Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Scientific evidence on the links between periodontal diseases and diabetes: Consensus report and guidelines of the joint workshop on periodontal diseases and diabetes by the International Diabetes Federation and the European Federation of Periodontology

BACKGROUND Diabetes and periodontitis are chronic non-communicable diseases independently associated with mortality and have a bi-directional relationship. AIMS To update the evidence for their epidemiological and mechanistic associations and re-examine the impact of effective periodontal therapy upon metabolic control (glycated hemoglobin, HbA1C). EPIDEMIOLOGY There is strong evidence that people with periodontitis have elevated risk for dysglycemia and insulin resistance. Cohort studies among people with diabetes demonstrate significantly higher HbA1C levels in periodontitis patients (vs. periodontally healthy), but there is insufficient data among people with type 1 diabetes. Periodontitis is also associated with an increased risk of incident type 2 diabetes. MECHANISMS Mechanistic links between periodontitis and diabetes involve elevations in interleukin (IL) 1-β, tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-6, receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand/osteoprotegerin ratio, oxidative stress and toll-like receptor (TLR)2/4 expression. INTERVENTIONS periodontal therapy is safe and effective in people with diabetes and it is associated with reductions in HbA1C of 0.27-0.48% after 3-months, although studies involving longer-term follow up are inconclusive. CONCLUSIONS European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) report consensus guidelines for physicians, oral health care professionals and patients in order to improve early diagnosis, prevention and co-management of diabetes and periodontitis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Self-organised localisation in indoor environments using the ALF framework

We present and discuss the autonomous localisation framework ALF, a self-organising indoor localisation environment. Location awareness is an important property for a growing number of applications. GPS is frequently used to provide this information in outdoor environments, but this is not applicable for indoor applications. There have been many approaches to solve the localisation problem for those GPS-denied scenarios. However, many of them are limited to certain hardware restrictions or do not provide robust self-localisation in dynamic real world application. ALF is a complete and modular framework based on minimal hardware requirements. The system is not only capable to deploying itself autonomously in unknown environments and offering position information among the participants, but it also supports accurate real-time localisation to customers. The concepts allows to remove or to add features e.g., the heading of nodes or certain real-time capabilities as the scenario demands or the even the used hardware changes. The awareness and handling of measurement errors, especially in non-line of sight NLOS cases, is an essential criterion for a real world application.
Active Islanding Detection Using High-Frequency Signal Injection

Islanding detection is of great importance for reliable operation of smart grids. Islanding-detection methods can be classified into three different groups, i.e., active, passive, and communication-based methods. Active methods inject a disturbing signal (typically a voltage) and analyze the system response (typically in the current). These techniques have a low nondetection zone (NDZ) but present the inconvenience inherent to injecting a disturbing signal. Passive methods monitor the grid condition from the grid variables. These techniques are easy to implement but present a large NDZ. Communication methods have the inconvenience of relying on communications, currently being of limited use. This paper proposes a new active islanding-detection method, based on the measurement of the grid high-frequency impedance by means of the injection of a high-frequency voltage. The advantages of the method are almost negligible adverse effects due to the injected high-frequency voltage and accurate and fast islanding detection, i.e., in the range of a few milliseconds. Furthermore, the estimated high-frequency impedance can be used for the adaptive control of the power converter.
The MultiEXCELL model for the prediction of the radio interference due to hydrometeor scattering

This paper presents a physically-based methodology for the prediction of the intersystem radio interference due to hydrometeor scattering. Local precipitation phenomena are modelled through a set of synthetic rain fields generated by the MultiEXCELL model, whose ensemble correctly reproduce the local rainfall statistics and rain rate spatial distribution. The coupling-by-scattering mechanism relies on the simplified bistatic radar equation (BRE), which allows to efficiently evaluate interference levels between two stations when the geometrical and electrical characteristics of the links, as well as the distribution of scatterers within the common volume, are known. The model's performance is evaluated against the comprehensive ITU-R DBSG3 database and is compared to that achieved by using isolated rain cells (EXCELL model) to model precipitations. The results clearly indicate the benefits of introducing MultiEXCELL for a more realistic representation of the local meteorological environment over long paths.
Distribution and Conservation Status of Catarrhine Primates in Côte d’Ivoire (West Africa)

Côte d’Ivoire holds 18 catarrhine taxa, with 3 endemic to Côte d’Ivoire and neighbouring Ghana. Nine of the taxa occurring in Côte d’Ivoire are listed as threatened at the global level. However, information on their conservation status within the country is available for only a limited number of taxa. In order to assess the current distribution of primates and their conservation status, we conducted foot surveys and interviews in protected forests in the southern part of Côte d’Ivoire. Our data suggest that 22 out of 23 surveyed forests have lost 25–100% of the primate taxa expected to occur in these areas. The only exception is the Taï National Park where all of the expected primate taxa were encountered. Based on our surveys, we propose an updated national list according to the IUCN Red List criteria for all diurnal primate species of Côte d’Ivoire.
A Decidable Spatial Generalization of Metric Interval Temporal Logic

Temporal reasoning plays an important role in artificial intelligence. Temporal logics provide a natural framework for its formalization and implementation. A standard way of enhancing the expressive power of temporal logics is to replace their unidimensional domain by a multidimensional one. In particular, such a dimensional increase can be exploited to obtain spatial counterparts of temporal logics. Unfortunately, it often involves a blow up in complexity, possibly losing decidability. In this paper, we propose a spatial generalization of the decidable metric interval temporal logic RPNL+INT, called Directional Area Calculus (DAC). DAC features two modalities, that respectively capture (possibly empty) rectangles to the north and to the east of the current one, and metric operators, to constrain the size of the current rectangle. We prove the decidability of the satisfiability problem for DAC, when interpreted over frames built on natural numbers, and we analyze its complexity. In addition, we consider a weakened version of DAC, called WDAC, which is expressive enough to capture meaningful qualitative and quantitative spatial properties and computationally better.
Clinical profile of STIs/RTIs in women in northwest Punjab

India is one of the most thickly populated countries of the world with a varied cultural background. Sexually transmitted infections/ Reproductive tract infections (STIs/RTIs) still remain a taboo amongst majority of the population in India. Women’s health takes a back seat in most households. The National programme against STI/RTI has led to the setting up of Suraksha clinics associated with Dermatology and Obstetrics/Gynaecology departments all over India. This study is an attempt to identify the prevalence of STIs/RTIs in the patients reporting to these clinics. A total of 638 female patients were enrolled in this study. Maximum number of female patients had bacterial vaginosis i.e. 244 patients (38.2%), followed by 205 females (32.1%) having candidial vulvovaginitis. Forty-seven females (7.4%) had cervicitis/cervical erosion, while 40 females presented with non-specific discharge per vaginum. Twenty-nine females (4.5%) had herpes genitalis, 26 (4.1%) had ano-genital warts, 21 (3.3%) had molluscum contagiosum while 12 females (1.9%) were diagnosed to have pelvic inflammatory disease. Also, 12 (1.9%) reported with non-herpetic genital ulcers while 2 (0.3%) had urethral discharge. STI/RTI clinics can contribute to check the spread of STIs through early identification, education, promotion of safe sex and counselling, thus ensuring early treatment and a better quality of life. Keywords: STI, RTI, STI Clinic, RTI clinic, Females, Punjab.
Esomeprazole for the Treatment of Erosive Esophagitis in Children: An International, Multicenter, Randomized, Parallel-Group, Double-Blind (for Dose) Study.

BACKGROUND Acid suppression with a proton pump inhibitor is standard treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease and erosive esophagitis in adults and increasingly is becoming first-line therapy for children aged 1-17 years. We evaluated endoscopic healing of erosive esophagitis with esomeprazole in young children with gastroesophageal reflux disease and described esophageal histology. METHODS Children aged 1-11 years with endoscopically or histologically confirmed gastroesophageal reflux disease were randomized to esomeprazole 5 or 10 mg daily (< 20 kg) or 10 or 20 mg daily (≥ 20 kg) for 8 weeks. Patients with erosive esophagitis underwent an endoscopy after 8 weeks to assess healing of erosions. RESULTS Of 109 patients, 49% had erosive esophagitis and 51% had histologic evidence of reflux esophagitis without erosive esophagitis. Of the 45 patients who had erosive esophagitis and underwent follow-up endoscopy, 89% experienced erosion resolution. Dilation of intercellular space was reported in 24% of patients with histologic examination. CONCLUSIONS Esomeprazole (0.2-1.0 mg/kg) effectively heals macroscopic and microscopic erosive esophagitis in this pediatric population with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Dilation of intercellular space may be an important histologic marker of erosive esophagitis in children.
Incidence and Treatment Trends of Symptomatic Discoid Lateral Menisci: An 18-Year Population-Based Study

Background: A symptomatic discoid lateral meniscus is an uncommon orthopaedic abnormality, and the majority of information in the literature is limited to small case series. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of symptomatic discoid menisci in a geographically determined population and to describe treatment trends over time. The hypothesis was that the incidence of symptomatic discoid menisci would be highest among adolescent patients, and thus, the rate of surgical treatment would be high compared with nonoperative treatment. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: The study population included 79 patients in Olmsted County, Minnesota, identified through a geographic database, who were diagnosed with a symptomatic discoid lateral meniscus between 1998 and 2015. The complete medical records were reviewed to confirm the diagnosis and evaluate the details of injury and treatment. Age- and sex-specific incidence rates were calculated and adjusted to the 2010 United States population. Results: The overall annual incidence of symptomatic discoid lateral menisci was 3.2 (95% CI, 2.5-3.9) per 100,000 person-years; 12.6% of the patients in the cohort had bilateral symptomatic discoid lateral menisci. The overall annual incidence was similar between male (3.5 per 100,000 person-years) and female patients (2.8 per 100,000 person-years). The highest incidence of symptomatic discoid lateral menisci was noted in adolescent male patients aged 15-18 years (18.8 per 100,000 person-years). A majority (72.2%) of patients presented with a symptomatic tear of the discoid meniscus. The remaining patients presented with mechanical symptoms, including catching/locking or effusion, with no demonstrable meniscus tear on imaging or diagnostic arthroscopic surgery. Additionally, 20.0% of patients were observed to have peripheral instability of the meniscus at the time of diagnostic arthroscopic surgery. The mean age of those with peripheral instability was significantly younger than of those who did not have peripheral instability. Sixty patients (75.9%) received surgical treatment during the study period, including 49 (81.7%) patients who underwent partial lateral meniscectomy and 11 (18.3%) patients who underwent lateral meniscus repair in addition to saucerization. Conclusion: With an overall annual incidence of 3.2 per 100,000 person-years, a symptomatic discoid meniscus is an uncommonly encountered orthopaedic abnormality. However, the incidence of symptomatic discoid lateral menisci is highest in adolescent male patients. Because of the high rate of meniscus tears in patients presenting with symptoms, the majority are treated surgically.
Non-destructive wood density assessment of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) using Resistograph and Pilodyn

We tested two methods for non-destructive assessment of wood density of Scots pine standing trees: one based on penetration depth of a steel pin (Pilodyn) and the other on micro-drilling resistance (Resistograph). As a benchmark we used wood density data from x-ray analysis (SilviScan). We assessed in total 622 trees of 175 full-sib families growing in a single progeny test. Pilodyn was applied with bark (PIL) and without bark (PILB). Raw Resistograph drilling profiles (RES) were adjusted (RESTB) in order to eliminate increasing trend caused by needle friction. Individual narrow-sense heritability of benchmark SilviScan density (DEN; 0.46) was most closely approached by that of adjusted RESTB (0.43). Heritabilities were lower for unadjusted RES (0.35) as well as for PIL and PILB (both 0.32). Additive genetic correlations of the benchmark DEN with RES, RESTB, PIL and PILB were 0.89, 0.96, 0.59 and 0.71, respectively. Our results suggest that Resistograph is a more reliable tool than Pilodyn for wood density assessment of Scots pine; however, we highly recommend adjusting Resistograph drilling profiles prior to further analyses.
Exploring Performance Calibration in Relation to Better or Worse Than Average Effect in Physical Education

The aim of this study was to explore students’ calibration of sport performance in relation to better or worse than average effect in physical education settings. Participants were 147 fifth and sixth grade students (71 boys, 76 girls) who were tested in a soccer passing accuracy test after they had provided estimations for their own and their peers’ performance in this test. Based on students’ actual and estimated performance, calibration indexes of accuracy and bias were calculated. Moreover, students were classified in better, worse, or equal than average groups based on estimated scores of their own and their peers’ average performance. Results showed that students overestimated their own performance while most of them believed that their own performance was worse than their peers’ average performance. No significant differences in calibration accuracy of soccer passing were found between better, worse, or equal than average groups of students. These results were discussed with reference to previous calibration research evidence and theoretical and practical implications for self-regulated learning and performance calibration in physical education.
Twelve tips for conducting qualitative research interviews

Abstract The qualitative research interview is an important data collection tool for a variety of methods used within the broad spectrum of medical education research. However, many medical teachers and life science researchers undergo a steep learning curve when they first encounter qualitative interviews, both in terms of new theory but also regarding new methods of inquiry and data collection. This article introduces the concept of qualitative research interviews for novice researchers within medical education, providing 12 tips for conducting qualitative research interviews.
Automated versus Manual Data Extraction of the Padua Prediction Score for Venous Thromboembolism Risk in Hospitalized Older Adults

Abstract Objective Venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis is an important consideration for hospitalized older adults, and the Padua Prediction Score (PPS) is a risk prediction tool used to prioritize patient selection. We developed an automated PPS (APPS) algorithm using electronic health record (EHR) data. This study examines the accuracy of APPS and its individual components versus manual data extraction. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study of hospitalized general internal medicine patients, aged 70 and over. Fourteen clinical variables were collected to determine their PPS; APPS used EHR data exports from health system databases, and a trained abstractor performed manual chart abstractions. We calculated sensitivity and specificity of the APPS, using manual PPS as the gold standard for classifying risk category (low vs. high). We also examined performance characteristics of the APPS for individual variables. Results PPS was calculated by both methods on 311 individuals. The mean PPS was 3.6 (standard deviation, 1.8) for manual abstraction and 2.8 (1.4) for APPS. In detecting patients at high risk for VTE, the sensitivity and specificity of the APPS algorithm were 46 and 94%, respectively. The sensitivity for APPS was poor (range: 6–34%) for detecting acute conditions (i.e., acute myocardial infarction), moderate (range: 52–74%) for chronic conditions (i.e., heart failure), and excellent (range: 94–98%) for conditions of obesity and restricted mobility. Specificity of the automated extraction method for each PPS variable was > 87%. Conclusion APPS as a stand-alone tool was suboptimal for classifying risk of VTE occurrence. The APPS accurately identified high risk patients (true positives), but lower scores were considered indeterminate.
Acoustic assembly of cell spheroids in disposable capillaries

Multicellular spheroids represent a promising approach to mimic 3D tissues in vivo for emerging applications in regenerative medicine, therapeutic screening, and drug discovery. Conventional spheroid fabrication methods, such as the hanging drop method, suffer from low-throughput, long time, complicated procedure, and high heterogeneity in spheroid size. In this work, we report a simple yet reliable acoustic method to rapidly assemble cell spheroids in capillaries in a replicable and scalable manner. Briefly, by introducing a coupled standing surface acoustic wave, we are able to generate a linear pressure node array with 300 trapping nodes simultaneously. This enables us to continuously fabricate spheroids in a high-throughput manner with minimal variability in spheroid size. In a proof of concept application, we fabricated cell spheroids of mouse embryonic carcinoma (P19) cells, which grew well and retained differentiation potential in vitro. Based on the advantages of the non-invasive, contactless and label-free acoustic cell manipulation, our method employs the coupling strategy to assemble cells in capillaries, and further advances 3D spheroid assembly technology in an easy, cost-efficient, consistent, and high-throughput manner. This method could further be adapted into a novel 3D biofabrication approach to replicate compilated tissues and organs for a wide set of biomedical applications.
High‐affinity heterotetramer formation between the large myelin‐associated glycoprotein and the dynein light chain DYNLL1

The close association of myelinated axons and their myelin sheaths involves numerous intercellular molecular interactions. For example, myelin‐associated glycoprotein (MAG) mediates myelin‐to‐axon adhesion and signalling via molecules on the axonal surface. However, knowledge about intracellular binding partners of myelin proteins, including MAG, has remained limited. The two splice isoforms of MAG, S‐ and L‐MAG, display distinct cytoplasmic domains and spatiotemporal expression profiles. We used yeast two‐hybrid screening to identify interaction partners of L‐MAG and found the dynein light chain DYNLL1 (also termed dynein light chain 8). DYNLL1 homodimers are known to facilitate dimerization of target proteins. L‐MAG and DYNLL1 associate with high affinity, as confirmed with recombinant proteins in vitro. Structural analyses of the purified complex indicate that the DYNLL1‐binding segment is localized close to the L‐MAG C terminus, next to the Fyn kinase Tyr phosphorylation site. The crystal structure of the complex between DYNLL1 and its binding segment on L‐MAG shows 2 : 2 binding in a parallel arrangement, indicating a heterotetrameric complex. The homology between L‐MAG and previously characterized DYNLL1‐ligands is limited, and some details of binding site interactions are unique for L‐MAG. The structure of the complex between the entire L‐MAG cytoplasmic domain and DYNLL1, as well as that of the extracellular domain of MAG, were modelled based on small‐angle X‐ray scattering data, allowing structural insights into L‐MAG interactions on both membrane surfaces. Our data imply that DYNLL1 dimerizes L‐MAG, but not S‐MAG, through the formation of a specific 2 : 2 heterotetramer. This arrangement is likely to affect, in an isoform‐specific manner, the functions of MAG in adhesion and myelin‐to‐axon signalling.
TwitPersonality: Computing Personality Traits from Tweets Using Word Embeddings and Supervised Learning

We are what we do, like, and say. Numerous research efforts have been pushed towards the automatic assessment of personality dimensions relying on a set of information gathered from social media platforms such as list of friends, interests of musics and movies, endorsements and likes an individual has ever performed. Turning this information into signals and giving them as inputs to supervised learning approaches has resulted in being particularly effective and accurate in computing personality traits and types. Despite the demonstrated accuracy of these approaches, the sheer amount of information needed to put in place such a methodology and access restrictions make them unfeasible to be used in a real usage scenario. In this paper, we propose a supervised learning approach to compute personality traits by only relying on what an individual tweets about publicly. The approach segments tweets in tokens, then it learns word vector representations as embeddings that are then used to feed a supervised learner classifier. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach by measuring the mean squared error of the learned model using an international benchmark of Facebook status updates. We also test the transfer learning predictive power of this model with an in-house built benchmark created by twenty four panelists who performed a state-of-the-art psychological survey and we observe a good conversion of the model while analyzing their Twitter posts towards the personality traits extracted from the survey.