparator drug. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to nose poke for intravenous MMC or METH in daily 2 h sessions over a 10 d acquisition period. Dose-response functions were then established under fixed- and progressive-ratio (FR and PR) schedules over three subsequent weeks of testing. Brains were analyzed ex vivo for striatal serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) levels and metabolites, while autoradiography assessed changes in the regional density of 5-HT and serotonin transporter (SERT) and DA transporter (DAT) and induction of the inflammation marker translocator protein (TSPO). Results showed that MMC was readily and vigorously self-administered via the intravenous route. Under a FR1 schedule, peak responding for MMC was obtained at 0.1 mg/kg/infusion, versus 0.01 mg/kg/infusion for METH. Break points under a PR schedule peaked at 1 mg/kg/infusion MMC versus 0.3 mg/kg/infusion for METH. Final intakes of MMC were 31.3 mg/kg/d compared to 4 mg/kg/d for METH. Rats self-administering MMC, but not METH, gained weight at a slower rate than control rats. METH, but not MMC, self-administration elevated TSPO receptor density in the nucleus accumbens and hippocampus, while MMC, but not METH, self-administration decreased striatal 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA) concentrations. In summary, MMC supported high levels of self-administration, matching or exceeding those previously reported with other drugs of abuse.
The Effects of Insertion Method and Force on Hand Clearance Envelopes for Rubber Hose Insertion Tasks

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine how hand space for manual insertion of flexible hoses is affected by insertion method and force. Background: Adequate space is needed during assembly tasks in which workers join parts together with their hands. Hose installations are an example of such a task. Hand clearance envelopes for insertion tasks that involve cylindrical objects, such as a hose, are currently unavailable in the literature. Methods: Participants inserted a flexible 25-mm rubber hose onto a stationary flange using simulated methods similar to those observed in field studies of automotive assembly tasks. Markers placed on the back of the hand and wrists were used to measure postures during the insertion task. Results: Hand clearance envelopes for high-force insertions were significantly larger across methods by an average of 15% for both male (p < .05) and female (p < .01) participants. Rocking insertions resulted in the largest hand clearance envelopes compared with other insertion methods. Rocking and twisting the hose resulted in mean increases in the cross-sectional area of the hand clearance envelopes of 35% and 24%, respectively, compared with the straight push. Differences were significant (p < .05) for male and female participants for both bead height conditions. Conclusion: Both required insertion force and method affect hand clearance envelopes during simulated insertions. Application: These methods can be used by engineers to determine if there is adequate clearance for the hand to grip selected objects.
An Eternal Feast at Samʾal: The New Iron Age Mortuary Stele from Zincirli in Context

The recent discovery of a new Iron Age mortuary stele bearing a relief image and inscription in its original archaeological context at Zincirli has great potential to contribute to a better understanding of the corpus of these Syro-Hittite monuments, several aspects of which remain enigmatic despite extensive recent study. The stele's close affinities to the reliefs of Barrakib argue for a mid-eighth-century B.C. date and the owner's high position in the kingdom of Samʾal. The scene represented on the stele is in many ways very typical, but some unusual features add to the previously known iconographic repertoire of these monuments. The private architectural context of the KTMW stele in Zincirli's lower town also contributes to the reconstruction of the setting and social significance of the other steles of this type and allows a tentative comparison with the "mortuary chapels" attested for other forms of memorial in the Syro-Hittite kingdoms.
Effects of quetiapine on cognitive functioning in obsessive–compulsive disorder

In recent years, growing evidence supports the efficacy of antipsychotic addition to serotonin reuptake inhibitors in patients with treatment-refractory obsessive–compulsive disorder. This study is the first to investigate the effects of antipsychotic addition on cognitive functioning in obsessive–compulsive disorder patients. Cognitive functioning was evaluated at baseline and at endpoint of an 8-week double-blind, placebo-controlled quetiapine addition trial. Neurocognitive performance was compared between the placebo and quetiapine group and between responders and nonresponders. The neuropsychological test battery consisted of the national adult reading test, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, the Trail Making Test, verbal fluency, the Stroop Color Word Test, the California Verbal Learning Test, the Rey Complex Figure Task, the Continuous Performance Test, and the Digit Symbol Substitution. The results of this study suggest that quetiapine addition to serotonin reuptake inhibitors has no major effects on cognitive functioning in obsessive–compulsive disorder patients, apart from some evidence for a failure to maintain set on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. It is proposed that this failure may be caused by attention difficulties owing to somnolence.
An Empirical Case Study Examining Effectiveness of Environmental Enrichment in Two Captive Australian Sea Lions (Neophoca cinerea)

This case study examined the effect of environmental enrichment on the activity budgets of a male and female Australian Sea Lion (Neophoca cinerea) housed together at Adelaide Zoo. Using non-food-related (intrinsic) and food-related (extrinsic) enrichment objects, the study conducted an ABABA (withdrawal) experimental design over a 30-day period (180 hr). The study expected extrinsically reinforcing objects to be more effective than intrinsically reinforcing objects in reducing pattern swimming. The male sea lion spent more than 45% of scans engaged in pattern swimming during the initial baseline, which was reduced by at least 25% when enrichment items were present. However, there was no evidence of stereotypic behavior in the female sea lion, indicating that individual differences may exist. When enrichment was present, the study observed more active behaviors in both nonhuman animals. They spent more time interacting with the non-food-related objects overall. Therefore, introducing simple enrichment devices offers a cheap, practical, and effective method of adding complexity to the environment, which is likely to benefit the animals' welfare and enhance the zoo-visitor experience.
Speaker identification in unknown noisy conditions - a universal compensation approach

We consider speaker identification involving background noise, assuming no knowledge about the noise characteristics. A new method, namely universal compensation (UC), is studied as a solution to the problem. The UC method is an extension of the missing-feature method, i.e. recognition based only on reliable data but robust to any corruption type, including full corruption that affects all time-frequency components of the speech representation. The UC technique achieves robustness to unknown, full noise corruption through a novel combination of the multi-condition training method and the missing-feature method. The combination of these two strategies makes the new method potentially capable of dealing with arbitrary additive noise - with arbitrary temporal-spectral characteristics - based only on clean speech training data and simulated noise data, without requiring knowledge about the actual noise. The SPIDRE database is used for the evaluation, assuming various corruptions from real-world noise data. The results obtained are encouraging.
Who Seeks Cita Con El Doctor? Twelve Years of Spanish-Language Radio Program Targeting U.S. Latinos

Purpose. Spanish-dominant Latinos make up 13% of the U.S. population, and this group is poorer and faces multiple threats to health compared with the general population. Additionally, Spanish speakers face challenges accessing health information that is often not available in Spanish. This study provides a descriptive epidemiology of a unique, low-cost health information source: the longest-running U.S.-based Spanish-language call-in radio health education program. Method. From the universe of all calls 1999 to 2011, stratified random sampling yielded 1,237 analyzed calls, which were manually coded for caller sex, age, proxy status, and health concern. Descriptive statistics were used to examine basic demographics of callers and call topics overall and by sex and proxy caller status. Results. Among all calls, the top three call-generating health topics were specific symptoms/conditions, sexual/reproductive health, and gastrointestinal concerns. The top nine topics were consistent among women, men, and proxy callers; however, relative frequency of topics varied across groups. Nearly one quarter of calls were initiated on behalf of someone, generally a child, spouse or sibling, or parent. Sixty percent of callers were women; women made 70% of proxy calls. Conclusion. Understanding the differences in information seeking behaviors, information needs, and source preferences is important for determining where and how to disseminate health information and may help explain disparities in knowledge and health outcomes. The radio talk show format provides a uniquely personal, culturally sensitive channel for meeting health information needs of a vulnerable population while leveraging the cost-effectiveness and wide reach of a mass medium.
HV ESD diodes investigation under vf-TLP stresses: TCAD approach

Very fast TLP stresses applied to HV ESD diodes in forward conduction are able to reproduce well known and CDM typical effects as Forward Recovery. In this work a full RLC vf-TLP model is introduced in order to investigate HV ESD diodes electrical and physical behavior using TCAD mixed-mode simulations.
Antioxidant Properties of the Flavonoids Silybin and (+)-Cyanidanol-3: Comparison with Butylated Hydroxyanisole and Butylated Hydroxytoluene

The antioxidant action of the flavonoids silybin and (+)-cyanidanol-3 was assessed in a peroxidating system formed by linoleate and Fe 2+ . A drastic inhibition of Fe 2+ -induced linoleate peroxidation was achieved by silybin and (+)-cyanidanol-3, an effect that was comparable to that elicited by butylated hydroxytoluene or butylated hydroxyanisole. The antioxidant properties of both flavonoids may explain some of their experimental and therapeutical effects as cytoprotective drugs.
Theory of Island Biogeography on a Microscopic Scale: Organic Aggregates as Islands for Aquatic Pathogens

Four predictions of the MacArthur-Wilson theory of island biogeography were evaluated to assess the degree to which detrital-based organic aggregates (e.g. marine snow, organic detritus, and bioflocs) may provide a favorable microhabitat (i.e. an 'island') for bacteria in general, and specifically aquatic pathogens. We demonstrate the theory's relevance for microbial communities in aquatic environments by describing the community metabolic response and functional diversity of individual organic aggregates while documenting the persistence of potential pathogens and fecal indica- tor bacteria. Our results support the 4 predictions, including a significant species-area relationship, con- sistency of species richness at equilibrium, non-zero level of species turnover at equilibrium, and variance to mean ratios of less than 0.5 at equilibrium. The aggre- gate-associated microbial communities demonstrated significantly higher rates of metabolic response and functional diversity, and contained higher concentra- tions of culturable vibrios and fecal indicator bacteria compared to aggregate-free water, supporting the idea that organic aggregates are sites of favorable habitat surrounded by a less favorable matrix. These results substantiate that organic aggregates may be repre- sented as microscopic islands. Using island biogeogra- phy theory to understand the microbial ecology of aquatic pathogens associated with organic aggregates is important with respect to environmental sampling of recreational waters and mathematical modeling of the transmission of waterborne diseases from aquatic reservoirs to humans.
Identification of HLA class II-restricted determinants of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-derived proteins by using HLA-transgenic, class II-deficient mice.

T helper 1 cells play a major role in protective immunity against mycobacterial pathogens. Since the antigen (Ag) specificity of CD4(+) human T cells is strongly controlled by HLA class II polymorphism, the immunogenic potential of candidate Ags needs to be defined in the context of HLA polymorphism. We have taken advantage of class II-deficient (Ab0) mice, transgenic for either HLA-DRA/B1*0301 (DR3) or HLA-DQB1*0302/DQA*0301 (DQ8) alleles. In these animals, all CD4(+) T cells are restricted by the HLA molecule. We reported previously that human DR3-restricted T cells frequently recognize heat shock protein (hsp)65 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and only a single hsp65 epitope, p1-20. DR3.Ab0 mice, immunized with bacillus Calmette-Guérin or hsp65, developed T cell responses to M. tuberculosis, and recognized the same hsp65 epitope, p1-20. Hsp65-immunized DQ8.Ab0 mice mounted a strong response to bacillus Calmette-Guérin but not to p1-20. Instead, we identified three new DQ8-restricted T cell epitopes in the regions 171-200, 311-340, and 411-440. DR3.Ab0 mice immunized with a second major M. tuberculosis protein, Ag85 (composed of 85A, 85B, and 85C), also developed T cell responses against only one determinant, 85B p51-70, that was identified in this study. Importantly, subsequent analysis of human T cell responses revealed that HLA-DR3+, Ag85-reactive individuals recognize exactly the same peptide epitope as DR3.Ab0 mice. Strikingly, both DR3-restricted T cell epitopes represent the best DR3-binding sequences in hsp65 and 85B, revealing a strong association between peptide-immunodominance and HLA binding affinity. Immunization of DR3.Ab0 with the immunodominant peptides p1-20 and p51-70 induced T cell reactivity to M. tuberculosis. Thus, for two different Ags, T cells from DR3.Ab0 mice and HLA-DR3+ humans recognize the same immunodominant determinants. Our data support the use of HLA-transgenic mice in identifying human T cell determinants for the design of new vaccines.
Sibling Relationship Quality: Associations with Marital and Coparenting Subsystems

Marital relationships play an important role in family functioning and in the development of sibling relationships. From a family systems perspective, other subsystems within the family, such as coparenting interactions, could explain the effects of the marital relationship on sibling bonds. Specifically, the quality of the coparenting relationship may mediate the association between marital functioning and sibling relationship quality. The current study examined relationships between these three subsystems (marital, coparenting, and sibling) as self-reported by mothers, fathers, and children with siblings. As part of a larger project, families with a child aged 8 to 11 and at least one sibling (N = 75) completed the Dyadic Adjustment Scale and the Coparenting Scale (both completed by mother and father), as well as the Sibling Relationship Questionnaire (completed by target child). Results suggested that marital functioning is a significant predictor of functioning within the coparenting relationship. Predicted associations did not emerge between sibling relationship quality and marital or coparenting relationships, with minor exceptions, and the coparenting relationship did not mediate the association between marital and sibling relationship quality. Implications of the current findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.
A role for membrane-type serine protease (MT-SP1) in intestinal epithelial turnover.

Membrane type-serine protease 1 (MT-SP1) plays potential roles in the process of invasion and metastasis of carcinomas. In the present study, we cloned a rat MT-SP1 cDNA and investigated the intestinal distribution and proteolytic properties of the enzyme. By in situ hybridization we found the prominent expression of the mRNA in the epithelial layer of the small intestinal upper villi and of the colon, where cells are loosely attached to the basement membrane. When MT-SP1 was expressed in Caco-2, a colonic carcinoma cell line, the protein was localized exclusively on the basolateral side. A secreted form of the enzyme produced in COS-1 cells digested fibronectin and laminin. These findings suggest that MT-SP1 participates in the control of intestinal epithelial turnover by regulating the cell-substratum adhesion.
The regulation of ATP release from the urothelium by adenosine and transepithelial potential.

UNLABELLED WHAT'S KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT? AND WHAT DOES THE STUDY ADD? : Stretch of the urothelium, as occurs during bladder filling, is associated with a release of ATP that is postulated to act as a sensory neurotransmitter. The regulation of ATP release is poorly understood and in particular if there is a feedback mechanism provided by ATP itself. Adenosine, a breakdown product of ATP, is a potent inhibitor of stretch-induced ATP release, acting through and A1 receptor; endogenous levels are about 0. 6μM. Data are consistent with ATP release relying on the rise of intracellular Ca2+. Transepithelial potential also controls ATP release, also acting via an A1 receptor-dependent pathway. OBJECTIVES To test the hypothesis that distension-induced ATP release from the bladder urothelium is regulated by adenosine as well as changes to transurothelial potential (TEP). To examine the role of changes to intracellular [Ca(2+) ] in ATP release. MATERIALS AND METHODS Rabbit urothelium/suburothelium membranes were used in an Ussing chamber system. Distension was induced by fluid removal from the chamber bathing the serosal (basolateral) membrane face. The TEP and short-circuit current were measured. ATP was measured in samples aspirated from the serosal chamber by a luciferin-luciferase assay. Intracellular [Ca(2+) ] was measured in isolated urothelial cells using the fluorochrome Fura-2. All experiments were performed at 37°C. RESULTS Distension-induced ATP release was decreased by adenosine (1-10 μm) and enhanced by adenosine deaminase and A1- (but not A2-) receptor antagonists. Distension-induced ATP release was reduced by 2-APB, nifedipine and capsazepine; capsaicin induced ATP release in the absence of distension. ATP and capsaicin, but not adenosine, generated intracellular Ca(2+) transients; adenosine did not affect the ATP-generated Ca(2+) transient. ATP release was dependent on a finite transepithelial potential. Changes to TEP, in the absence of distension, generated ATP release that was in turn reduced by adenosine. CONCLUSION Adenosine exerts a powerful negative feedback control of ATP release from the urothelium via A1 receptor activation. Distension-induced ATP release may be mediated by a rise of the intracellular [Ca(2+) ]. Modulation of distension-induced ATP release by adenosine and TEP may have a common pathway.
Efficient CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing of Phytoene desaturase in Cassava

CRISPR/Cas9 has become a powerful genome-editing tool for introducing genetic changes into crop species. In order to develop capacity for CRISPR/Cas9 technology in the tropical staple cassava (Manihot esculenta), the Phytoene desaturase (MePDS) gene was targeted in two cultivars using constructs carrying gRNAs targeting two sequences within MePDS exon 13. After Agrobacterium-mediated delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 reagents into cassava cells, both constructs induced visible albino phenotypes within cotyledon-stage somatic embryos regenerating on selection medium and the plants regenerated therefrom. A total of 58 (cv. 60444) and 25 (cv. TME 204) plant lines were recovered, of which 38 plant lines (19 from each cultivar) were analyzed for mutagenesis. The frequency of plant lines showing albino phenotype was high, ranging from 90 to 100% in cv. TME 204. Observed albino phenotypes were comprised of full albinos devoid of green tissue and chimeras containing a mixture of white and green tissues. Sequence analysis revealed that 38/38 (100%) of the plant lines examined carried mutations at the targeted MePDS site, with insertions, deletions, and substitutions recorded. One putatively mono-allelic homozygous line (1/19) was found from cv. 60444, while 1 (1/19) and 4 (4/19) putatively bi-allelic homozygous lines were found in 60444 and TME204, respectively. The remaining plant lines, comprised mostly of the chimeras, were found to be putatively heterozygous. We observed minor (1 bp) nucleotide substitutions and or deletions upstream of the 5′ and or downstream of the 3′ targeted MePDS region. The data reported demonstrates that CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing of cassava is highly efficient and relatively simple, generating multi-allelic mutations in both cultivars studied. Modification of MePDS described here generates visually detectable mutated events in a relatively short time frame of 6–8 weeks, and does not require sequencing to confirm editing at the target. It therefore provides a valuable platform to facilitate rapid assessment and optimization of CRISPR/Cas9 and other genome-editing technologies in cassava.