Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Endothelial Cell Response to Fusobacterium nucleatum

ABSTRACT Vascular response is an essential aspect of an effective immune response to periodontal disease pathogens, as new blood vessel formation contributes to wound healing and inflammation. Gaining a greater understanding of the factors that affect vascular response may then contribute to future breakthroughs in dental medicine. In this study, we have characterized the endothelial cell response to the common bacterium Fusobacterium nucleatum, an important bridging species that facilitates the activity of late colonizers of the dental biofilm. Endothelial cells were infected with Fusobacterium nucleatum (strain 25586) for periods of 4, 12, 24, or 48 h. Cell proliferation and tube formation were analyzed, and expression of adhesion molecules (CD31 and CD34) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors 1 and 2 was measured by fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis. Data indicate that F. nucleatum impaired endothelial cell proliferation and tube formation. The findings suggest that the modified endothelial cell response acts as a mechanism promoting the pathogenic progression of periodontal diseases and may potentially suggest the involvement of periodontopathogens in systemic diseases associated with periodontal inflammation.
Efficient  $l_{1}$ -Norm-Based Low-Rank Matrix Approximations for Large-Scale Problems Using Alternating Rectified Gradient Method

Low-rank matrix approximation plays an important role in the area of computer vision and image processing. Most of the conventional low-rank matrix approximation methods are based on the l2-norm (Frobenius norm) with principal component analysis (PCA) being the most popular among them. However, this can give a poor approximation for data contaminated by outliers (including missing data), because the l2-norm exaggerates the negative effect of outliers. Recently, to overcome this problem, various methods based on the l1-norm, such as robust PCA methods, have been proposed for low-rank matrix approximation. Despite the robustness of the methods, they require heavy computational effort and substantial memory for high-dimensional data, which is impractical for realworld problems. In this paper, we propose two efficient low-rank factorization methods based on the l1-norm that find proper projection and coefficient matrices using the alternating rectified gradient method. The proposed methods are applied to a number of low-rank matrix approximation problems to demonstrate their efficiency and robustness. The experimental results show that our proposals are efficient in both execution time and reconstruction performance unlike other state-of-the-art methods.
Feature Combination and the kNN Framework in Object Classification

In object classification, feature combination can usually be used to combine the strength of multiple complementary features and produce better classification results than any single one. While multiple kernel learning (MKL) is a popular approach to feature combination in object classification, it does not always perform well in practical applications. On one hand, the optimization process in MKL usually involves a huge consumption of computation and memory space. On the other hand, in some cases, MKL is found to perform no better than the baseline combination methods. This observation motivates us to investigate the underlying mechanism of feature combination with average combination and weighted average combination. As a result, we empirically find that in average combination, it is better to use a sample of the most powerful features instead of all, whereas in one type of weighted average combination, the best classification accuracy comes from a nearly sparse combination. We integrate these observations into the k-nearest neighbors (kNNs) framework, based on which we further discuss some issues related to sparse solution and MKL. Finally, by making use of the kNN framework, we present a new weighted average combination method, which is shown to perform better than MKL in both accuracy and efficiency in experiments. We believe that the work in this paper is helpful in exploring the mechanism underlying feature combination.
Interaction of Prevotella intermedia Strain 17 Leucine-Rich Repeat Domain Protein AdpF with Eukaryotic Cells Promotes Bacterial Internalization

ABSTRACT Prevotella intermedia is an oral bacterium implicated in a variety of oral diseases. Although internalization of this bacterium by nonphagocytic host cells is well established, the molecular players mediating the process are not well known. Here, the properties of a leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain protein, designated AdpF, are described. This protein contains a leucine-rich region composed of 663 amino acid residues, and molecular modeling shows that it folds into a classical curved solenoid structure. The cell surface localization of recombinant AdpF (rAdpF) was confirmed by electron and confocal microscopy analyses. The recombinant form of this protein bound fibronectin in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the protein was internalized by host cells, with the majority of the process accomplished within 30 min. The internalization of rAdpF was inhibited by nystatin, cytochalasin, latrunculin, nocodazole, and wortmannin, indicating that microtubules, microfilaments, and signal transduction are required for the invasion. It is noteworthy that preincubation of eukaryotic cells with AdpF increased P. intermedia 17 internalization by 5- and 10-fold for HeLa and NIH 3T3 fibroblast cell lines, respectively. The addition of the rAdpF protein was also very effective in inducing bacterial internalization into the oral epithelial cell line HN4, as well as into primary cells, including human oral keratinocytes (HOKs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Finally, cells exposed to P. intermedia 17 internalized the bacteria more readily upon reinfection. Taken together, our data demonstrate that rAdpF plays a role in the internalization of P. intermedia 17 by a variety of host cells.
Non-Pharmacological Approaches to Reducing Negative Behavioral Symptoms

The management of negative behavioral symptoms among residents with dementia is a challenge that nursing homes face in delivering quality care. This study examines evidence documenting non-pharmacological interventions that reduce negative behavioral symptoms among nursing home residents with dementia and the role occupational therapy practitioners have in this area. A scoping review was completed for intervention studies published from 1987 to 2014, targeting negative behavioral symptoms among nursing home residents above 60 years of age with dementia. Interventions were categorized based on the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Occupational Therapy Practice Framework. Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. Four types of interventions were identified: occupation-based interventions, context and environment interventions, exercise interventions, and daily routine-based interventions. The non-pharmacological interventions were found to align with the scope of occupational therapy. This suggests that occupational therapy practitioners can contribute to the development and evaluation of non-pharmacological interventions aimed to reduce negative behavioral symptoms.
Can we predict who adopts health-promoting foods? Users of functional foods in Finland

Background: Healthy eating has a social pattern, with women and those in high socioeconomic positions most likely to follow dietary guidelines. However, little is known about the association of sociodemographic and health factors with the use of health-promoting functional foods. Objective: The study examined the use of functional foods in Finland. Four widely used product types were examined in detail with respect to sociodemographic factors and personal efforts to promote health. Design: Data were obtained by computer-assisted telephone interviews of 1210 respondents representing the Finnish population above 15 years of age. Logistic regression analysis was applied to analyse the predictors of use of functional foods. Results: Sociodemographic variables were associated with the use of functional foods. The role of gender and age varied. In most cases, high education or high occupational position predicted use. Use was also associated with viewing healthy eating as important and consuming other functional foods. Efforts to lower cholesterol levels predicted the use of cholesterol-lowering spreads. Conclusions: Both sociodemographic factors and personal health efforts play a role in the adoption of functional foods. High socioeconomic position predicts use, whereas age and gender remain product specific. An important aspect is the connection of functional foods with efforts to lead a healthy life. For healthorientated consumers, functional foods may represent a complementary health practice. Keywords: consumers; eating; functional foods; health; sociodemographics
Longitudinal Predictors of Outcomes for Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder

To generate an evidence-based understanding of longitudinal predictors of social outcomes (i.e., employment, social relationships/participation, independent living) of adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), we conducted a systematic literature review of publications since 2000. Twelve publications deriving from eight study samples fit inclusion/exclusion criteria for the review. In these publications, statistically significant predictors of social outcomes fell into five categories: (a) personal characteristics, (b) individual functioning, (c) family context, (d) services, and (e) other factors (i.e., peer influence, health status). However, only two studies demonstrated high methodological quality, and only one category of predictors—individual functioning—was identified across multiple study samples. To inform practices for youth with ASD, there remains a need for high-quality outcome research related to adults with ASD to better understand predictors, especially related to environmental factors such as related to the family and services received.
The Periplasmic Disulfide Oxidoreductase DsbA Contributes to Haemophilus influenzae Pathogenesis

ABSTRACT Haemophilus influenzae is an obligate human pathogen that persistently colonizes the nasopharynx and causes disease when it invades the bloodstream, lungs, or middle ear. Proteins that mediate critical interactions with the host during invasive disease are likely to be secreted. Many secreted proteins require addition of disulfide bonds by the DsbA disulfide oxidoreductase for activity or stability. In this study, we evaluated the role in H. influenzae pathogenesis of DsbA, as well as HbpA, a substrate of DsbA. Mutants of H. influenzae Rd and type b strain Eagan having nonpolar deletions of dsbA were attenuated for bacteremia in animal models, and complemented strains exhibited virulence equivalent to that of the parental strains. Comparison of predicted secreted proteins in H. influenzae to known DsbA substrates in other species revealed several proteins that could contribute to the role of dsbA in virulence. One candidate, the heme transport protein, HbpA, was examined because of the importance of exogenous heme for aerobic growth of H. influenzae. The presence of a dsbA-dependent disulfide bond in HbpA was verified by an alkylation protection assay, and HbpA was less abundant in a dsbA mutant. The hbpA mutant exhibited reduced bacteremia in the mouse model, and complementation restored its in vivo phenotype to that of the parental strain. These results indicate that dsbA is required in vivo and that HbpA and additional DsbA-dependent factors are likely to participate in H. influenzae pathogenesis.
Robust Joint Graph Sparse Coding for Unsupervised Spectral Feature Selection

In this paper, we propose a new unsupervised spectral feature selection model by embedding a graph regularizer into the framework of joint sparse regression for preserving the local structures of data. To do this, we first extract the bases of training data by previous dictionary learning methods and, then, map original data into the basis space to generate their new representations, by proposing a novel joint graph sparse coding (JGSC) model. In JGSC, we first formulate its objective function by simultaneously taking subspace learning and joint sparse regression into account, then, design a new optimization solution to solve the resulting objective function, and further prove the convergence of the proposed solution. Furthermore, we extend JGSC to a robust JGSC (RJGSC) via replacing the least square loss function with a robust loss function, for achieving the same goals and also avoiding the impact of outliers. Finally, experimental results on real data sets showed that both JGSC and RJGSC outperformed the state-of-the-art algorithms in terms of ${k}$ -nearest neighbor classification performance.
Nivel de Actividad Física, Autoeficacia, Beneficios y Barreras Percibidas en Mujeres Mayores Mexicanas Independientes (Physical Activity Level, Exercise Self-Efficacy, Benefits and Perceived Barriers of Independent Mexican Older Women)

This descriptive comparative study examined differences in personal characteristics, exercise self-efficacy, benefits and barriers of independent elderly women to perform physical activity (PA) according with the PA level. Two hundred three women older than 60 years of age, from a community located in Nuevo Leon, Mexico participated in the study. Data was collected using: a) A personal data questionnaire, b) Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale, c) Exercise Benefits/ Barriers Scale and d) Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly were completed. Age was similar in participants with low and acceptable PA level. Participants with lower levels of PA reported consuming more medications, fewer years of education and lower values of exercise self-efficacy, benefits and barriers. In this sample, exercise self-efficacy and benefits were positively associated with the PA level.
Self-Empowerment of Immigrant Latina Survivors of Domestic Violence

This article presents the results of a self-empowerment leadership intervention program for Latina immigrant survivors of domestic violence in Atlanta, Georgia. It builds on the literature base of the Promotora model, a public health model using peer information sharing as a tool for health promotion. This study used an embedded mixed-methods design with quantitative and qualitative components to evaluate the impact of a peer community leadership program called Líderes. Results of single-subject analyses show that the participants experienced change in three components of self-empowerment: intrapersonal, interactional, and behavioral. The qualitative findings revealed that they overcame fear and gained knowledge as well as a sense that they could promote change in their community. These findings add support to a growing literature base that demonstrates how peer model programs can not only positively influence the well-being of the communities they serve but also have transformative effects on peer leaders themselves. Study findings can also inform future efforts to empower survivors through promotora approaches specifically in the context of domestic violence prevention.
Age Differences in the Performance of Hypertext Perusal

The present study examined the extent to which age had impacts on the performance of hypertext perusal as a function of text topologies. Ten subjects, five young (mean = 27.4) and five seniors (mean = 61.6), participated in an experiment where three levels of text linearity were manipulated. The data showed that both age and text topologies were significant sources of variability in hypertext browsing and navigation. On each text topology, older subjects browsed less text with a larger number of nodes repeatedly visited, which suggested more severe disorientation. With respect to navigation, a significant age x topology interaction indicated that the effect of age differences was mainly derived from the network topology, evidenced by the more extra links searched by the senior subject. Implications for the design of hypertext systems that accommodate the age effects are discussed.
Cancer Diagnostic Group Differences in Posttraumatic Growth: Accounting for Age, Gender, Trauma Severity, and Distress

The type of cancer diagnosed can have a differential impact on postdiagnosis adjustment (e.g., coping strategies, likelihood to complete treatment). Investigations examining cancer diagnostic differences in posttraumatic growth (PTG) are yet to be published. The current study examined 235 participants who had been treated at a regional hospital for all forms of cancer. Group differences in PTG were assessed through a cross-sectional design between breast, prostate, hematological, and colorectal cancer survivors. Results demonstrated that breast cancer survivors reported significantly higher levels of PTG than those diagnosed with colorectal and hematological malignancies, but not significantly different from prostate cancer survivors. While cancer diagnostic group differences in PTG were evident, PTG levels were also positively associated with trauma severity and distress. These results are discussed in terms of developing a postdiagnosis care model that can be utilized across all cancer type diagnoses in order to assist adaptation during this challenging time.
MicroRNA 21 (miR-21) and miR-181b Couple with NFI-A To Generate Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells and Promote Immunosuppression in Late Sepsis

ABSTRACT The sepsis initial hyperinflammatory reaction, if not treated early, shifts to a protracted state of immunosuppression that alters both innate and adaptive immunity and is associated with elevated mortality. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are myeloid progenitors and precursors that fail to differentiate into mature innate-immunity cells and are known for their potent immunosuppressive activities. We previously reported that murine MDSCs expand dramatically in the bone marrow during late sepsis, induced by cecal ligation and puncture, and demonstrated that they contribute to late-sepsis immunosuppression. However, the molecular mechanism responsible for generating these immature Gr1+ CD11b+ myeloid cells during sepsis remains unknown. We show here that sepsis generates a microRNA (miRNA) signature that expands MDSCs. We found that miRNA 21 (miR-21) and miR-181b expression is upregulated in early sepsis and sustained in late sepsis. Importantly, we found that simultaneous in vivo blockade of both miRNAs via antagomiR (a chemically modified miRNA inhibitor) injection after sepsis initiation decreased the bone marrow Gr1+ CD11b+ myeloid progenitors, improved bacterial clearance, and reduced late-sepsis mortality by 74%. Gr1+ CD11b+ cells isolated from mice injected with antagomiRs were able to differentiate ex vivo into macrophages and dendritic cells and produced smaller amounts of the immunosuppressive interleukin 10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) after stimulation with bacterial lipopolysaccharide, suggesting that immature myeloid cells regained their maturation potential and have lost their immunosuppressive activity. In addition, we found that the protein level of transcription factor NFI-A, which plays a role in myeloid cell differentiation, was increased during sepsis and that antagomiR injection reduced its expression. Moreover, knockdown of NFI-A in the Gr1+ CD11b+ cells isolated from late-septic mice increased their maturation potential and reduced their production of the immunosuppressive mediators, similar to antagomiR injection. These data support the hypothesis that sepsis reprograms myeloid cells and thus alters the innate immunity cell repertoire to promote immunosuppression, and they demonstrate that this process can be reversed by targeting miR-21 and miR-181b to improve late-sepsis survival.
Invasion of Oral and Aortic Tissues by Oral Spirochete Treponema denticola in ApoE−/− Mice Causally Links Periodontal Disease and Atherosclerosis

ABSTRACT Treponema denticola is a predominantly subgingival oral spirochete closely associated with periodontal disease and has been detected in atherosclerosis. This study was designed to evaluate causative links between periodontal disease induced by chronic oral T. denticola infection and atherosclerosis in hyperlipidemic ApoE−/− mice. ApoE−/− mice (n = 24) were orally infected with T. denticola ATCC 35404 and were euthanized after 12 and 24 weeks. T. denticola genomic DNA was detected in oral plaque samples, indicating colonization of the oral cavity. Infection elicited significantly (P = 0.0172) higher IgG antibody levels and enhanced intrabony defects than sham infection. T. denticola-infected mice had higher levels of horizontal alveolar bone resorption than sham-infected mice and an associated significant increase in aortic plaque area (P ≤ 0.05). Increased atherosclerotic plaque correlated with reduced serum nitric oxide (NO) levels and increased serum-oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels compared to those of sham-infected mice. T. denticola infection altered the expression of genes known to be involved in atherosclerotic development, including the leukocyte/endothelial cell adhesion gene (Thbs4), the connective tissue growth factor gene (Ctgf), and the selectin-E gene (Sele). Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) revealed T. denticola clusters in both gingival and aortic tissue of infected mice. This is the first study examining the potential causative role of chronic T. denticola periodontal infection and vascular atherosclerosis in vivo in hyperlipidemic ApoE−/− mice. T. denticola is closely associated with periodontal disease and the rapid progression of atheroma in ApoE−/− mice. These studies confirm a causal link for active oral T. denticola infection with both atheroma and periodontal disease.
Predictors of difficult laryngoscopy in children presenting for cleft lip and palate surgery

Background : Endotracheal intubation is required to maintain a patent and clear airway as well as ensure good surgical access during cleft lip and palate repair in children. This study is aimed at identifying factors that would predict the risk of difficult intubation in patients presenting for cleft lip and palate surgery in order to focus on preventive measures and save lives. Patients and Methods : Data on anaesthetic techniques and ease of intubation was prospectively documented in 88 consecutive patients scheduled for elective cleft lip (61.4%) or palate repair (38.6%) over a period of 24 months. Three variables: age, type of cleft and laryngoscopic assessment using Cormack and Lehane grading were analyzed using univariate analysis in order to determine risk factors for difficult laryngoscopy. Result : There were 88 paediatric patients aged two months to 12 years comprising 51 boys and 37 girls. Tracheal intubation was easy in 73 (83%) patients and difficult in 15 (17%) patients. Of the 15 patients with difficult laryngoscopy, 13 (86.7%) were children aged less than 24 months, 8 (53.3%) presented with complete cleft palate and difficulty occurred across all the four grades of laryngoscopic view. Age and Cormack and Lehane laryngoscopic view grading were found to be significantly associated with difficult laryngoscopy (p Conclusion : Difficult laryngoscopy is common in children less than two years old presenting for cleft lip and palate surgery. Cleft surgery in this age group should be performed in hospitals where facilities for adequate monitoring and anaesthetic care are available.