Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dental caries prevalence in children with congenital heart disease – a systematic review

Abstract Aim Poor oral health is related with bacteraemia that may lead to endocarditis in children with congenital heart disease (CHD). The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic literature review to compare caries prevalence in children (<18 years of age) with CHD with healthy children. Material and methods A literature search of studies from two online databases (Pubmed (MEDLINE) and Scopus) published from January 2000 to October 2019 using Medical subject heading terms Congenital Heart Disease, Congenital Heart Defect, and Caries was done, and manual search from the reference lists of selected publications. PICO (Patient/Population, Intervention, Comparison group, and Outcome) criteria was applied. Quality of the publications was assessed with the modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Results The search resulted in 151 articles of which nine fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Caries prevalence was significantly higher in children with CHD compared to healthy children in three out of nine studies. Information on predisposing background factors was limited but difference in caries prevalence was not attributed to SES. The quality of the studies varied. Conclusions Although evidence is limited, the current literature indicates that children with CHD experience a higher caries prevalence compared to healthy children.
Chemical Composition of the Volatile Oils from the Aerial Parts of Artemisia annua L. (Asteraceae) by Using Head Space Solid Phase Microextraction and Hydrodistillation Methods Prior to Gas Chromatographic-Mass Spectrometric Determination: A Comparative Investigation

Abstract The present report deals with the analysis, comparison of content and composition of the volatiles obtained by hydrodistillation (HD) and head space-solid phase microextraction (HS-PME) procedures from the fresh aerial parts of Artemisia annua L. The SPME headspace volatiles were collected using a 100 μm polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) fiber. The composition of the volatile essential oils were investigated by GC-FID and GC-MS. Two series of natural compounds were identified constituting 94.6 and 95.18 % of the oils for HD and HS-SPME methods. In the water distilled oil, camphor (16.30 %), β-selinene (10.41 %), artemisia ketone (8.79 %), germacrene-D (7.14 %), α-pinene (4.79 %), 1,8-cineol (4.38 %) and α-selinene (4.09 %) were found to be major components. Moreover, the oil extracted by HS-SPME technique was mainly composed of α-pinene (12.03 %), artemisia ketone (11.24 %), β-selinene (8.73 %), 1,8-cineol (6.76 %), camphene (4.90 %) and α-selinene (4.85 %) as the most abundant fractions. Results imply that the use of HS-SPME could somewhat affect the composition of the essential oils
Electrophysiological assessment and pharmacological treatment of blast-induced tinnitus

Tinnitus, the phantom perception of sound, often occurs as a clinical sequela of auditory traumas. In an effort to develop an objective test and therapeutic approach for tinnitus, the present study was performed in blast-exposed rats and focused on measurements of auditory brainstem responses (ABRs), prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle response, and presynaptic ribbon densities on cochlear inner hair cells (IHCs). Although the exact mechanism is unknown, the “central gain theory” posits that tinnitus is a perceptual indicator of abnormal increases in the gain (or neural amplification) of the central auditory system to compensate for peripheral loss of sensory input from the cochlea. Our data from vehicle-treated rats supports this rationale; namely, blast-induced cochlear synaptopathy correlated with imbalanced elevations in the ratio of centrally-derived ABR wave V amplitudes to peripherally-derived wave I amplitudes, resulting in behavioral evidence of tinnitus. Logistic regression modeling demonstrated that the ABR wave V/I amplitude ratio served as a reliable metric for objectively identifying tinnitus. Furthermore, histopathological examinations in blast-exposed rats revealed tinnitus-related changes in the expression patterns of key plasticity factors in the central auditory pathway, including chronic loss of Arc/Arg3.1 mobilization. Using a formulation of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and disodium 2,4-disulfophenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone (HPN-07) as a therapeutic for addressing blast-induced neurodegeneration, we measured a significant treatment effect on preservation or restoration of IHC ribbon synapses, normalization of ABR wave V/I amplitude ratios, and reduced behavioral evidence of tinnitus in blast-exposed rats, all of which accorded with mitigated histopathological evidence of tinnitus-related neuropathy and maladaptive neuroplasticity.
Characterisation of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) produced during algal bloom: a membrane treatment perspective

Abstract Algal blooms are currently a major concern of the membrane industry as it generates massive concentrations of organic matter (e.g. transparent exopolymer particles [TEP]), which can adversely affect the operation of membrane filtration systems. The goal of this study is to understand the production, composition and membrane rejection of these organic materials using different characterisation techniques. Two common species of bloom-forming freshwater and marine algae were cultivated in batch cultures for 30 days and the productions of TEP and other organic matter were monitored at different growth phases. TEP production of the marine diatom, Chaetoceros affinis, produced 6–9 times more TEP than the freshwater blue-green algae, Microcystis. The organic substances produced by both algal species were dominated by biopolymeric substances such as polysaccharides (45–64%) and proteins (2–17%) while the remaining fraction comprises of low molecular weight refractory (humic-like) and/or biogenic organic .
Safety of Biological Therapy in Children With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

ABSTRACT Objectives: Retrospective, observational, single-center, cohort study investigating the safety profile of biological therapy in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods: Retrospective, observational, cohort study of pediatric patients with IBD, receiving infliximab, adalimumab, vedolizumab, or ustekinumab for at least 2 months. Data related to the immediate and delayed adverse events (AEs) were collected, focusing on the reaction type and severity, the time of onset, the outcome and the temporary or definitive therapy discontinuation secondary to the AE. Number of suspected and confirmed coronavirus disease-209 (COVID-19) cases and their outcomes, as well as flu vaccination coverage were collected. Results: One hundred eighty-five children were included (101 [55%] CD, 82 [44%] UC, and 2 [1%] IBDU): 149 received infliximab (IFX) (81%), 88 (48%) adalimumab (ADA), 18 (21%) vedolizumab, and 4 (2%) ustekinumab. The overall AE rates were 49%, 67% of whom likely medication-related. Eleven (6%) patients experienced more than 1 AE, 18 patients (10%) presented an immediate reaction, and 82 (45%) a delayed AE. Among the 90 patients experiencing at least 1 AE, 97% had mild-to-moderate AEs. Only 4 SAEs were reported (4%). Treatment discontinuation because of AE occurred in 25 patients (14%). Four COVID-19 cases were reported, all with a mild course. Conclusions: Our findings confirm a good safety profile of biologics. Infusion reactions to IFX administration remain one of the main issues, significantly linked to its immunogenicity and consequently with an impact on its efficacy and durability.
Clinical, Imaging, and Lab Correlates of Severe COVID-19 Leukoencephalopathy

The authors highlight notable correlations of severe COVID-19 leukoencephalopathy with reduced diffusivity and obesity, acute renal failure, mild hypernatremia, anemia, and an unusual brain MR imaging white matter lesion distribution pattern. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patients infected with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can develop a spectrum of neurological disorders, including a leukoencephalopathy of variable severity. Our aim was to characterize imaging, lab, and clinical correlates of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) leukoencephalopathy, which may provide insight into the SARS-CoV-2 pathophysiology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven consecutive patients positive for SARS-CoV-2 who had brain MR imaging following intensive care unit admission were included. Seven (7/27, 26%) developed an unusual pattern of “leukoencephalopathy with reduced diffusivity” on diffusion-weighted MR imaging. The remaining patients did not exhibit this pattern. Clinical and laboratory indices, as well as neuroimaging findings, were compared between groups. RESULTS: The reduced-diffusivity group had a significantly higher body mass index (36 versus 28 kg/m2, P < .01). Patients with reduced diffusivity trended toward more frequent acute renal failure (7/7, 100% versus 9/20, 45%; P = .06) and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate values (49 versus 85 mL/min; P = .06) at the time of MRI. Patients with reduced diffusivity also showed lesser mean values of the lowest hemoglobin levels (8.1 versus 10.2 g/dL, P < .05) and higher serum sodium levels (147 versus 139 mmol/L, P = .04) within 24 hours before MR imaging. The reduced-diffusivity group showed a striking and highly reproducible distribution of confluent, predominantly symmetric, supratentorial, and middle cerebellar peduncular white matter lesions (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight notable correlations between severe COVID-19 leukoencephalopathy with reduced diffusivity and obesity, acute renal failure, mild hypernatremia, anemia, and an unusual brain MR imaging white matter lesion distribution pattern. Together, these observations may shed light on possible SARS-CoV-2 pathophysiologic mechanisms associated with leukoencephalopathy, including borderzone ischemic changes, electrolyte transport disturbances, and silent hypoxia in the setting of the known cytokine storm syndrome that accompanies severe COVID-19.
Macronutrients Composition of Lettuce Plants (Lactuca sativa L.) as Affected by Mineral Nutrition Level and ION Exchange Substrate Biona-312 Supplementation

The effect of ion exchange substrate Biona-312 addition (2 or 5%) on the macronutrients composition of butterhead lettuce cv. ‘Justyna’ plants under conditions of basic (1.5-times) and intensive (3-times concentrated Hoagland solution) mineral nutrition level was investigated. Both experimental doses of Biona-312 introduced into 1.5-times concentrated Hoagland nutrient solution [electrical conductivity (EC) 2.41–2.47 dS m−1] dropped nitrogen (N) content in roots. Simultaneously statistically proven increase in foliar concentration of total sulfur (S) as well as a decrease in phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) contents in lettuce above- and underground organs were observed. The changes in calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) content were insignificant. Ion exchange substrate supplementation into 3-times concentrated Hoagland nutrient solution (EC 6.85–7.30 dS m−1), significantly elevated N and K contents in above- and underground organs, raised the foliar S content, decreased Ca and Mg contents in leaves, as well as dropped P concentration in roots and increased content in leaves.
Identification and management of cardiometabolic risk in subjects with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: A Delphi expert consensus study

Abstract Background Patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) have worse physical health and reduced life expectancy compared to the general population. In 2009, the European Psychiatric Association, the European Society of Cardiology and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes published a position paper aimed to improve cardiovascular and diabetes care in patients with severe mental illnesses. However, the initiative did not produce the expected results. Experts in SSD or in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases convened to identify main issues relevant to management of cardiometabolic risk factors in schizophrenia patients and to seek consensus through the Delphi method. Methods The steering committee identified four topics: 1) cardiometabolic risk factors in schizophrenia patients; 2) cardiometabolic risk factors related to antipsychotic treatment; 3) differences in antipsychotic cardiometabolic profiles; 4) management of cardiometabolic risk. Twelve key statements were included in a Delphi questionnaire delivered to a panel of expert European psychiatrists. Results Consensus was reached for all statements with positive agreement higher than 85% in the first round. European psychiatrists agreed on: 1) high cardiometabolic risk in patients with SSD, 2) importance of correct risk management of cardiometabolic diseases, from lifestyle modification to treatment of risk factors, including the choice of antipsychotic drugs with a favourable cardiometabolic profile. The expert panel identified the psychiatrist as the central coordinating figure of management, possibly assisted by other specialists and general practitioners. Conclusions This study demonstrates high level of agreement among European psychiatrists regarding the importance of cardiovascular risk assessment and management in subjects with SSD.
Norms Affect Prospective Causal Judgments

People more frequently select norm-violating factors, relative to norm-conforming ones, as the cause of some outcome. Until recently, this abnormal-selection effect has been studied using retrospective vignette-based paradigms. We use a novel set of video stimuli to investigate this effect for prospective causal judgments-that is, judgments about the cause of some future outcome. Four experiments show that people more frequently select norm-violating factors, relative to norm-conforming ones, as the cause of some future outcome. We show that the abnormal-selection effects are not primarily explained by the perception of agency (Experiment 4). We discuss these results in relation to recent efforts to model causal judgment.
Public Policy and Experiences of Aging: Social Relationships and Social Integration in Chilean Policy on Aging

ABSTRACT This study uses an interpretive narrative approach to compare and contrast assumptions regarding social integration (participation in meaningful and multiple roles, and engagement in social networks) as promoted in the Chilean Comprehensive Policy for Positive Aging, with the expectations of interviewees aged 60 to 74 years. The Policy assumes specific forms of social integration by: offering different options of social integration to dependent vs. independent older people, encouraging autonomy and self-management, and assuming the primacy of family responsibility in older people’s care. Both the Policy and the interviewees emphasize the value of autonomy and independence in old age; the latter, however, do not place family at the frontline when care is needed. Understanding the matches and gaps between policy assumptions and older people’s expectations for social integration, including the role of family caregiving, can open new possibilities to prevent social isolation and promote different forms of social support that are valued by older adults for their emotional and practical benefit.
Trace minerals in pregnancy

The authors survey in detail the role of the four trace elements in pregnancy, e.g. iron, manganese, magnesium and zinc, with regard to the development of congenital malformations and/or behavioural deficits, either prenatally or postnatally. It is maintained that these trace elements play a vital part during pregnancy and after birth.
Influência genotípica na absorção e na toxidez de manganês em soja

Manganese (Mn) toxicity may be a constraint for crop production in acid soils of tropical regions. However, variations of Mn concentrations in plant tissues are also related to the genotypic differences. A greenhouse experiment was carried out to evaluate Mn tolerance of three soybean cultivars [Glycine max (L.) Merrill]. Cultivars Santa Rosa, IAC-15 and IAC-Foscarin 31 were evaluated under five Mn rates (2, 100, 150, 200, and 250 µmol L-1) in nutrient solution (pH 5.0). The experiment in randomized blocks was a 5 x 3 factorial of five Mn doses and three cultivars, with three replications. IAC-15 and Santa Rosa leaves showed visual symptoms of Mn toxicity. At toxic Mn levels in solution, the average Mn concentration in the leaf blades was close to 1,000 mg kg-1. Nevertheless, grain and dry matter in the aerial parts was higher for IAC-15 than IAC-Foscarin 31 (intermediate yield) and Santa Rosa (lowest yield). The greatest total root length and root dry matter yield, as well as root Mn accumulation and compartmentalization in root apoplast of IAC-Foscarin 31 contributes to explain differences in tolerance to the excess. There are, therefore, indications of genotypic differences among the soybean cultivars and that several mechanisms are involved in the tolerance to high Mn levels.
Ultra metal ions and pH sensing characteristics of thermoresponsive luminescent electrospun nanofibers prepared from poly(HPBO-co-NIPAAm-co-SA)

Novel multifunctional fluorescent electrospun (ES) nanofibers were prepared from random copolymers of poly{2-{2-hydroxyl-4-[5-(acryloxy)hexyloxy]phenyl}benzoxazole}-co-(N-isopropylacrylamide)-co-(stearyl acrylate)} (poly(HPBO-co-NIPAAm-co-SA)) using free-radical polymerization, followed by electrospinning. The moieties of HPBO, NIPAAm, and SA were designed to exhibit zinc ion (Zn2+) and pH sensing, thermoresponsiveness, and physical cross-linking, respectively. The ES nanofibers prepared from the P4 copolymer (1 : 93 : 6 composition ratio for HPBO/NIPAAm/SA), showed ultrasensitivity to Zn2+ (as low as 10−8 M) because of the large blue-shifting of 75 nm of the emission maximum and the 2.5-fold enhancement of the emission intensity. Furthermore, the nanofibers exhibited a substantial volume (or hydrophilic–hydrophobic) change during the heating and cooling cycle between 10 °C and 40 °C, attributed to the low critical solution temperature of the thermoresponsive NIPAAm moiety. Such temperature-dependent variation of the prepared nanofibers under the presence of Zn2+ or basic conditions led to a distinct on-off switching of photoluminescence. The high surface-to-volume ratio of the prepared ES nanofibers significantly enhanced their sensitivity compared to that of thin films. These results indicated that the prepared multifunctional ES nanofibers could be potentially used in metal ion, pH, and temperature sensing devices.
Chemical partitioning of sediment contamination by heavy metals in the San Pedro River, Sonora, Mexico

Abstract The present work describes the chemical forms of six heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn) and their space distribution on the San Pedro River sediments, by using a sequential extraction method. Obtained results indicate a metal increase for the nearest stations to the contamination sources (mining exploitation and urban areas). Both fractions, residual and the Fe and Mn oxides, were the most important phases for the six metals on these sediments. In the non residual fraction, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn were associated with the Fe and Mn oxides fraction, whereas Cd and Pb were associated with the residual fraction. Copper showed high affinity for the organic phase. For most of the sampling stations the heavy metals concentrations (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) detected on the non residual fraction were higher than the values established by sediment quality criteria. This shows that the sediments studied are related to polluted areas, anthropogenic in nature, and probably related to the acid drainage coming from the tailing pond “Concentradora Vieja” as well as the wastewater discharges from the city of Cananea, Sonora, Mexico. This represents a potential risk since the San Pedro River is a transboundary river, considered the main source of water supply for a number of activities (namely human settlements, agriculture, livestock and industry) carried out along the Sonora (Mexico) and Arizona (USA) border.
Contrast effects using a two‐detector system in low‐voltage scanning electron microscopy

A system of two opposite Everhart–Thornley detectors A and B has formerly been applied in conventional SEM for electron energies between 5 and 20 keV to separate material, topographic and other types of contrast by sum and difference signals. This technique can also be used successfully for low‐voltage scanning electron microscopy. The decreasing information depth with decreasing electron energy shows differences in the surface composition and contamination which cannot be observed beyond 5 keV. Also below 5 keV material and topographic contrast can be separated and increased by the A + B and A − B signals, respectively.
An Overview of Synchrotron Radiation Applications to Low Temperature Geochemistry and Environmental Science

The availability of synchrotron radiation (SR) to the scientific community has literally revolutionized the way X-ray science is done in many disciplines, including low temperature geochemistry and environmental science. The key reason is that SR provides continuum vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) and X-ray radiation five to ten orders of magnitude brighter than that from standard sealed or rotating anode X-ray tubes (Winick 1987; Altarelli et al. 1998). Although SR was first observed indirectly by John Blewitt in 1945 (Blewitt 1946) and directly by Floyd Haber in 1946 at the General Electric 100-MeV Betatron in Schenectady, NY (see Elder et al. 1947; Baldwin 1975), it took 10 to 15 years before the first systematic applications of SR, which involved spectroscopic studies of the VUV absorption of selected elements (Tomboulian and Hartman 1956) using the 300-MeV synchrotron at Cornell University and of rare gases (Madden and Codling 1963) using the National Bureau of Standards SURF I synchrotron. As of September 2002, there are about 75 storage ring-based SR sources in operation, in construction, funded, or in advanced planning in 23 countries, with 10 fully dedicated SR storage ring facilities in the U.S. A listing of these sources can be obtained at the following web site: http://www-ssrl.slac. stanford.edu/sr_sources. html . The first SR experiments relevant to low temperature geochemistry and environmental science, although not performed on earth or environmental materials, were X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy measurements on amorphous and crystalline germanium oxide conducted on the SPEAR storage ring at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Project in 1971 by Dale Sayers, Farrel Lytle, and Edward Stern (Sayers et al. 1971). Prior to the availability of SR in the hard X-ray energy range (> 5 keV), XAFS spectroscopy measurements were impractical because of the high X-ray flux required and the need for a continuously tunable …
Functional and Pasting Properties of Locally Grown and Imported Exotic Rice Varieties of Malaysia

In the present study, functional and pasting properties of 3 locally grown exotic rice varieties were compared with 3 popular imported rice varieties. Various parameters such as water and oil absorption capacities, gelation properties, pH, water activity, emulsion activity and stability, foaming capacity and pasting properties were evaluated. Results obtained showed significant differences in water absorption (3.82 _ 10.86) and oil absorption capacities (2.18 _ 6.37) with pH and aw varying between 6.07 _ 6.45 and 0.62 _ 0.68, respectively among various rice samples. Emulsifying activity (5.48%) and stability (98.3%), and foaming capacities (3.98%) were highest in glutinous rice. Significant differences were observed in pasting parameters of rice starch especially in relevance to peak time, peak viscosity, final viscosity (range 513 _ 1077 cP) and setback. Results generated in this study pertinent to functional and pasting properties is envisaged to be useful in exploiting the potentiality of local rice grain varieties at international market levels to develop new rice based food products.