Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of impacted teeth and supernumerary teeth by radiographic evaluation in three Latin American countries: A cross-sectional study

Background Supernumerary teeth are those that exceed the usual dental formula. There are different classifications depending on their anatomical location, shape and number. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of impacted and supernumerary teeth in a sample of panoramic radiographs from three Latin American countries. Material and Methods A retrospective and cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach, in which the radiographic observation and analysis of 2000 panoramic radiographs, provided by different radiological centers in Peru, Colombia and Bolivia were performed. An examiner, specialized in Stomatology and Oral Surgery, carried out the radiographic analysis to detect the presence of impacted teeth and supernumeraries teeth. All the images were evaluated in a dark room in digital format. The SPSS version 23 package was used for statistical analysis. The Chi-square test was used to determine the association of age, sex, and nationality with the presence of impacted or supernumerary teeth. The level of significance was p< 0.05. Results The prevalence of impacted teeth was 1.7%, with the upper left canine being the most frequent (58.85%). The prevalence of supernumeraries was 3.15% (76 cases), the most frequent being the mesiodens with 1.7% (34), and Peru showing the highest prevalence of mesiodens. No association was found regarding sex. Conclusions The prevalence of impacted teeth evaluated in three recognized radiologic centers from three Latin American countries was low, with the upper left canine being the most frequently impacted tooth. Likewise, the prevalence for supernumerary teeth was also low, with mesiodens having the highest prevalence. Key words:Supernumerary tooth, impacted tooth, panoramic radiograph.
Seasonality of floral resources in relation to bee activity in agroecosystems

Abstract The contribution of wild insects to crop pollination is becoming increasingly important as global demand for crops dependent on animal pollination increases. If wild insect populations are to persist in agricultural landscapes, there must be sufficient resources over time and space. The temporal, within‐season component of floral resource availability has rarely been investigated, despite growing recognition of its likely importance for pollinator populations. Here, we examined the visitation rates of common bee genera and the spatiotemporal availability of floral resources in agroecosystems over one season to determine whether local wild bee activity was limited by landscape floral resource abundance, and if so, whether it was limited by the present or past abundance of landscape floral resources. Visitation rates and landscape floral resources were measured in 27 agricultural sites in Ontario and Québec, Canada, across four time periods and three spatial scales. Floral resources were determined based on species‐specific floral volume measurements, which we found to be highly correlated with published measurements of nectar sugar mass and pollen volume. Total floral volume at varying spatial scales predicted visits for commonly observed bee genera. We found Lasioglossum and Halictus visits were highest in landscapes that provided either a stable or increasing amount of floral resources over the season. Andrena visits were highest in landscapes with high floral resources at the start of the season, and Bombus visits appeared to be positively related to greater cumulative seasonal abundance of floral resources. These findings together suggest the importance of early‐season floral resources to bees. Megachile visits were negatively associated with the present abundance of floral resources, perhaps reflecting pollinator movement or dilution. Our research provides insight into how seasonal fluctuations in floral resources affect bee activity and how life history traits of bee genera influence their responses to food availability within agroecosystems.
Temporal and spatial variation in population structure among brooding sea stars in the genus Leptasterias

Abstract Temporal genetic studies of low‐dispersing organisms are rare. Marine invertebrates lacking a planktonic larval stage are expected to have lower dispersal, low gene flow, and a higher potential for local adaptation than organisms with planktonic dispersal. Leptasterias is a genus of brooding sea stars containing several cryptic species complexes. Population genetic methods were used to resolve patterns of fine‐scale population structure in central California Leptasterias species using three loci from nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. Historic samples (collected between 1897 and 1998) were compared to contemporary samples (collected between 2008 and 2014) to delineate changes in species distributions in space and time. Phylogenetic analysis of contemporary samples confirmed the presence of a bay‐localized clade and revealed the presence of an additional bay‐localized and previously undescribed clade of Leptasterias. Analysis of contemporary and historic samples indicates two clades are experiencing a constriction in their southern range limit and suggests a decrease in clade‐specific abundance at sites at which they were once prevalent. Historic sampling revealed a dramatically different distribution of diversity along the California coastline compared to contemporary sampling and illustrates the importance of temporal genetic sampling in phylogeographic studies. These samples were collected prior to significant impacts of Sea Star Wasting Disease (SSWD) and represent an in‐depth analysis of genetic structure over 117 years prior to the SSWD‐associated mass die‐off of Leptasterias.
Grain quality evaluation of japonica rice effected by cultivars, environment, and their interactions based on appearance and processing characteristics

Abstract Appearance and processing characteristics of 45 japonica rice samples, collected from different regions in Jiangsu province, were investigated and evaluated in this study. Specifically, the chalkiness degree had been presented significant differences among different cultivars and regions. The average chalkiness degree varied from 6.81% to 15.34% for different regions and from 1.93% to 28.31% for different cultivars. The minimum head rice rate of cultivars from four regions, NJ9108 (HA), was 80.5%. The AC of CNG10, HD5, and PJ surpassed 13.68% and lower than 11.33% for the others. The protein content ranged from 6.1% to 11%, and the taste value was significantly different among cultivars. In addition, the RVA curves of the samples were similar, but the peak viscosities of NG8 and NJ5055 were higher than others, and there were significant differences in RVA traits among regions. Cultivars were the main reasons for the difference in appearance and processing quality of japonica rice, while environmental factors had leaded to the change of rice composition, texture, and gelatinization.
Can current farmland landscapes feed declining steppe birds? Evaluating arthropod abundance for the endangered little bustard (Tetrax tetrax) in cereal farmland during the chick‐rearing period: Variations between habitats and localities

Abstract Agriculture intensification threatens farmland bird populations because, among other reasons, it reduces the availability of food resources required to rear their offspring. In our study, we sampled and analyzed total arthropod abundance, biomass and richness, and orthopteran and coleopteran abundance and biomass in different agricultural habitats (alfalfa fields, stubble fields, grazed fields, and field margins) across 4 study localities with different levels of agriculture abandonment–intensification, comparing between areas used and not used by one of the most threatened farmland birds in Europe, the little bustard (Tetrax tetrax), during the chick‐rearing season. Field margins were the taxonomically richest habitat, while alfalfa fields presented significantly higher total arthropod abundance and biomass than other habitats. All arthropod variables were the highest in the localities with clear conservation‐focused agrarian management, and the lowest in the most intensive one. Areas used by little bustards had higher orthopteran and coleopteran abundance and biomass than nonused areas, except for coleopteran biomass in grazed fields. These results highlight the relevance of these arthropods for the species, the importance of dry alfalfa fields as food reservoirs in this critical time of year, the food scarcity in sites where agrarian management disregards farmland bird conservation, and the role of stubbles as providers of food resources during the chick‐rearing season in areas used by the species. The adequate management of alfalfa fields and stubbles to provide those key resources seems crucial to improve little bustard breeding success.
The effect of grape seed protein hydrolysate on the properties of stirred yogurt and viability of Lactobacillus casei in it

Abstract In this study, the effect of grape seed protein hydrolysate (GPH) on the physicochemical and sensory properties of stirred yogurt was evaluated. At first, the antioxidant properties and degree of hydrolysis (DH) of GPH were determined using the microbial protease enzymes (alcalase and flavourzyme), the results showed that alcalase enzyme can produce GPH with higher DH and antioxidant properties (p < .05). Also, increasing the hydrolysis time had a positive effect on these properties (p < .05). The DH, free radical scavenging DPPH, and ferric reducing power for GPH by alcalase at 30 min was 21.51%, 88.68%, and 0.33 μmol ferrous/ g, respectively. Therefore, this treatment was used for further experiments. In the next part, the mentioned GPH was added to the stirred yogurt with three concentrations (0.5, 1.5, and 1.5%) and physicochemical properties and viability of Lactobacillus casei and sensory properties were measured during 15 days of storage. The results showed that the GPH treatment had higher pH, viscosity, and texture firmness and less acidity and syneresis compared with the control sample (p < .05). Also, in these samples, the decreasing trend of L. casei viability was slower than the control treatment during the storage period (p < .05). In most parameters, better results were observed with increasing the concentration GPH and all the treatments were acceptable in terms of sensory properties. Therefore, by producing yogurt containing GPH, a new functional food can be provided for consumers of dairy products, which in addition to the desired taste, good nutritional properties can be also achieved from its consumption.
Unbalanced intakes of sodium and potassium among Tunisian adults: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract The prevention and management of hypertension are untimely associated with a lowering of sodium intake. The present study aimed to evaluate the sodium and potassium intake levels of Tunisian population through measurement of 24‐hr urinary sodium excretions. A randomly, multistage, cross‐sectional study was conducted in an urban region (Bizerte) in Tunisia during 2015. The target population involved adults aged from 25 to 64 years. Sodium, potassium, and creatinine concentrations were determined in each urine sample using indirect potentiometric method. From the 420 selected participants, only 194 gave urine samples complying completeness criteria. A multivariate regression model was used to assess the variables related to sodium and potassium excretion. The daily mean excretion of sodium and potassium was 138.3 ± 46.5 mmol/d (corresponding to 8.1 ± 2.7 g/d of salt intake) and 61.0 ± 22.7 mmol/d, respectively. More than 87.1% of the participants (89.8% for men vs. 84.9% for women; p = .31) exceeded the WHO recommendation of 5 g/d. The upper limit of 10 g salt intake per day was still exceeded by 26.3%. After adjusted analysis, sex (for women, coef = −1.6; (95% CI: −2.4, −0.7)), level of instruction (≥30 kg/m2, coef = +1.1; (95% IC: 0.4–2.0)), and body mass index (≥30 kg/m2, coef = +1.1; (95% CI: 0.1, 2.0)) were associated with the sodium excretion. High sodium intake and inadequate potassium intake were found among participants. This consumption profile complies with the diet westernization context occurring in Tunisia. The initiated strategy focused on the downward of sodium in bread (the main source of salt intake) seems to be promising.
Využití fluorescence chlorofylu pro hodnocení fytotoxicityorganických polutantů

Polycyklický aromatický uhlovodik fluoranthen (0-100 ug l(-1)) vyvolal u rostlin bobu, kukuřice a slunecnice po 29 dnech kultivace signifikantni změny obsahu fotosyntetických pigmentů a ovlivnil parametry indukovane fluorescence chlorofylu. Zjistěno bylo signifikantni zvýseni hodnoty F0 a sniženi FV/FM a Phi(II).
Consumption of vitamin A-deficient diet elevates endoplasmic reticulum stress marker and suppresses high fructose-induced orexigenic gene expression in the brain of male Wistar rats

ABSTRACT Vitamin A deficiency and excessive fructose consumption are known to cause functional impairment of various vital organs including the brain in the mammalian system. However, the underlying pathways and molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. Objective Here, we assessed the impact of vitamin A deficiency (both alone and in combination with fructose) on the retinol status, phospholipids fatty acid composition and pathways associated with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and energy homeostasis of the brain. For this purpose, weanling male Wistar rats were divided into four groups consisting of 8 rats each, except 16 for the second group and they received one of the following diets; control, vitamin A-deficient (VAD), high fructose (HFr) and HFr with VAD for 16 weeks, except half of the VAD diet-fed rats, were shifted to HFr diet, after 8 weeks period. Results The retinol content of the whole brain remained comparable across the groups, despite a significant reduction in the plasma at the end of VAD diet feeding. However, it suppressed the HFr-induced neuropeptide Y and agouti-related peptide, while rescuing the leptin receptor mRNA. Among ER stress markers, CCAAT/Enhancer-binding protein homologues protein levels were elevated significantly in the VAD diet-fed group. Further, the long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid levels showed an increase in the brain phospholipids across the experimental groups, compared to that of the control. Conclusion Vitamin A deficiency causes ER stress in the brain, and retinol seems to play a regulatory role in the fructose-mediated transcriptional regulation of the genes involved in energy homeostasis.
Stroke in Pregnancy and Puerperium

Objective To investigate whether previously reported increasing incidence of pregnancy-associated stroke (PAS) is observed in chart-validated register data in Finland. In an exploratory analysis, we studied risk factors for PAS. Methods We performed a retrospective population-based cohort study and nested case-control study in Finland from 1987 to 2016. The Medical Birth Register (MBR) was linked to the Hospital Discharge Register to identify women with incident stroke (ischemic stroke, cerebral venous thrombosis, intracerebral or subarachnoid hemorrhage) during pregnancy or puerperium. Cases were verified from patient records. Incidence of PAS over the study period in 5-year age groups and pregnancy/postpartum period was calculated per number of deliveries. Three matched controls were selected for each case from MBR to compare risk factors. Results After chart review, 29.6% (257 of 868) of cases were PAS. The incidence of PAS was 14.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] 12.8–16.3) per 100,000 deliveries. Incidence increased from 11.1 to 25.2 per 100,000 deliveries from 1987 to 1991 to 2012 to 2016 (p < 0.0001). Incidence increased by age from 9.8 to 29.9 per 100,000 deliveries from 20 to 24 years to >40 years of age (p < 0.0001). During the early postpartum period, incidence was 5-fold greater compared to the first trimester. Maternal mortality was 6.6%. In the multivariable-adjusted model, smoking beyond 12 gestational weeks (odds ratio [OR] 1.8, 95% CI 1.2–2.7), migraine (OR 16.3, 95% CI 5.3–49.8), and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (OR 4.0, 95% CI 2.5–6.3) were the most important risk factors for PAS. Conclusion PAS incidence is increasing, stressing the importance of careful pregnancy surveillance and risk factor management, particularly in older expectant mothers and extending to puerperium. Classification of Evidence This study provides Class III evidence that smoking beyond 12 gestational weeks, migraine, and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are associated with an increased risk of PAS.
Predicting Spinal Surgery Candidacy From Imaging Data Using Machine Learning

Abstract BACKGROUND The referral process for consultation with a spine surgeon remains inefficient, given a substantial proportion of referrals to spine surgeons are nonoperative. OBJECTIVE To develop a machine-learning-based algorithm which accurately identifies patients as candidates for consultation with a spine surgeon, using only magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS We trained a deep U-Net machine learning model to delineate spinal canals on axial slices of 100 normal lumbar MRI scans which were previously delineated by expert radiologists and neurosurgeons. We then tested the model against lumbar MRI scans for 140 patients who had undergone lumbar spine MRI at our institution (60 of whom ultimately underwent surgery, and 80 of whom did not). The model generated automated segmentations of the lumbar spinal canals and calculated a maximum degree of spinal stenosis for each patient, which served as our biomarker for surgical pathology warranting expert consultation. RESULTS The machine learning model correctly predicted surgical candidacy (ie, whether patients ultimately underwent lumbar spinal decompression) with high accuracy (area under the curve = 0.88), using only imaging data from lumbar MRI scans. CONCLUSION Automated interpretation of lumbar MRI scans was sufficient to correctly determine surgical candidacy in nearly 90% of cases. Given that a significant proportion of referrals placed for spine surgery evaluation fail to meet criteria for surgical intervention, our model could serve as a valuable tool for patient triage and thereby address some of the inefficiencies within the outpatient surgical referral process.
A Smartphone App Designed to Empower Patients to Contribute Toward Safer Surgical Care: Qualitative Evaluation of Diverse Public and Patient Perceptions Using Focus Groups

Background MySurgery is a smartphone app designed to empower patients and their caregivers to contribute toward safer surgical care by following practical advice to help reduce susceptibility to errors and complications. Objective The aim of this study is to evaluate service users’ perceptions of MySurgery, including its perceived acceptability, the potential barriers and facilitators to accessing and using its content, and ideas about how to facilitate its effective implementation. The secondary aim is to analyze how the intended use of the app might differ for diverse patients, including seldom-heard groups. Methods We implemented a diversity approach to recruit participants from a range of backgrounds with previous experience of surgery. We aimed to achieve representation from seldom-heard groups, including those from a Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) background; those with a disability; and those from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBT+) community. A total of 3 focus groups were conducted across a 2-month period, during which a semistructured protocol was followed to elicit a rich discussion around the app. The focus groups were audio recorded, and thematic analysis was carried out. Results In total, 22 individuals participated in the focus groups. A total of 50% (n=11) of the participants were from a BAME background, 59% (n=13) had a disability, and 36% (n=8) were from the LGBT+ community. There was a strong degree of support for the MySurgery app. The majority of participants agreed that it was acceptable and appropriate in terms of content and usability, and that it would help to educate patients about how to become involved in improving safety. The checklist-like format was popular. There was rich discussion around the accessibility and inclusivity of MySurgery. Specific user groups were identified who might face barriers in accessing the app or acting on its advice, such as those with visual impairments or learning difficulties and those who preferred to take a more passive role (eg, some individuals because of their cultural background or personality type). The app could be improved by signposting further specialty-specific information and incorporating a calendar and notes section. With regard to implementation, it was agreed that use of the app should be signposted before the preoperative appointment and that training and education should be provided for clinicians to increase awareness and buy-in. Communication about the app should clarify its scientific basis in plain English and should stress that its use is optional. Conclusions MySurgery was endorsed as a powerful tool for enhancing patient empowerment and facilitating the direct involvement of patients and their caregivers in maintaining patient safety. The diversity approach allowed for a better understanding of the needs of different population groups and highlighted opportunities for increasing accessibility and involvement in the app.
Surgical management of intraoperatively diagnosed facial nerve schwannoma located at internal auditory canal and cerebellopontine angle – our experiences of 14 cases

Abstract Background Facial nerve schwannomas located at internal auditory canal and cerebellopontine angle (IAC/CPA FNS) were diagnosed intraoperatively, it poses a therapeutic dilemma to the surgeon. Objective To report our experience in managing IAC/CPA FNS and to propose a treatment strategy. Methods A total of 14 patients with IAC/CPA FNS who were diagnosed intraoperatively and treated by operation between 2015 and 2019 were retrospectively studied. Results Unilateral hearing loss was the most common symptom and all these patients had normal facial nerve function preoperatively. Surgical approaches used in these patients including translabyrinthine (2 cases), retrosigmoid (RS) (11 cases), and middle cranial fossa (MCF) approach (1 case). Eight patients underwent partial resection, three patients underwent subtotal resection and three patients had complete tumor removal with facial nerve reconstruction. All partial resection patients and two patients underwent subtotal resection achieved a long-term HB grade I facial nerve function. The long-term facial nerve function of patients underwent complete resection and nerve grafting was no better than HB grade III.1 of the eight patients underwent partial resection experienced tumor regrowth during the follow-up. Conclusions Partial or subtotal resection for IAC/CPA FNS may provide an opportunity of retaining excellent facial nerve function. Regular postoperative imaging is helpful to monitor the recurrence.