Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Human periosteum-derived cells combined with superporous hydroxyapatite blocks used as an osteogenic bone substitute for periodontal regenerative therapy: an animal implantation study using nude mice.

BACKGROUND A superporous (85%) hydroxyapatite (HA) block was recently developed to improve osteoconductivity, but it was often not clinically successful when used to treat periodontal osseous defects. The primary purpose of this study is to develop a clinically applicable tissue-engineered bone substitute using this HA block and human alveolar periosteum-derived cells. METHODS Commercially available superporous HA blocks were acid treated and subjected to a three-dimensional (3D) culture for periosteal cell cultivation. Cells in the pore regions of the treated HA block were observed on the fracture surface by scanning electron microscopy. After osteogenic induction, the cell-HA complexes were implanted subcutaneously in nude mice. Osteoid formation was histologically evaluated. RESULTS Acid treatment enlarged the interconnections among pores, resulting in the deep penetration of periosteal cells. Under these conditions, cells were maintained for >2 weeks without appreciable cell death in the deep pore regions of the HA block. The cell-HA complexes that received in vitro osteogenic induction formed osteoids in pore regions of the treated HA blocks in vivo. In contrast, most pore regions in the non-pretreated, cell-free HA blocks that were evaluated in vivo remained cell free. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that an acid-treated HA block could function as a better scaffold for the 3D high-density culture of human periosteal cells in vitro, and this cell-HA complex had significant osteogenic potential at the site of implantation in vivo. Compared with the cell-free HA block, our cell-HA complex using periosteal cells, which are the most accessible for clinical periodontists, showed promising results as a bone substitute in periodontal regenerative therapy.
No Evidence for Linkage and Association between 4q Microsatellite Markers and Nonsyndromic Cleft Lip and Palate in Chilean Case-Parents Trios

Objective Nonsyndromic cleft lip/palate (NSCLP) has the characteristics of a complex genetic trait. Linkage and association studies have suggested that one or more clefting loci may be located on chromosome 4q. The goal of this study was to evaluate the possible linkage and association due to linkage disequilibrium between five microsatellite markers located on 4q28 to 4q33 and NSCLP, using the case-parent trio design. Subjects and Methods A total of 56 Chilean families (32 simplex and 24 multiplex) were recruited. Microsatellite markers were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction with fluorescent-labeled forward primers, followed by electrophoresis on a laser-fluorescent sequencer. Case-parents trios were ascertained to assess linkage and linkage disequilibrium through a multistage procedure. Transmission disequilibrium tests for multiple alleles were carried out to assess the statistical significance of 4q28 to 4q33 microsatellite markers. Results Only weak evidence for linkage was obtained for the FGA marker (asymptotic uncorrected p value = .08 and empirical p value = .05). Only the FGA and UCP1 markers were selected for association analysis in trios, with unrelated cases achieving a nearly significant result for the UCP1 marker (asymptotic uncorrected p value = .07 and empirical p value = .19). Conclusion Though the FGA and UCP1 markers showed nearly significant p values for linkage and association, respectively, the results of the present study provided insufficient evidence of the existence of a major susceptibility locus in the 4q region that was analyzed in the present study.
In Vitro Penetration of Human Corneal Epithelium by Acanthamoeba castellanii: A Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy Study

Human corneal buttons were exposed to Acanthamoeba castellanii trophozoites and cysts for 12 hours at 35°C. The buttons examined by light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy had severe epithelial ulceration and penetration by trophozoites. Observations on trophozoites below the surface suggest that penetration is accomplished by both secreted cytolytic enzymes and phagocytosis. It is likely that the secretion of one or more enzymes constitutes the initial step in preparing the host tissue for endocytosis or that the secretory mechanism is used by the amebas to move through the outer squamous layer to the basement epithelium where phagocytosis occurs. Based on this study and a previous study, it appears that entry into the cornea is a two-step process involving adherence and penetration by trophozoites.
One-year results of a prospective multicenter study on Brånemark System implants with a TiUnite surface.

BACKGROUND A moderately rough surface implant (TiUnite, Nobel Biocare AB, Göteborg, Sweden) was introduced in 2000. Laboratory studies and some clinical studies have demonstrated excellent bone response in the early healing phase. PURPOSE The aim of this prospective multicenter study was to follow a large number of consecutively treated patients using Brånemark System implants with the TiUnite surface. The current report constitutes the 1-year data of a planned 3-year study. MATERIALS AND METHODS Originally, the study comprised 43 surgeons from 22 centers in Sweden, Norway, and Finland. Five centers were excluded from the study because of poor compliance. Thus, 187 patients treated with 478 TiUnite implants were followed during 1 year of function. The majority of implants were inserted in maxillae (357 implants), and 78 of the implant sites were assigned the quality 4 figure. Radiographic evaluations were performed. RESULTS Five implants were lost up to and including the 1-year follow-up, revealing implant cumulative survival rates of 98.6% and 100% for maxillae and mandibles, respectively. Three implants failed in quality 4 bone (3.8%). The mean marginal bone resorption at the end of the study period was 1.4 mm. The number of withdrawals of patients during the first year was high (19.3%). CONCLUSION The present investigation showed a high implant cumulative survival rate of 98.9%. Values of marginal bone resorption were within normal ranges. No adverse effects of the TiUnite surface were reported, and complications during the study period were few and similar to those reported for the turned implant surface. However, the high number of excluded patients and the relatively high number of withdrawals must be observed and considered when interpreting data.
Structure, interactions, and dynamics of the RING domain from human TRAF6

A key step in the signaling cascade responsible for activation of the transcription factor NF‐κB involves Lys63‐linked polyubiquitination of TRAF6. Covalent attachment of ubiquitin (Ub) to TRAF6, and subsequent poly(Ub) chain synthesis, is catalyzed by the hUev1a–hUbc13 heterodimer. hUbc13 is a catalytically competent E2 enzyme, and hUev1a is an E2‐like protein that binds substrate Ub. The hUev1a–hUbc13 heterodimer is targeted to TRAF6 through interactions between hUbc13 and the N‐terminal RING domain from TRAF6. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to determine the solution state structure of the RING domain from human TRAF6, and the interaction between hUbc13 and TRAF6 was characterized using NMR chemical shift mapping. The main‐chain dynamics of the RING domain from TRAF6 were studied using 15N NMR relaxation. Analysis of the main‐chain dynamics data indicates that residues within the α‐helix and β‐sheet of the RING domain are as rigid as regions of canonical secondary structure in larger proteins, consistent with the biological role of RING‐domain E3 proteins, which requires that the E3 contain a recognition site for recruitment of E2 ubiquitin conjugation enzymes.
Lidocaine Does Not Prevent Bispectral Index Increases in Response to Endotracheal Intubation

We investigated the effect of IV lidocaine on the hemodynamic and bispectral index responses to induction of general anesthesia and endotracheal intubation. Forty patients (ASA I) were randomly allocated into 2 groups of 20 to receive normal saline or lidocaine 1.5 mg/kg IV 30 s after induction. Ninety seconds later, endotracheal intubation was performed. Systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and bispectral index were measured at baseline, 1 min after induction, at preintubation, and every minute until 5 min after endotracheal intubation. Bispectral index at 1 min after induction and preintubation in the lidocaine group were significantly lower compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Systolic blood pressure increased significantly at 1 and 2 min after intubation in the control group compared with the baseline value (P < 0.05) but did not increase significantly in the lidocaine group. Heart rate increased at 1 to 3 min in both groups (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between the two groups. One patient in the control group had recall of the procedure. We conclude that the administration of IV lidocaine (1.5 mg/kg) does not suppress the hypnotic response to endotracheal intubation.
Differential Distribution of Four Hyperpolarization-Activated Cation Channels in Mouse Brain

Abstract Hyperpolarization-activated cation currents, termed Ih, are observed in a variety of neurons. Four members of a gene family encoding hyperpolarization-activated cyclic-nucleotide-gated cation channels (HCN1-4) have been cloned. The regional expression and cellular localization of the four HCN channel types in mouse brain was investigated using in situ hybridization. The expression of HCN1 was restricted to the olfactory bulb, cerebral cortex, hippocampus, superior colliculus and cerebellum. In contrast, HCN2 transcripts were found at high levels nearly ubiquitiously in the brain, and the strongest signals were seen in the olfactory bulb, hippocampus, thalamus and brain stem. HCN3 was uniformly expressed at very low levels throughout the brain. Finally, HCN4 transcripts were prominently expressed selectively in the thalamus and olfactory bulb. Some neurons expressed two or more HCN channel transcripts including hippocampal pyramidal neurons (HCN1, HCN2 and low levels of HCN 4) and thalamic relay neurons (HCN2 and HCN4). Our results demonstrate that each HCN channel transcript has a unique distribution in the brain. Furthermore, they suggest that the heterogeneity of neuronal Ih may be, at least in part, due to the differential expression of HCN channel genes.
The Relationship Between CSF HVA/5-HIAA Ratio and Suicide Intent in Suicide Attempters

There is a need to find stable biomarkers for suicidal behavior and suicide prediction. Reduced homovanillic acid/5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (HVA/5-HIAA) ratios in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in depressed suicide attempters have been reported. Suicide intent is a predictor of repetition of attempts and suicide. In the present study we investigated the relationship of HVA/5-HIAA ratio to the scales rating suicide intent and depressive symptoms. Fifteen consecutive medication-free male suicide attempters admitted to a psychiatric ward at the Karolinska Hospital and eight healthy male volunteers underwent lumbar puncture and had the CSF monoamine metabolite levels assayed. Patients were assessed with the Beck Suicide Intent Scale (SIS), the Montgomery Asberg Depression rating Scale (MADRS) and the Chapman Scale of Anhedonia. Within the suicide attempter group, HVA/5-HIAA ratio was significantly associated with the Suicide Intent Scale (SIS), but not with the MADRS scale or the Chapman Scale of Anhedonia indicating that the HVA/5-HIAA ratio may be a biomarker of suicide intent.
Three Essays on the Microstructure of the BIST

ABSTRACT Three Essays on the Microstructure of the BIST Osman Ulas Aktas, Ph. D. Concordia University, 2016 This thesis consists of three essays. The first essay (chapter 2) examines the accuracy of five algorithms for classifying trades as buyer- or seller-initiated for BIST-30 index constituents over a period including the Lehman collapse. The highest classification accuracy rate (over 95%) is for the one-second lagged Lee & Ready (LR) algorithm. The LR’s classification accuracy is highest (lowest) for trades representing mixed agency and principal (pure principal) relations between clients and executing brokers. Unlike for U.S. markets, almost all trades are classifiable with accuracy rates of 90-plus percent for both long and short trades. As for U.S. markets, higher misclassification rates occur for trades in the first versus last 30 minutes of the trading day, as the time between consecutive trades decreases, and for decreasing trade sizes. The second essay (chapter 3) examines the trade price effects and their determinants for BIST-30 index constituents for a period that includes the Global Financial Crisis and the Lehman collapse. Consistent with theoretical predications, we find that informed trades in the BIST tend to be large. Our findings that price discovery appears to be fairly rapid on the BIST and that the average multi-sample stock trade price effect of less than 30 basis points is competitive with other markets have important implications for the purchase and execution decisions of investors. Our finding of positive mean price effects for short trades that are larger for seller-initiated trades and larger than for long trades has implications for the ongoing debate about the regulation of short sales since it suggest that the average short sales does not depress prices. Furthermore, the higher price effects of (especially buyer-initiated) trades in the last minutes of a trading session and the variation in price effects with whether the client-broker relationship is agency, principal or mixed have important implications for market regulators in terms of refining their surveillance systems to better control any inappropriate stealth trading or end-of-session price manipulation. The third essay (chapter 4) examines the price-limit hits for members of the BIST-50 index during the March 2008 through March 2009 period. The effects of price-limits are not homogeneous for upper and lower hits when they occur and if they continue in a subsequent trading session. Our results are supportive of the no-, dampening and spillover effects on volatility hypotheses, overreaction and no-effect price hypotheses, magnet price effect hypothesis, and greater informational asymmetric effect on market-quality hypothesis. They are not supportive of the price-delay hypothesis, and trading interference hypothesis. The results are robust using equi-distant and trade-by-trade returns and volatility measures ccounting for the autocorrelations in these return series. The results have implications for regulators contemplating the introduction of similar mechanisms or fine-tuning their current mechanisms.
Characteristics of Alzheimer's Disease Patients with Severe Executive Disorders.

BACKGROUND Executive dysfunctions in Alzheimer's disease (AD) have been assessed using variable batteries and/or in selected populations. OBJECTIVE The primary objective of this observational study was to determine the prevalence and severity of executive dysfunction in AD patients using a previously validated battery. The secondary objective was to determine the characteristics including treatment outcomes of AD patients with severe executive dysfunction. METHODS The study included AD patients with mild-to-moderate dementia aged 60 or over, consulting in various clinical settings including memory clinics and requiring the introduction of an antidementia drug. Executive dysfunction was examined using a validated, shortened executive battery. RESULTS 381 patients were included. Executive dysfunctions were observed in 88.2% of the patients (95% CI: 84.9-91.4) and were severe (defined as ≥2/3 impaired scores) in 80.4% (95% CI: 76.9-84.8). Global hypoactivity with apathy was more frequent (p = 0.0001) than impairment in executive function tests. The 308 patients with severe executive dysfunction were older (p = 0.003) and had more severe dementia (p = 0.0001). Similarly, in the subset of 257 patients with mild dementia, individuals with severe executive dysfunction were older (p = 0.003) and had more severe dementia. Global hypoactivity was independently associated with difficulties in IADL and a higher caregiver burden (p = 0.0001 for both). The severity of executive dysfunction did not significantly influence the patients' outcomes at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS Executive dysfunction is a very common disorder in a representative population of patients with mild-to-moderate AD. It was independently correlated with impaired autonomy and increased caregiver burden but did not significantly influence treatment outcomes.
Transmission of Global Commodity Prices to Domestic Producer Prices: A Comprehensive Analysis

Utilizing a comprehensive dataset that includes a sample of 104 countries for corn, 54 countries for soybeans, 82 countries for wheat, and 77 countries for rice and covers the period from 1991 to 2013, we estimate a globally comprehensive but heterogeneous (country-specific) transmission elasticities between international prices and domestic producer prices. We mainly utilize the traditional two-step Engel-Grange cointegration model and the recently developed nonlinear autoregressive distributed lags (NARD) model to estimate the transmission elasticities. We find mixed evidence on the existence of long-run relationship between international and domestic price. For corn 66 out of 104, for soybeans 27 out of 54, for wheat 47 out of 82, and for rice 49 out of 77 countries, we fail to have a long-run relationship. For corn and soybeans, the long-run relationship is evident in top producing countries whereas the converse is evident for wheat and rice, particularly for rice. We also find that the pass-through of international to domestic prices is asymmetric in the majority cases — these asymmetries are negative, i.e., the domestic producer prices react less fully to an increase in international prices than to a decrease and are acute in the short-run than the long-run. We also estimate the crop-specific short-run global mean transmission elasticities, which vary from 0.358 (corn) to 0.524 (soybeans).
Novel mutations in the human CYP21 gene

The great majority of genetic defects underlying steroid 21‐hydroxylase deficiency appear to result from intergenic recombinations between the homologous CYP21 and CYP21P genes. For a minority, novel sporadic point mutations have been detected. De novo mutations in CYP21 have also been reported, but only a few studies have systematically screened their occurrence. We here describe a population‐based patient sample in order to estimate the rate of single‐family (i.e. sporadic) and de novo germline mutations in the human CYP21 locus. Among 76 Finnish families were observed three single‐family mutations and two de novo mutations in CYP21. The rates obtained, ∼5% and ∼2% for novel and de novo mutations, respectively, indicate that they are not rare and that their occurrence should not be ignored in genetic diagnostics of this disorder. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A thematic review of the spirituality literature within palliative care.

Research related to spirituality and health has developed from relative obscurity to a thriving field of study over the last 20 years both within palliative care and within health care in general. This paper provides a descriptive review of the literature related to spirituality and health, with a special focus on spirituality within palliative and end-of-life care. CINAHL and MEDLINE were searched under the keywords "spirituality" and "palliative. " The review revealed five overarching themes in the general spirituality and health literature: (1) conceptual difficulties related to the term spirituality and proposed solutions; (2) the relationship between spirituality and religion; (3) the effects of spirituality on health; (4) the subjects enrolled in spirituality-related research; and (5) the provision of spiritual care. While the spirituality literature within palliative care shared these overarching characteristics of the broader spirituality and health literature, six specific thematic areas transpired: (1) general discussions of spirituality in palliative care; (2) the spiritual needs of palliative care patients; (3) the nature of hope in palliative care; (4) tools and therapies related to spirituality; (5) effects of religion in palliative care; and (6) spirituality and palliative care professionals. The literature as it relates to these themes is summarized in this review. Spirituality is emerging largely as a concept void of religion, an instrument to be utilized in improving or maintaining health and quality of life, and focussed predominantly on the "self" largely in the form of the patient. While representing an important beginning, the authors suggest that a more integral approach needs to be developed that elicits the experiential nature of spirituality that is shared by patients, family members, and health care professionals alike.
Ranking Lepidopteran Use of Native Versus Introduced Plants

Abstract: In light of the wide‐scale replacement of native plants in North America with introduced, invasive species and noninvasive ornamental plants that evolved elsewhere, we compared the value of native and introduced plants in terms of their ability to serve as host plants for Lepidoptera. Insect herbivores such as Lepidoptera larvae are critically important components of terrestrial food webs and any reduction in their biomass or diversity due to the loss of acceptable host plants is predicted to reduce the production of the many insectivores in higher trophic levels. We conducted an exhaustive search of host records in the literature. We used the data we gathered to rank all 1385 plant genera that occur in the mid‐Atlantic states of the United States by their ability to support Lepidoptera richness. Statistical comparisons were made with Welch's test for equality of means. Woody plants supported more species of moths and butterflies than herbaceous plants, native plants supported more species than introduced plants, and native woody plants with ornamental value supported more Lepidoptera species than introduced woody ornamentals. All these differences were highly significant. Our rankings provide a relative measure that will be useful for restoration ecologists, landscape architects and designers, land managers, and landowners who wish to raise the carrying capacity of particular areas by selecting plants with the greatest capacity for supporting biodiversity.
An Encoding Advantage for Own-Race versus Other-Race Faces

Studies have shown that individuals are better able to recognise the faces of people from their own race than the faces of people from other races. Although the so-called own-race effect has been generally regarded as an advantage in recognition memory, differences in the processing of the own-race versus other-race faces might also be found at the earlier stages of perceptual encoding. In this study, the perceptual basis of the own-race effect was investigated by generating a continuum of images by morphing an East Asian parent face with a Caucasian parent face. In a same/different discrimination task, East Asian and Caucasian participants judged whether the morph faces were physically identical to, or different from, their parent faces. The results revealed a significant race-of-participant by race-of-face interaction such that East Asian participants were better able to discriminate East Asian faces, whereas Caucasian participants were better able to discriminate Caucasian faces. These results indicate that an own-race advantage occurs at the encoding stage of face processing.