Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigations on the effects of mouthrinses on the colour stability and surface roughness of different dental bioceramics

PURPOSE In this study, three bioceramic materials, [IPS Empress CAD (Ivoclar), IPS e.max CAD (Ivoclar), and Lava Ultimate CAD (3M ESPE)] were treated with three commercial mouthrinses [Listerine, Tantum Verde, and Klorhex]; and changes in colour reflectance and surface roughness values were then quantitatively assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred and twenty ceramic samples, with dimensions of 2 × 12 × 14 mm, were prepared and divided into nine sample groups, except three control samples. The samples were immersed in the mouthrinse solutions for 120 hrs, and changes in colour reflectance and surface roughness values were measured by UV light spectrophotometry (Vita Easyshade; VITA Zahnfabrik) and by profilometer device (MitutoyoSurftest SJ-301), respectively. The change of surface roughness was inspected by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). RESULTS There was a positive correlation between the ΔE and increase in the surface roughness. Two of the ceramic materials, IPS Empress and Lava Ultimate, were affected significantly by the treatment of the mouthrinse solutions (P<.05). The most affecting solution was Tantum Verde and the most affected material was Lava Ultimate. As expected, the most resistant material to ΔE and chemical corrosion was IPS e max CAD among the materials used. CONCLUSION This work implied that mouthrinse with lower alcohol content had less deteriorating effect on colour and on the surface morphology of the bioceramic materials.
Non‐endemic cases of lymphatic filariasis

Several cases of lymphatic filariasis (LF) have been reported in non‐endemic countries due to travellers, military personnel and expatriates spending time in and returning from endemic areas, as well as immigrants coming from these regions. These cases are reviewed to assess the scale and context of non‐endemic presentations and to consider the biological factors underlying their relative paucity.
Myocardial Lactate Extraction: Multi‐determined Metabolic Function

SUMMARYMyocardial lactate production indicates anaerobic metabolism resulting from hypoxia or anoxia. Clinically, myocardial lactate extraction of less than 10% has also been used as an indicator of ischemia. Sixteen healthy young male volunteers underwent coronary sinus and arterial catheterization. A coronary sinus pacing catheter was used to obtain blood samples and increase the heart rate to twice the resting rate. Hemodynamic measurements and blood samples for lactate, free fatty acids and glucose were obtained at rest and during pacing. Seven of 16 subjects (44%) had lactate extraction of less than 10% at rest and/or at maximal pacing. No subject produced lactate. There was no correlation between myocardial lactate extraction and arterial glucose. However, lactate extraction correlated inversely with the arterial levels of free fatty acids (r = −0.67; p < 0.01). In addition, a positive correlation was present between lactate extraction and the arterial lactate level (r = 0.78; p < 0.01). In conclusion, myocardial lactate extraction is dependent on multiple metabolic parameters and any absolute value short of production cannot be considered abnormal.
Synthesis, acute toxicity and anti-inflammatory effect of bornyl salicylate, a salicylic acid derivative

Bornyl salicylate (BS) is a salicylic derivative, obtained by sterification of salicylic acid and monoterpene (-)-borneol, and its topical use in inflammatory diseases was described in the early 20th century. It is also known that borneol presents neuroprotective, genoprotective and analgesic properties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate BS in experimental models of acute inflammation. The toxicity of BS was analyzed by measuring water and food intake, weight, mortality and weight of main organs. To assess its anti-inflammatory effect, BS-treated mice were challenged with carrageenan, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), bradikynin (BK) or histamine (HIS)-induced paw edema, zymosan-induced peritonitis and vascular permeability induced by acetic acid. Nitric oxide (NO) production was analyzed in peritoneal macrophage cultures. There was no sign of acute toxicity of BS in male and female mice. Furthermore, treatment with BS was significantly (p < 0.05) effective in reducing paw edema induced by carrageenan in early and late phases; this effect was related to PGE2 and BK, but HIS independent. Neutrophil migration and cytokine release (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6) induced by zymosan and fluid leakage induced by acetic acid were also reduced in BS-treated animals. In vitro, BS (10 µg/mL) reduced NO production in LPS-stimulated macrophages. These data suggest that BS has an anti-inflammatory effect, which is related, at least in part, with decrease of mediators as PGE2, NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, further studies should be done to explore its potential as an anti-inflammatory drug.
Prediction of imminent preterm delivery in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes

Abstract Aims: To develop a model based on non-invasive clinical parameters to predict the probability of imminent preterm delivery (delivery within 48 h) in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), and to determine if additional invasive test results improve the prediction of imminent delivery based on the non-invasive model. Methods: Transvaginal ultrasonographic assessment of cervical length was performed and maternal serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell (WBC) count were determined immediately after amniocentesis in 102 consecutive women with PPROM at 23–33+6 weeks. Amniotic fluid (AF) obtained by amniocentesis was cultured and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and WBC counts were determined. Results: Serum CRP, cervical length, and gestational age were chosen for the non-invasive model (model 1), which has an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.804. When adding AF IL-6 as an invasive marker to the non-invasive model, serum CRP was excluded from the final model (model 2) as not significant, whereas AF IL-6, cervical length, and gestational age remained in model 2. No significant difference in AUC was found between models 1 and 2. Conclusions: The non-invasive model based on cervical length, gestational age, and serum CRP is highly predictive of imminent delivery in women with PPROM. However, invasive test results did not add predictive information to the non-invasive model in this setting.
A new dimension of 1H‐NMR spectroscopy in assessment of liver graft dysfunction

High‐resolution 1H‐NMR spectroscopy of serum and urine samples of an 11‐year‐old male living related orthotopic liver transplant recipient is reported. Serum glutamine increased to abnormal levels along with simultaneous abnormal excretion of urinary glutamine post‐transplantation. High levels of glutamine in both blood and urine and concomitant reduced urea levels in urine were found to be evidence of impairment in urea cycle and compatible with persistently abnormal graft function. Thus glutamine levels in serum and urine, and urea in the urine as observed by 1H‐NMR spectroscopy highlight their important roles in monitoring liver graft function; increased glutamine levels lead to brain damage, if untreated. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adaptive control strategy to enhance penetration of PV power generations in weak grid

Low short circuit capacity and high grid impedance are the main electrical characteristics of weak grid, and there are some stability and power quality problems with a large number of PV power generation systems incorporated into weak grid. The increasing penetration of PV power generation easily lead to voltage rise at the end of grid, and it affects the ability of weak grid to accept PV power capacity. This paper analyzes the impact of the line impedance, X/R ratio and power factor of PV inverter on voltage deviation, proposes an adaptive control strategy to enhance penetration of PV power generation in weak grid. This method determines the optimal power factor of different grid-connected PV inverter according to the grid X/R values, and control the output active power and reactive power to improve PV penetration under weak grid condition. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
MAGIC TeV gamma-ray observations of Markarian 421 during multiwavelength campaigns in 2006

Context. Wide-range spectral coverage of blazar-type active galactic nuclei is of paramount importance for understanding the particle acceleration mechanisms assumed to take place in their jets. The Major Atmospheric Gamma Imaging Cerenkov (MAGIC) telescope participated in three multiwavelength (MWL) campaigns, observing the blazar Markarian (Mkn) 421 during the nights of April 28 and 29, 2006, and June 14, 2006. Aims. We analyzed the corresponding MAGIC very-high energy observations during 9 nights from April 22 to 30, 2006 and on June 14, 2006. We inferred light curves with sub-day resolution and night-by-night energy spectra. Methods. MAGIC detects gamma-rays by observing extended air showers in the atmosphere. The obtained air-shower images were analyzed using the standard MAGIC analysis chain. Results. A strong gamma-ray signal was detected from Mkn 421 on all observation nights. The flux (E > 250 GeV) varied on night-by-night basis between (0.92 +/- 0.11) x 10(-10) cm(-2) s(-1) (0.57 Crab units) and (3.21 +/- 0.15) x 10(-10) cm(-2) s(-1) (2.0 Crab units) in April 2006. There is a clear indication for intra-night variability with a doubling time of 36 +/- 10(stat) min on the night of April 29, 2006, establishing once more rapid flux variability for this object. For all individual nights gamma-ray spectra could be inferred, with power-law indices ranging from 1.66 to 2.47. We did not find statistically significant correlations between the spectral index and the flux state for individual nights. During the June 2006 campaign, a flux substantially lower than the one measured by the Whipple 10-m telescope four days later was found. Using a log-parabolic power law fit we deduced for some data sets the location of the spectral peak in the very-high energy regime. Our results confirm the indications of rising peak energy with increasing flux, as expected in leptonic acceleration models.
Characteristics of cancer patients under the age of 20 at medical centers in israel and the west bank: A preliminary study

This paper describes the demographic experience on 373 young cancer patients (less than 20 years of age) at two oncology centers initiated in Israel by one medical team in 1975–1977. These units are the Assaf Harofeh Medical Center (AHMC), which predominantly serves a Jewish population (103 cases); and the West Bank Cancer Unit (WBCU), which provides similar care services to the Arab population of the West Bank (270 cases). The two centers have the unique feature of serving two populations residing in close relationship but still differing in many cultural and socioeconomic characteristics. The Arab patients at WBCU tended to be younger than the Jewish children at AHMC. The five most common diagnostic sites for both AHMC and WBCU included hematopoietic system, bones and joints, soft tissue, urinary tract, and brain and nervous system, although not in the same order of occurrence. These tumor sites accounted for approximately 80% of the cases at each center.
A nonhuman primate toxicology and immunogenicity study evaluating aerosol delivery of AERAS-402/Ad35 vaccine

Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), the only licensed vaccine for the prevention of tuberculosis (TB), provides only limited protection against certain forms of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection. While infection with Mtb can be treated with antibiotics, the therapy is expensive, toxic, and requires several months for treatment. In addition, the emergence of drug resistant strains limits the impact of antibiotics and underlines the importance of developing a more effective vaccine to control this disease. Given that pulmonary TB is the most common form of the disease, a vaccine capable of inducing lung-resident immunity may be advantageous for combating this infection. New advances in pulmonary delivery make this route of vaccination feasible and affordable. Here, we evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of an aerosolized Ad35-based vaccine, AERAS-402, delivered to the lungs in nonhuman primates as part of a GLP acute and chronic toxicology and safety study. In this study, animals received three high doses (1 x 1011 vp) of AERAS-402 by inhalation via a nebulizer at 1-week intervals. Aerosol delivery of AERAS-402 resulted in an increase in relative lung weights as well as microscopic findings in the lungs, mediastinal lymph nodes, bronchus-associated lymphatic tissue, and the naso-oropharynx that were consistent with the induction of an immune response during the acute phase. These findings resolved by the chronic phase and were considered to be non-adverse. Furthermore, we observed transient vaccine-specific immune responses in the peripheral blood as well as sustained high-level polyfunctional CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of vaccinated nonhuman primates. The data suggest that pulmonary delivery of Ad35-based vaccines can be safe and can induce potent lung-resident immunity.
The effects of life review interventions on spiritual well-being, psychological distress, and quality of life in patients with terminal or advanced cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background: Life review interventions have been used to alleviate psycho-spiritual distress in people near the end of life. However, their effectiveness remains inconclusive. Aim: To evaluate the effects of therapeutic life review on spiritual well-being, psychological distress, and quality of life in patients with terminal or advanced cancer. Design: A systematic review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses methodology. Data sources: Five databases were searched from their respective inception through February 2017 for relevant randomized controlled trials. The effects of therapeutic life review were pooled across the trials. Standardized mean differences were calculated for the pooled effects. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 test. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane criteria. Results: Eight randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria. The pooled results suggested a desirable effect of therapeutic life review on the meaning of life domain of spiritual well-being (standardized mean difference = 0.33; 95% confidence interval, 0.12 to 0.53), general distress (standardized mean difference = −0.32; 95% confidence interval, −0.55 to −0.09), and overall quality of life (standardized mean difference = 0.35; 95% confidence interval, 0.15 to 0.56) when compared to usual care only. Of the three outcomes examined, only the pooled effect on overall quality of life remained statistically significant at follow-ups up to 3 months after the intervention (standardized mean difference = 0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.47 to 1.18). Conclusions: Therapeutic life review is potentially beneficial for people near the end of life. However, the results should be interpreted with caution due to the limited number of randomized controlled trials and associated methodological weaknesses. Further rigorously designed randomized controlled trials are warranted.
Psychometrics of the Iowa and Berlin Gambling Tasks: Unresolved Issues With Reliability and Validity for Risk Taking

The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) is one of the most prominent paradigms employed for the assessment of risk taking in the laboratory, and it was shown to distinguish between various patient groups and controls. The present study was conducted to test the psychometric characteristics of the original IGT and of a new gambling task variant for assessing individual differences. Two studies were conducted with adults of the general population (n = 220) and with adolescents (n = 389). Participants were also tested on multiple measures of working memory capacity, fluid intelligence, personality traits associated with risk-taking behavior, and self-reported risk taking in various domains. Both gambling tasks had only moderate retest reliability within the same session. Moderate relations were obtained with cognitive ability. However, card selections in the gambling tasks were not correlated with personality or risk taking. These findings point to limitations of IGT type gambling tasks for the assessment of individual differences in risky decision making.
Microeconomic Determinants of Migrant Remittances into Zimbabwe: A Survey of Zimbabweans in Botswana and South Africa

This study sought to identify the micro-economic determinants of remittances flows into Zimbabwe. The paper reviews the altruism theory, self interest, portfolio management theory, and family implicit contracts theory. The study was based on a survey of 294 Zimbabweans, based in South Africa and Botswana. Data for the study was collected through questionnaires using the snow balling technique. SPSS version 16.0 was used for data analysis, using the binary logit model. The results show that the older (age) and more educated migrants are more likely to remit to home country. Single migrants were less likely to remit compared to those who are divorced. We also found that married migrants are less likely to remit than divorced migrants. The number of members from the same family and the gender of migrants were found to be insignificant in predicting the likelihood of remitting money back to Zimbabwe.
Endoscopic endonasal surgery of the midline skull base: anatomical study and clinical considerations.

OBJECT The midline skull base is an anatomical area that extends from the anterior limit of the cranial fossa down to the anterior border of the foramen magnum. Resection of lesions involving this area requires a variety of innovative skull base approaches. These include anterior, anterolateral, and posterolateral routes, performed either alone or in combination, and resection via these routes often requires extensive neurovascular manipulation. The goals in this study were to define the application of the endoscopic endonasal approach and to become more familiar with the views and skills associated with the technique by using cadaveric specimens. METHODS To assess the feasibility of the endonasal route for the surgical management of lesions in the midline skull base, five fresh cadaver heads injected with colored latex were dissected using a modified endoscopic endonasal approach. Full access to the skull base and the cisternal space around it is possible with this route. From the crista galli to the spinomedullary junction, with incision of the dura mater, a complete visualization of the carotid and vertebrobasilar arterial systems and of all 12 of the cranial nerves is obtainable. CONCLUSIONS The major potential advantage of the endoscopic endonasal approach to the skull base is that it provides a direct anatomical route to the lesion without traversing any major neurovascular structures, obviating brain retraction. Many tumors grow in a medial-to-lateral direction, displacing structures laterally as they expand, creating natural corridors for their resection via an anteromedial approach. Potential disadvantages of this procedure include the relatively restricted working space and the danger of an inadequate dural repair with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage and potential for meningitis resulting. These approaches often require a large opening of the dura mater over the tuberculum sellae and posterior planum sphenoidale, or retroclival space. In addition, they typically involve large intraoperative CSF leaks, which necessitate precise and effective dural closure.
Association Between Duration of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)–1 Viral Suppression Prior to Renal Transplantation and Acute Cellular Rejection

Renal transplant has become an important option for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected patients with end‐stage renal disease; however, these patients experience a high rate of acute cellular rejection (ACR). Guidelines do not currently exist for the optimal duration of viral suppression prior to transplantation. In a retrospective cohort analysis of 47 HIV‐infected renal transplant recipients, we compared the rate of ACR between patients based on the length of time of viral suppression prior to transplantation. Of the patients who achieved viral suppression for >6 months but less than 2 years prior to transplantation (n = 15), 60% experienced ACR compared to 41% of patients suppressed at least 2 years or more (n = 32) prior to transplant (p = 0.21). Patients suppressed <2 years experienced ACR at 2.48 times the rate of those suppressed 2 years or longer. Induction immunosuppression, HLA mismatch and panel‐reactive antibodies (PRAs) did not significantly differ between the two groups.
In vitro degradation of wheat straw by anaerobic fungi from small ruminants

Abstract Anaerobic ruminal fungi may play an active role in fibre degradation as evidenced by the production of different fibrolytic enzymes in culture filtrate. In the present study, 16 anaerobic fungal strains were isolated from ruminal and faecal samples of sheep and goats. Based on their morphological characteristics they were identified as species of Anaeromyces, Orpinomyces, Piromyces and Neocallimastix. Isolated Neocallimastix sp. from goat rumen showed a maximum activity of CMCase (47.9 mIU ml−1) and filter paper cellulase (48.3 mIU ml−1), while Anaeromyces sp. from sheep rumen showed a maximum xylanolytic activity (48.3 mIU ml−1). The cellobiase activity for all the isolates ranged from 178.0 – 182.7 mIU ml−1. Based on the enzymatic activities, isolated Anaeromyces sp. from sheep rumen and Neocallimastix sp. from goat rumen were selected for their potential of in vitro fibre degradation. The highest in vitro digestibility of NDF (23.2%) and DM (34.4%) was shown for Neocallimastix sp. from goat rumen, as compared to the digestibility of NDF and DM in the control group of 17.5 and 25.0%, respectively.
A Note on Loading Charges for Variable Annuities

An examination of the prospectuses for variable annuities offered by life insurers reveals wide differentials which ought to be taken into consideration as an important factor in selecting these annuities. Studies have revealed that the investment returns, both hypothetical and actual, on equity investments such as variable annuities may be superior to the returns available in other long term investments, particularly investments in "fixed dollars," such as life insurance and savings and loan associations. Very little has been published, however, about the size and potential effect of loading charges on the performance of a variable annuity. For example, the College Retirement Equities Fund (CREF) annuity accumulation unit increased at an annual compound rate of return of nearly 9 percent over the period 1953-1971.1 Lawrence Fisher and James H. Lorie demonstrated that the average rate of return on a long term basis on common stocks selected at random on the New York Stock Exchange over a period of thirty-five years was between 8 and 9 percent.2 John C. Antliff and William C. Freund demonstrated that a diversified portfolio of common stocks held for an extended period of time has tended to rise more than the