Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gender differences in periodontal status of depressive and non-depressive individuals

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the gender-related differences in the relationship between periodontal diseases and depression in male and female adults. Methodology: 171 females with periodontal disease (71 subjects with gingivitis and 100 subjects with periodontitis) and 168 males with periodontal disease (72 subjects with gingivitis and 96 subjects with periodontitis) were included in the study. Clinic periodontal parameters (probing pocket depth, gingival index, plaque index, and bleeding on probing) were used in the periodontal examination. Depressive symptoms were determined by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). According to BDI scores, 150 depressed subjects (77 females and 73 males) and 189 non-depressed subjects (94 females and 95 males) were present. Results: There were similar BDI scores observed in female and male participants. All periodontal parameters were higher in males than females. While plaque index and gingival index were higher in depressed females than non-depressed females, probing depth was similar in female subgroups. Besides, all periodontal parameters were similar in male subgroups. When the relationship between periodontal status and depression scores in women was evaluated, women with periodontitis had higher BDI scores than women with gingivitis. In male subjects, there was no difference in BDI scores in individuals with periodontitis and/or gingivitis. Conclusion: It can be said that depression is a risk factor that negatively affects periodontal status for females, who were more vulnerable to stress and pain than males. How to cite this article: Uçan Yarkaç F, Göktürk Ö. Gender differences in periodontal status of depressive and non-depressive individuals. Int Dent Res 2023;13(1):1-6. https://doi.org/10.5577/idr.2023. vol13.no1. 1 Linguistic Revision: The English in this manuscript has been checked by at least two professional editors, both native speakers of English.
Enteric Methane Emissions, Rumen Fermentation Characteristics, and Energetic Efficiency of Holstein Crossbred Bulls Fed Total Mixed Ration Silage with Cassava instead of Rice Straw

This study investigated the effects of substituting rice straw with cassava in total mixed ration silage on feed intake, digestibility, rumen fermentation, ruminating activity, and energy balance. An energy balance experiment was conducted to determine nutrient and energy utilization in dairy bulls. Four Holstein Friesian (HF) crossbred young bulls (93.19% HF × 6.81% Native Thai; average age of 12.08 ± 0.22 months and body weight of 266 ± 9.80 kg) were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design with four 28-d periods. The four dietary treatments included substituting cassava with rice straw on a 50, 150, 250, and 350 g/kg dry matter basis. Increasing the amount of cassava in the diet resulted in linearly decreased rumination behaviors and enteric methane emissions (p < 0.05) but a linear increase in feed intake and digestibility, total volatile fatty acid concentration, and propionic acid: acetic acid ratio in the rumen fluid (p < 0.05), thus leading to a greater energy balance status (p < 0.01). Our results indicated that replacing cassava with rice straw from 5% to 35% in the ration of Holstein bulls resulted in a substantial reduction in physically effective fiber and chewing time but improved nutrient and energy supply. The metabolizable energy requirement for the maintenance of crossbred dairy bulls was estimated to be 599.9 kJ/kg metabolic body weight and the efficiency of metabolizable energy used for growth was 0.88. We concluded that cassava is a good energy feed resource for Holstein crossbred bulls in the tropics.
EFFECTS OF SEA-LAND BREEZES ON THE SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION OF GASEOUS AIR POLLUTANTS AT THE COASTAL REGION OF SOUTHERN TAIWAN

This study investigated the effects of sea-land breezes on the spatial distribution and temporal variation of gaseous air pollutants in the atmosphere around the coastal region of Southern Taiwan. Ambient air pollutants were simultaneously monitored both inland and offshore in two intensive monitoring periods. Inland monitoring was conducted at two sites associated with fourteen national air quality monitoring stations, while offshore monitoring was conducted at two sites both in an island and on the boat. An ambient air quality monitoring protocol was conducted for consecutive 48 h for measurements of air pollutants including O3, SO2, CO, NOX, and THC. Data obtained from both inland and offshore monitoring sites were applied to plot the concentration contour of gaseous air pollutants with a software SURFER. Hourly variation of air pollutant concentrations was further used to investigate the influences of sea-land breezes on the transportation of gaseous air pollutants around the coastal region of Southern Taiwan. Field measurement results showed that ambient air pollutants could be transported back and forth across the coastline. Particularly, high concentration of O3 was observed at the far inland sites in the daytime due to sea breeze, while high concentration of O3 was also detected over the sea at the nighttime due to land breeze. It suggests that the accumulation of O3 due to sea-land breezes does exist and cannot be ignored in the coastal region of Southern Taiwan.
Effects of Chemicals Exposure on the Durability of Geopolymer Concrete Incorporated with Silica Fumes and Nano-Sized Silica at Varying Curing Temperatures

Durable concrete significantly reduces the spalling caused by chemical damage. The objective of current research is to substitute cement with supplementary such as fly ash (FA), ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), and alccofine (AF). Additionally, the impact of nano-silica (NS) and silica fumes (SF) on the GPC durability when cured at various temperatures has been attempted. In order to perform this, GPC samples were produced by combining NS and SF at proportions of 0.5% NS + 5% SF, 1% NS + 10% SF, and 1.5% NS + 15% SF, and then cured at temperatures of 27 °C, 60 °C, 90 °C, and 120 °C, respectively. In this research, all concrete specimens were continuously immersed for twelve weeks under four different chemicals, i.e., HCl (2%), H2SO4 (2%), NaCl (6%), and Na2SO4 (6%). The influence of chemical attack on the qualities of concrete was examined by evaluating the water absorption, sorptivity, loss of mass, and loss of GPC strength. The durability aspect is also studied by visual appearance and mass loss under harmful chemical attack. The combination of GPC with integrated NS and SF affords great resistance against chemical attacks. The percentages of these two components are 1.5% and 15%. For GPC specimens, when cured at 90 °C, the resultant strength is found at its maximum.
Kantorovich-Like Convergence Theorems for Newton’s Method Using Restricted Convergence Domains

Abstract The convergence set for Newton’s method is small in general using Lipschitz-type conditions. A center-Lipschitz-type condition is used to determine a subset of the convergence set containing the Newton iterates. The rest of the Lipschitz parameters and functions are then defined based on this subset instead of the usual convergence set. This way the resulting parameters and functions are more accurate than in earlier works leading to weaker sufficient semi-local convergence criteria. The novelty of the paper lies in the observation that the new Lipschitz-type functions are special cases of the ones given in earlier works. Therefore, no additional computational effort is required to obtain the new results. The results are applied to solve Hammerstein nonlinear integral equations of Chandrasekhar type in cases not covered by earlier works.
Quality Control for Scientific Research: Addressing Reproducibility, Responsiveness, and Relevance

ABSTRACT Efforts to address a reproducibility crisis have generated several valid proposals for improving the quality of scientific research. We argue there is also need to address the separate but related issues of relevance and responsiveness. To address relevance, researchers must produce what decision makers actually need to inform investments and public policy—that is, the probability that a claim is true or the probability distribution of an effect size given the data. The term responsiveness refers to the irregularity and delay in which issues about the quality of research are brought to light. Instead of relying on the good fortune that some motivated researchers will periodically conduct efforts to reveal potential shortcomings of published research, we could establish a continuous quality-control process for scientific research itself. Quality metrics could be designed through the application of this statistical process control for the research enterprise. We argue that one quality control metric—the probability that a research hypothesis is true—is required to address at least relevance and may also be part of the solution for improving responsiveness and reproducibility. This article proposes a “straw man” solution which could be the basis of implementing these improvements. As part of this solution, we propose one way to “bootstrap” priors. The processes required for improving reproducibility and relevance can also be part of a comprehensive statistical quality control for science itself by making continuously monitored metrics about the scientific performance of a field of research.
Influence of Increase in Phosphorus Supply on Agronomic, Phenological, and Physiological Performance of Two Common Bean Breeding Lines Grown in Acidic Soil under High Temperature Stress Conditions

Many common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants cultivated in areas of the world with acidic soils exhibit difficulties adapting to low phosphorus (P) availability, along with aluminum (Al) toxicity, causing yield loss. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of an increase in P supply level on the agronomic, phenological, and physiological performance of two common bean breeding lines grown in acidic soil, with low fertility and under high temperature conditions, in a screenhouse. A randomized complete block (RCB) design was used under a factorial arrangement (five levels of P × 2 genotypes) for a total of 10 treatments with four replications. The factors considered in the experiment were: (i) five P supply levels (kg ha−1): four levels of P0, P15, P30, and P45 through the application of rock phosphate (RP), and one P level supplied through the application of organic matter (PSOM) corresponding to 25 kg P ha−1 (P25); and (ii) two advanced bean lines (BFS 10 and SEF10). Both bean lines were grown under the combined stress conditions of high temperatures (day and night maximum temperatures of 42.5 °C/31.1 °C, respectively) and acidic soil. By increasing the supply of P, a significant effect was found, indicating an increase in the growth and development of different vegetative organs, as well as physiological efficiency in photosynthesis and photosynthate remobilization, which resulted in higher grain yield in both bean lines evaluated (BFS 10 and SEF10). The adaptive responses of the two bean lines were found to be related to phenological adjustments (days to flowering and physiological maturity; stomatal development), as well as to heat dissipation strategies in the form of heat (NPQ) or unregulated energy (qN) that contributed to greater agronomic performance. We found that, to some extent, increased P supply alleviated the negative effects of high temperature on the growth and development of the reproductive organs of bean lines. Both bean lines (BFS 10 and SEF 10) showed adaptive attributes suited to the combined stress conditions of high temperature and acidic soil, and these two lines can serve as useful parents in a bean breeding program to develop multiple stress tolerant cultivars.
Males and females have similar neuromuscular coordination strategies of the quadriceps during fatiguing repeated all-out cycling

Introduction An imbalance of vastus medialis (VM) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscle activation and patterns of dyscoordination may contribute to the sex discrepancy in the incidence of patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). While some studies have examined sex-specific VM/VL coordination strategies in some tasks, no previous studies have examined sex-specific VM/VL coordination strategies during repeated sprint exercise (RSE). Methods In this study, asymptomatic young adults (N = 39, 19 females) completed a RSE protocol consisting of 10 × 10 s all-out cycling interspersed by 30 s of passive rest. Electromyographic (EMG) signals from the VM and VL muscles were recorded throughout exercise. Results VM:VL ratio did not change with fatigue and was not different between the sexes. From sprint 1 to 10, VM-VL onset delay increased from 9.62 to 16.95 ms and from 19.28 to 45.09 ms in males and females, respectively (p < 0.001); however, no sex difference was found (p = 0.524). Muscle activation amplitude plateaued at different sprint repetitions in males and females while mechanical work plateaued at similar repetitions. Discussion These findings suggest that sex differences in the incidence of PFPS may not be influenced by VM/VL muscle coordination as assessed by EMG.
Flux nutritifs particulaires et dissous dans un écosystème mytilicole côtier méditerranéen

Ce travail a pour but principal l'etude des transformations de la matiere azotee dans les eaux cotieres ou cet element est souvent considere comme l'un des facteurs limitants de la production. Une attention particuliere est apportee aux parts respectives prises par les compartiments particulaire et dissous (nod et nid) dans les flux nutritifs d'un ecosysteme mediterraneen (anse de carteau) dont la biomasse animale est dominee par la moule mytilus galloprovincialis cultivee sur corde. Une station situee en marge de la zone mytilicole sert de reference et permet de presenter les caracteristiques hydrologiques et hydrobiologiques du site. Le compartiment particulaire s'enrichit au printemps et en ete a la suite d'efflorescences phytoplanctoniques. Nid au contraire s'accroit en automne et en hiver. Nod ne suit pas de regle precise de variations aussi bien sur des periodes mensuelles que journalieres. L'influence du vent apparait comme preponderante sur la nature des masses d'eau presente dans la baie. Le suivi d'une poussee de phytoplancton confirme l'existence d'un balancement de deux types d'eaux ou la chlorophylle a oscille entre 3 et 12 g l##1. La comparaison des caracteristiques de la station de reference a celle d'une eau situee au cur d'une table a moules permet d'apprecier les transformations engendrees sur les differentes formes de l'azote par les mollusques filtreurs: une diminution de l'energie trophique potentielle et une prise en acides amines libres dissous est suivie d'une augmentation en materiel dissous organique et inorganique a cette station, ayant une double provenance pour la seconde forme d'azote dissous. Les origines de cet enrichissement en ammonium sont une mineralisation de la matiere organique particulaire a partir des biodepots ou excretion directe par les mollusques. Des systemes experimentaux maintenus in situ ont permis de mettre en evidence le role tout a fait preponderant de l'excretion dans cette production de l'ammonium. Elle est 37 fois superieure a celle due a la mineralisation a partir des sediments enrichis en biodepots meme si les flux d'ammonium, de phosphates et silicates sont amplifies d'un facteur 3 a 5. Ces differents processus (excretion+sediment avec biodepots+sediment sans biodepots de moules) contribuent a 42% de la demande en azote du phytoplancton dans l'ensemble de la baie. Un bilan energetique a l'echelle d'une unite de production est realise
Effect of Intercropping Coffee With Fruit Trees on Coffee Eco-Physiological and Soil Factors at Coffee Research Foundation in Ruiru, Kiambu County, Kenya

xv CHAPTER ONE 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Background Information 1 1.1.1 Coffee history 3 1.1.2 Ecological requirement for coffee production 4 1.1. 3 Global Climate Change Phenomenon. 5 1.2 Problem Statement and Justification 6 1.2. 1 Background of the problem 6 1.2. 2 Problem statement 6 1.2. 3 Justification 8 1. 3 Hypotheses 9 1.4 Objectives 9 1.4. 1 Main objectives 9
History of the Penobscot Experimental Forest, 1950-2010

Though the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service has been studying the forests of the northeastern United States since the late 1800s, long-term studies were not common until experimental forests were introduced in the 20th century. These forests were established for long-term experimentation, and research questions were defined by local forest management needs. The Penobscot Experimental Forest (PEF) in east-central Maine is an example of the success and evolution of the experimental forest model. The PEF was purchased by forest industry for research by the Forest Service, and later donated to the University of Maine Foundation. Throughout its history, the PEF has been defined by successful collaboration in research. Today, the PEF is known for world-class research on northern conifer silviculture and ecology, and work continues to evolve to address research questions beyond the scope envisioned by the original proponents of the site.
Pandemic Preparedness: A Scoping Review of Best and Worst Practices from COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the scale of global unpreparedness to deal with the fast-arising needs of global health threats. This problem was coupled with a crisis of governance and presented in the context of globally hitting climate crisis and disasters. Although such a pandemic was predictable due to the known effects of human intervention on the surrounding environment and its devastating secondary effects, such as climate change and increased zoonoses, most countries were unprepared to deal with the scale and scope of the pandemic. In this context, such as that of the climate crisis, the Global North and Global South faced several common challenges, including, first and foremost, the scarcity of resources required for health, policy, wellbeing and socioeconomic wellness. In this paper, we review the most recent evidence available in the literature related to pandemic preparedness and governance, focusing on principles and practices used during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we place it in the context of a European Parliament Interest Group meeting (this event took place on 21 March 2023 during the “European Health Tech Summit”) to ground it within ongoing discussions and narratives of policy and praxis. The review identified key practices and principles required to better face future health threats and emergencies. Beyond health practices relying on technology and innovation, it is useful to mention the importance of contextualising responses and linking them to clear goals, improving the agreement between science and policymaking, thus building trust and enabling transparent communication with the general public based on clear ethical frameworks.
Overall Survival and Associations of Insurance Status Among Hispanic Men With High-Risk Prostate Cancer

Objectives Our objectives were to (1) determine the association between ethnicity and high-risk prostate cancer (PCa) survival and (2) determine whether this association is modified by insurance status. Methods We performed a retrospective review of the National Cancer Database (NCDB) from 2004 to 2017 of non-Hispanic White (NHW), Hispanic White (HW), or Black men with high-risk PCa. A multivariate Cox regression model was built to test the association between overall survival (OS) and race/ethnicity, insurance status, and their interaction, controlling for various socioeconomic and disease-specific variables. Results A total of 94,708 men with high-risk PCa were included in the analysis. Both HW and Black men had lower socioeconomic status characteristics and lower rates of private insurance. Race/ethnicity was significantly associated with OS in the adjusted analysis. Only Medicare demonstrated significantly worse OS. NHW (covariate-adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 1.83, 95% CI: 1.45-2.32) and Black (aHR: 1.71, 05% CI: 1.34-2.19) men demonstrated significantly worse survival when compared to HW men. Subgroup analysis demonstrated significant differences occurring among HW men with private insurance/managed care when compared to those not insured, Medicaid, Medicare, and other government insurance types. Conclusion Despite socioeconomic and demographic disadvantages, HW men demonstrate improved OS compared to NHW men. Furthermore, HW men demonstrated improved OS compared to NHW men within nearly each insurance status type. This finding is likely the result of a complex multifactorial web and as such serves as an interesting hypothesis-generating study.
Advances in TEE-Centric Intraprocedural Multimodal Image Guidance for Congenital and Structural Heart Disease

Percutaneous interventions are gaining rapid acceptance in cardiology and revolutionizing the treatment of structural heart disease (SHD). As new percutaneous procedures of SHD are being developed, their associated complexity and anatomical variability demand a high-resolution special understanding for intraprocedural image guidance. During the last decade, three-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has become one of the most accessed imaging methods for structural interventions. Although 3D-TEE can assess cardiac structures and functions in real-time, its limitations (e.g., limited field of view, image quality at a large depth, etc.) must be addressed for its universal adaptation, as well as to improve the quality of its imaging and interventions. This review aims to present the role of TEE in the intraprocedural guidance of percutaneous structural interventions. We also focus on the current and future developments required in a multimodal image integration process when using TEE to enhance the management of congenital and SHD treatments.
Anemia in cancer patients: addressing a neglected issue - diagnostics and therapeutic algorithm

Cancer-related anemia (CRA) continues to be a critical concern despite advancements in oncology treatments. The prevalence of anemia varies from 30% to 90%, impacting the quality of life and prognosis of cancer patients. While CRA is often attributed to antineoplastic therapies, it can also result from the disease itself. Inflammation and the iron regulatory hormone hepcidin play significant roles in CRA pathogenesis. Treatment-induced anemia caused by chemotherapy, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and immunotherapy, pose additional challenges. Intravenous (IV) iron has emerged as an effective treatment option for CRA, overcoming limitations associated with oral iron supplementation. Combining IV iron and ESAs enhances treatment outcomes. Future directions involve exploring ESA safety and their immunomodulatory effects. Transfusions provide quick relief but might impact prognosis and immune response. Other considerations include incorporating physical activity and exploring hepcidin-directed therapy. In conclusion, CRA management necessitates a multifaceted approach to address deficiencies, optimize therapies and improve patient outcomes.