Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An in vitro assessment of the effects of three surface treatments on repair bond strength of aged composites.

OBJECTIVE This study evaluated the effectiveness of three surface treatments on repair shear bond strength (SBS) of aged composites. METHODS A total of 120 cylindrical samples made of a micro-hybrid composite (Clearfil AP-X) were randomly assigned to one control and three experimental groups (n=30) after water storage (3 weeks). All experimental groups included surface roughening with diamond burs. Subsequent treatments were provided as follows: group 1 - only (self-etching) bonding; group 2 - silane and bonding; and group 3 - phosphoric acid etching, silane, and bonding. The composites were repaired with the same brand and were aged (water storage [48 hours] and thermocycling [2000 cycles]). Each group was divided into two subgroups (each, n=15): new - water storage at 37°C for one week; old - water storage for six months. The SBS was tested. The fracture mode was assessed under 40× magnification. RESULTS Mean SBS values (MPa) for the study subgroups were as follows: control (new: 3.38 ± 1.6; old: 1 ± 0.76), group 1 (new: 27.3 ± 1.8; old: 25.7 ± 1.9), group 2 (new: 59.1 ± 7.9; old: 50.8 ± 4.6), and group 3 (new: 48.5 ± 8.6; old: 39 ± 3.5). Significant influence of the conditioning method and the duration of water storage was observed (p<0.01 [two-way analysis of variance {ANOVA}]). The SBS of all groups were significantly different (all p values <0.01 [Tukey]). Longer water storage time significantly reduced repair bond strength in all experimental groups (p<0.01). Although the control group and group 1 showed approximately 100% and 75% adhesive failures, respectively, groups 2 and 3, respectively, demonstrated about 75% mixed and cohesive failures. Weibull analysis showed that groups 2 and 1 had the lowest and highest probabilities of failure among the experimental groups, respectively. CONCLUSION All experimental groups produced acceptable SBS levels; however, use of silane and bonding systems showed the most superior results. Acid etching reduced the SBS.
Medications for the treatment of acute coronary syndromes

Patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes without ST elevation on their electrocardiogram continue to contribute an important healthcare burden. Medical treatments to control symptoms include nitrates and β-blockers. Morphine is a very effective analgesic although its use may be associated with adverse outcomes. Oral antiplatelet therapies including aspirin and clopidogrel form a cornerstone of prognostically modifying therapy. Similarly, the intravenous IIb/IIIa antagonists have emerged as having an important role in patients undergoing coronary intervention. Low molecular weight heparins are more convenient to use than unfractionated heparin and may be more effective. Care should be taken to avoid mixing the two antithrombins as this contributes to increased bleeding risk. Statins can impact on short-term outcomes when given during the acute admission; and this benefit is augmented if high doses are used.
Secretory fibres in the trigeminal part of the lingual nerve to the mandibular salivary gland of the rat.

Hellekant, G. and Y. Kasahara. Secretory fibres in the trigeminal pa'. rt of the lingual nerve to the mandibular salivary gland of the rat. Acta physiol. scand. 1973. 89. 198–207. The nerve supply to and the secretion from the mandibular salivary gland of the rat have been studied. It was found that a) secretory fibres are given off from the chorda-lingual nerve on its peripheral course until it reaches the mandibular and sublingual ducts, b) secretion of saliva was observed and secretion could be evoked even when the facial portion of the chorda-lingual nerves was cut. The flow did not stop until its trigeminal portion was also cut, c) the cessation of secretion after the trigeminal portion was cut was not the result of a loss of sensory impulses to the CNS, d) impulses could also be recorded fiorn the nerve fibres given off from the chorda-lingual nerve to the gland after its facial portion was cut; e) electrical stimulation of the peripheral part of the trigeminal portion elicited secretion, which was generally larger than that in response to stimulation of the facial portion. Simultaneous stimulation of both portions gave the largest secretion, f) no difference between the sodium and potassium concentrations in saliva elicited by stimulation of the two nerve portions was observed. Atropine blocked the secretion caused by stimulation of any of the nerves.
A Contribution for Characterizing Measured Three-Phase Unbalanced Voltage Sags Algorithm

This paper addresses the problem of characterizing voltage sags from measured three-phase voltages. A new algorithm based on three-phase voltage magnitudes and their phase angles is proposed in this paper. This new algorithm is named the three- phase three-angle algorithm (TP-TA). The proposed algorithm is compared with the well known symmetrical component (S-C) and the six-phase (S-P) algorithms defined to identify voltage sags type C and D. Numerical examples and recorded voltages were used to validate the proposed algorithm and compared with the other two, yielding better results for the TP-TA algorithm.
La orientación universitaria, veinticinco años después

Este articulo pretende ser un homenaje a la labor de la profesora Maria Teresa Diaz Allue, quien hace algo mas de veinticinco anos inicio una serie de trabajos en el campo de la orientacion universitaria. Se presentan los resultados de una investigacion que, en la misma linea, busca profundizar en la comprension de los fenomenos que rodean a la practica orientadora en las universidades de la Comunidad de Madrid
Channelling and formation of ‘active’ formaldehyde in dimethylglycine oxidase

Here we report crystal structures of dimethylglycine oxidase (DMGO) from the bacterium Arthrobacter globiformis, a bifunctional enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of N,N‐dimethyl glycine and the formation of 5,10‐methylene tetrahydrofolate. The N‐terminal region binds FAD covalently and oxidizes dimethylglycine to a labile iminium intermediate. The C‐terminal region binds tetrahydrofolate, comprises three domains arranged in a ring‐like structure and is related to the T‐protein of the glycine cleavage system. The complex with folinic acid indicates that this enzyme selectively activates the N10 amino group for initial attack on the substrate. Dead‐end reactions with oxidized folate are avoided by the strict stereochemical constraints imposed by the folate‐binding funnel. The active sites in DMGO are ∼40 Å apart, connected by a large irregular internal cavity. The tetrahydrofolate‐binding funnel serves as a transient entry–exit port, and access to the internal cavity is controlled kinetically by tetrahydrofolate binding. The internal cavity enables sequestration of the reactive iminium intermediate prior to reaction with tetrahydrofolate and avoids formation of toxic formaldehyde. This mode of channelling in DMGO is distinct from other channelling mechanisms.
Evaluation on Antisperm Antibody in Infertile Men with Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia

Objective To evaluate the level of antisperm antibody (ASA) in infertile men with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT). Methods Forty-six infertile men with OAT were enrolled into this study. Sperm samples were screened by the direct immunobead test for ASA type IgG and IgA according to the WHO laboratory manual. Results Of the 46 patients with OAT assessed for ASA-IgG, 2 had immunobead binding which were 22% and 27%, respectively, and the sub-positive rate was 4.3%. No case had the clinical positive level according to the WHO criteria (≥ 50% of the motile sperm with immunobead binding). ASA-IgA was not detected in all cases. Conclusion A significant incidence or high level of ASA could not be found in infertile men with OAT, which suggests that ASA is not associated with the pathogenesis of infertile men with OAT.
El impacto de los ingresos por remesas en el gasto en salud de los hogares

Las consecuencias sociales y economicas de la emigracion han tomado gran importancia en el Ecuador, especialmente a partir del proceso migratorio ocurrido a finales de las decada de los noventa y por el creciente flujo de remesas que ingresan al pais. Las remesas representan hoy el segundo rubro en importancia en ingresos para el pais, luego de las exportaciones petroleras. La presente investigacion analiza el efecto de las remesas en el gasto de los hogares en salud preventiva y curativa. A traves de algunas tecnicas econometricas: propensity score matching, variable instrumental y OLS pesados, se demuestra el nulo o insignificante efecto que tienen las remesas en el gasto en salud en los hogares que cuentan con estos ingresos en comparacion con los que no. Este comportamiento de la inversion en salud en los hogares que cuentan con remesas posiblemente responde al perfil del emigrante ecuatoriano que no necesariamente pertenece a los sectores mas desafortunados, sino mas bien a los quintiles donde ya se invierte en salud. La relevancia del estudio se debe a la importancia de lograr y mantener la salud como un imperativo para el desarrollo humano y el ejercicio de los derechos humanos.
Significance of Vasculogenic Mimicry Formation in Gastric Carcinoma

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance and prognostic roles of vasculogenic mimicry (VM) and elucidate their intrinsic association with molecular markers. Methods: 89 human gastric cancer cases with detailed follow-up and clinicopathologic data were collected. CD34/periodic acid-Schiff double staining was performed to validate the existence of VM. Immunohistochemistry was performed to explore the expression of different molecular factors. Results: VM was observed in 24 gastric cancer patients. They were prone to higher histological grade, hematogenous metastasis, distant recurrence, and chance of progression to stage III or IV (p < 0.05). The VM group had shorter overall and disease-free survival (p < 0.05). VM negativity was independently prognostic for prolonged overall or disease-free survival (p < 0.05). VM was positively associated with levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2, matrix metalloproteinase-9, vascular endothelial growth factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (p < 0.05), but not with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (p > 0.05). Conclusion: VM should be regarded as a good marker to indicate pathobiological behaviors of gastric cancer. Using antibodies against matrix metalloproteinases, vascular endothelial growth factor, or vascular endothelial growth factor receptors could be strategies to counteract VM formation.
Systemic oxidative stress and antioxidant status in Chronic Bronchitis patients

Background: Chronic Bronchitis is associated with high incidence of morbidity and mortality. The imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants is thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of Chronic Bronchitis. Methods & Results: A total number of 60 subjects comprising of 30 healthy controls and 30 chronic bronchitis cases were studied. In all the subjects, serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) as a biomarker of lipid peroxidation and antioxidants like whole blood reduced glutathione (GSH), serum vitamin C, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were estimated. The levels of whole blood reduced glutathione; serum vitamin C and SOD activity were significantly decreased in chronic bronchitis patients when compared to controls. Serum MDA was significantly increased in chronic bronchitis patients when compared to controls. Conclusion: The presence of increased systemic oxidative stress in chronic bronchitis patients seems to be associated with current active smoking and systemic inflammation. The decrease in antioxidant levels appears to be mainly a consequence of increased oxidative stress. This suggests that oxidative stress is likely to be involved in pathogenesis of chronic bronchitis.
Seasonal variation of secondary organic aerosol tracers in Central Tibetan Plateau

Abstract. Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) affects the earth's radiation balance and global climate. High-elevation areas are sensitive to global climate change. However, at present, SOA origins and seasonal variations are understudied in remote high-elevation areas. In this study, particulate samples were collected from July 2012 to July 2013 at the remote Nam Co (NC) site, Central Tibetan Plateau and analyzed for SOA tracers from biogenic (isoprene, monoterpenes and β-caryophyllene) and anthropogenic (aromatics) precursors. Among these compounds, isoprene SOA (SOAI) tracers represented the majority (26.6 ± 44.2 ng m−3), followed by monoterpene SOA (SOAM) tracers (0.97 ± 0.57 ng m−3), aromatic SOA (SOAA) tracer (2,3-dihydroxy-4-oxopentanoic acid, DHOPA, 0.25 ± 0.18 ng m−3) and β-caryophyllene SOA tracer (β-caryophyllenic acid, 0.09 ± 0.10 ng m−3). SOAI tracers exhibited high concentrations in the summer and low levels in the winter. The similar temperature dependence of SOAI tracers and isoprene emission suggested that the seasonal variation of SOAI tracers at the NC site was mainly influenced by the isoprene emission. The ratio of high-NOx to low-NOx products of SOAI (2-methylglyceric acid to 2-methyltetrols) was highest in the winter and lowest in the summer, due to the influence of temperature and relative humidity. The seasonal variation of SOAM tracers was impacted by monoterpenes emission and gas-particle partitioning. During the summer to the fall, temperature effect on partitioning was the dominant process influencing SOAM tracers' variation; while the temperature effect on emission was the dominant process influencing SOAM tracers' variation during the winter to the spring. SOAM tracer levels did not elevate with increased temperature in the summer, probably resulting from the counteraction of temperature effects on emission and partitioning. The concentrations of DHOPA were 1–2 orders of magnitude lower than those reported in the urban regions of the world. Due to the transport of air pollutants from the adjacent Bangladesh and northeastern India, DHOPA presented relatively higher levels in the summer. In the winter when air masses mainly came from northwestern India, mass fractions of DHOPA in total tracers increased, although its concentrations declined. The SOA-tracer method was applied to estimate secondary organic carbon (SOC) from these four precursors. The annual average of SOC was 0.22 ± 0.29 μgC m−3, with the biogenic SOC (sum of isoprene, monoterpenes and β-caryophyllene) accounting for 75 %. In the summer, isoprene was the major precursor with its SOC contributions of 81 %. In the winter when the emission of biogenic precursors largely dropped, the contributions of aromatic SOC increased. Our study implies that anthropogenic pollutants emitted in the Indian subcontinent could be transported to the TP and have an impact on SOC over the remote NC.
Design of Miniaturized Triplexers via Sharing a Single Triple-Mode Cavity Resonator

A novel approach for design of a miniaturized cavity triplexer is proposed in this paper by using triple-mode resonator (TMR) as a common feeder of three frequency channels in a triplexer. Three frequency channels are generated by three fundamental modes of a single rectangular triple-mode cavity resonator. Without installing any connection-oriented junction network, i.e., T-junction or star junction, only coupling slots are adopted herein to achieve required coupling coefficients and external quality factors toward the specified Chebyshev responses in the three passbands simultaneously. High isolation among these three separated bands can be effectively achieved owing to the modal orthogonality via sharing a common TMR structure as a feeder. Two triplexers are then designed and fabricated using varied topologies. The hybrid resonator triplexer method is presented as the first approach by using a TMR as a feeder to feed three sets of single-mode cavity bandpass filters. As the second approach, the triple-mode triplexer (TMT) method is developed by cascading a few TMRs to form a multistage higher order TMT. Finally, two fabricated triplexer prototypes are tested for experimental verification of the proposed design methodology. Good agreement between measurement and simulation is achieved.
A Comparative Study: Globality versus Locality for Graph Construction in Discriminant Analysis

Local graph based discriminant analysis (DA) algorithms recently have attracted increasing attention to mitigate the limitations of global (graph) DA algorithms. However, there are few particular concerns on the following important issues: whether the local construction is better than the global one for intraclass and interclass graphs, which (intraclass or interclass) graph should locally or globally be constructed? and, further how they should be effectively jointed for good discriminant performances. In this paper, pursuing our previous studies on the graph construction and DA, we firstly address the issues involved above, and then by jointly utilizing both the globality and the locality, we develop, respectively, a Globally marginal and Locally compact Discriminant Analysis (GmLcDA) algorithm based on so-introduced global interclass and local intraclass graphs and a Locally marginal and Globally compact Discriminant Analysis (LmGcDA) based on so-introduced local interclass and global intraclass graphs, the purpose of which is not to show how novel the algorithms are but to illustrate the analyses in theory. Further, by comprehensively comparing the Locally marginal and Locally compact DA (LmLcDA) based on locality alone, the Globally marginal and Globally compact Discriminant Analysis (GmGcDA) just based on globality alone, GmLcDA, and LmGcDA, we suggest that the joint of locally constructed intraclass and globally constructed interclass graphs is more discriminant.
A retroviral RNA secondary structure required for efficient initiation of reverse transcription

Genetic evidence is presented which suggests the existence of an important structural element in the 5' noncoding region of avian retrovirus RNA. The proposed structure, which we term the U5-leader stem, is composed of sequences in the middle of U5 and in the leader, flanking the primer-binding site. U5 and leader mutations which would disrupt this structure caused a partial replication defect. However, nucleotide substitutions in the leader, which would structurally compensate for a U5 deletion mutation, restored normal replication. Analysis of replication intermediates of viruses with the above mutations suggests that the U5-leader stem is required for efficient DNA synthesis in vivo and for initiation of DNA synthesis from the tRNA(Trp) primer in melittin-activated virions. However, this structure does not appear to be required for binding of the tRNA(Trp) primer to viral RNA. These results support a role for the U5-leader stem structure, independent of its primary sequence, in the initiation of retroviral replication.
Melatonin and the circadian entrainment of metabolic and hormonal activities in primary isolated adipocytes

Abstract: The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of the in vitro circadian‐like exposure to melatonin [in the presence or absence of insulin (Ins)] on the metabolism and clock gene expression in adipocytes. To simulate the cyclic characteristics of the daily melatonin profile, isolated rat adipocytes were exposed in a circadian‐like pattern to melatonin added to the incubating medium for 12 hr (mimicking the night), followed by an equal period without melatonin (mimicking the day) combined or not with Ins. This intermittent incubation was interrupted when four and a half 24‐hr cycles were fulfilled. At the end, either during the induced night (melatonin present) or the induced day (melatonin absent), the rates of lipolysis and D‐[U‐14C]‐glucose incorporation into lipids were estimated, in addition to the determination of lipogenic [glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase and fatty acid synthase (FAS)] and lipolytic (hormone sensitive lipase) enzymes and clock gene (Bmal‐1b, Clock, Per‐1 and Cry‐1) mRNA expression. The leptin release was also measured. During the induced night, the following effects were observed: an increase in the mRNA expression of Clock, Per‐1 and FAS; a rise in lipogenic response and leptin secretion; and a decrease in the lipolytic activity. The intermittent exposure of adipocytes to melatonin temporally and rhythmically synchronized their metabolic and hormonal function in a circadian fashion, mimicking what is observed in vivo in animals during the daily light–dark cycle. Therefore, this work helps to clarify the physiological relevance of the circadian pattern of melatonin secretion and its interactions with Ins, contributing to a better understanding of the adipocyte biology.
Expanding the black box - depression, antidepressants, and the risk of suicide.

On May 2, the FDA ordered that all antidepressant medications carry an expanded black-box warning incorporating information about an increased risk of suicidal symptoms in young adults 18 to 24 years of age. Dr. Richard Friedman and Andrew Leon write that this new label has the potential to confuse both patients and physicians. Dr. Andrew Leon discusses the expansion of the black-box warning for antidepressants to cover the risk of suicidality among young adults, the suicidality risk associated with depression, and the data available for assessing these risks. Dr. Leon is a professor of biostatistics in psychiatry and a professor of public health at Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, and a member of the FDA's Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee.
The Cardiovascular Effects of Colchicine: A Comprehensive Review

Colchicine is used extensively in the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. Recent data have demonstrated additional benefit in a variety of cardiovascular disorders, including acute and recurrent pericarditis, postpericardiotomy syndrome, atrial fibrillation, stable ischemic heart disease, and possibly chronic heart failure. This article serves as a focused and updated discussion on the cardiovascular effects of colchicine and emphasizes the importance of randomized, placebo-controlled trials to further our clinical and pharmacological understanding of these findings.
Ceragenins as Mimics of Endogenous Antimicrobial Peptides

Ceragenins are small molecule mimics of endogenous antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), and as such display broadspectrum antimicrobial activity. These molecules are derived from a common bile acid and can be prepared at a large scale. Because ceragenins are not peptide based, they are not substrates for proteases. Gram-negative and positive bacteria are susceptible to ceragenins, including drug resistant organisms. Although ceragenins and colistin have common features, ceragenins retain full antibacterial activity against colistin-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Bactericidal activity of ceragenins involves selective association with bacterial membranes followed by membrane depolarization. Due to this mechanism of action, which provides bactericidal activity against sessile bacteria, ceragenins eradicate established biofilms. Lipid-enveloped viruses (e.g. vaccinia) are deactivated by ceragenins, and topical application of a lead ceragenin decreases transmission of the virus in skin in a murine model. More recently, the activities of ceragenins against fungal pathogens have been reported, with minimum inhibition concentrations comparable to clinically used anti-fungal agents. In addition to antimicrobial activities, ceragenins have been shown to display some of the “secondary” activities attributed to AMPs. In vivo use of ceragenins to eradicate biofilms, prevent infection and accelerate bone growth demonstrate some of the types of applications in which ceragenins may be used to augment or replace activities of endogenous AMPs.