Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and tolerance of papain gel with conventional drilling method: a clinico-microbiological study.

BACKGROUND Conventional methods of caries removal are commonly associated with pain, fear and discomfort. Chemomechanical methods were introduced to instill a positive dental attitude. Agents like GK-101, Caridex, Carisolv did not prove effective alternatives owing to their high cost, need of special instruments and taste of chlorine. A new chemomechanical agent, Papacarie®, has been introduced to overcome these deficiencies. OBJECTIVE This study was aimed to compare the effectiveness and tolerance of Papacárie® with the conventional method. METHOD 25 children with at least two primary teeth with broad cavitated occlusal or cervical lesion were selected. One carious tooth from each patient was randomly treated with each of Papacarie® and conventional drilling method, one after the other. Time taken for caries excavation, child's pain perception, change in anxiety levels, microbial flora and child's preference of treatment were recorded separately for both the methods. RESULT Although the mean time taken for caries removal by the Papacarie® method was slightly longer (P≯0.05) but it led to reduction in pain and anxiety (p<0.05). The viable bacterial counts were significantly reduced by either of the two methods (P <0�0001). More patients preferred Papacarie® over conventional method of treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Papacárie® method seems to be a better alternative to conventional method of caries removal.
Polycistronic (tri- or bicistronic) phytoreoviral segments translatable in both plant and insect cells

Genomic segment S12 of rice dwarf virus and segment S9 of wound tumor virus, both members of the genus Phytoreovirus, have small out-of-phase overlapping open reading frames (ORFs). Western blot (immunoblot) analysis revealed that rice dwarf virus S12 mRNA specified translation products from the large ORF and two overlapping small ORFs both in rice plant hosts and in Spodoptera frugiperda insect cells. These results provide the first example of a tricistronic mRNA for a segmented double-stranded RNA virus. Similarly, wound tumor virus S9 mRNA was found to direct the synthesis of protein products from both the large ORF and small out-of-frame ORF in S. frugiperda cells. Results of site-specific and deletion mutagenesis studies were consistent with a leaky scanning translation mechanism for the synthesis of the small ORFs.
The effect of adding PTH(1–84) to conventional treatment of hypoparathyroidism: A randomized, placebo‐controlled study

In hypoparathyroidism, plasma parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels are inadequate to maintain plasma calcium concentration within the reference range. On conventional treatment with calcium supplements and active vitamin D analogues, bone turnover is abnormally low, and BMD is markedly increased. We aimed to study the effects of PTH‐replacement therapy (PTH‐RT) on calcium‐phosphate homeostasis and BMD. In a double‐blind design, we randomized 62 patients with hypoparathyroidism to daily treatment with PTH(1–84) 100 µg or similar placebo for 24 weeks as add‐on therapy to conventional treatment. Compared with placebo, patients on PTH(1–84) reduced their daily dose of calcium and active vitamin D significantly by 75% and 73%, respectively, without developing hypocalcemia. However, hypercalcemia occurred frequently during the downtitration of calcium and active vitamin D. Plasma phosphate and renal calcium and phosphate excretion did not change. Compared with placebo, PTH(1–84) treatment significantly increased plasma levels of bone‐specific alkaline phosphatase (+226% ± 36%), osteocalcin (+807% ± 186%), N‐terminal propeptide of procollagen 1 (P1NP; +1315% ± 330%), cross‐linked C‐telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTX; +1209% ± 459%), and urinary cross‐linked N‐telopeptide of type 1 collagen (NTX; (+830% ± 165%), whereas BMD decreased at the hip (−1.59% ± 0.57%), lumbar spine (−1.76% ± 1.03%), and whole body (−1.26% ± 0.49%) but not at the forearm. In conclusion, the need for calcium and active vitamin D is reduced significantly during PTH‐RT, whereas plasma calcium and phosphate levels are maintained within the physiologic range. In contrast to the effect of PTH(1–84) treatment in patients with osteoporosis, PTH‐RT in hypoparathyroidism causes a decrease in BMD. This is most likely due to the marked increased bone turnover. Accordingly, PTH‐RT counteracts the state of overmineralized bone and, during long‐term treatment, may cause a more physiologic bone metabolism. © 2011 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Health and Performance Factors in Health Care Shift Workers

Objectives: To assess the impact of shift work on health care workers. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study assessed health and performance markers of 188 day and night shift nonphysician health care workers. Results: Night-shift workers were more likely to report difficulty with routine orders, lower energy levels, unpredictable work schedules, and sleep disturbance but no difference with injuries or motor vehicle crashes. A classification of day shift, night shift without unpredictable schedule or sleep problems, and night shift with unpredictable schedule or sleep problems revealed a trend of increased difficulty with routine orders, suggesting a “dose response effect. ” Conclusions: Findings suggest an association with night shift health care workers and adverse health and performance markers. A “higher-risk” subgroup may benefit from targeted interventions to reduce potential adverse effects from shift work and improve health care delivery.
Does White Matter Matter? Spatio-temporal Dynamics of Task Switching in Aging

Older adults often encounter difficulties in switching between tasks, perhaps because of age-related decreases in executive function. Executive function may largely depend on connections between brain areas—connections that may become structurally and functionally weaker in aging. Here we investigated functional and structural age-related changes in switching between a spatial and a verbal task. These tasks were chosen because they are expected to differentially use the two hemispheres. Brain measures included anatomical information about anterior corpus callosum size (CC; the major commissure linking the left and right hemisphere), and the event-related optical signal (EROS). Behavioral results indicated that older adults had greater task-switching difficulties, which, however, were largely restricted to switching to the spatial task and to individuals with smaller anterior CCs. The EROS data showed both general switching-related activity in the left middle frontal gyrus (with approximately 300-msec latency) and task-specific activity in the inferior frontal gyrus, lateralized to the left for the switch-to-verbal condition and to the right for the switch-to-spatial condition. This lateralization was most evident in younger adults. In older adults, activity in the switch-to-spatial condition was lateralized to the right hemisphere in individuals with large CC, and to the left in individuals with small CC. These data suggest that (a) task switching may involve both task-general and task-specific processes; and (b) white matter changes may underlie some of the age-related problems in switching. These effects are discussed in terms of the hypothesis that aging involves some degree of cortical disconnection, both functional and anatomical.
Role of Local Festivals on Network Formation among a Variety of Residents in a Community

Community activities, such as local festivals, which get residents to collaborate with each other, can enable them to start interacting with others whom they have never interacted with before. This is because festivals exist in a context that is independent of daily jobs or hobbies of residents. This study develops a social network model with the assumption that (i) each player's knowledge and experience is endogenously determined through a network and (ii) players have various preferences for the heterogeneity of this knowledge and experience. We carry out numerical simulations to illustrate the dynamic process of interaction among players. Furthermore, we investigate the dynamic effect of exogenous link addition by festivals on network formation and utility of each player, and evaluate the value of festivals.
Application of P2P (peer-to-peer) technology to marketing

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) networks are spreading, and their practical applications for the business scene are promising. However, the essence of P2P is missed by broad interpretations that do not make it a problem whether to use P2P technology. Incidentally, although marketing activity currently consists mainly of Web pages or mail, it is difficult to actively find latent customers from the company side, and it is not necessarily an effective marketing means for a small-scale company. Therefore, in this paper, we discuss the application of P2P technology to marketing. First, the essence of P2P is correctly extracted by focusing on the state of the information that changes within a P2P network, and effective fields in business are clarified. Next, by paying attention to characteristics of P2P that have not yet been adequately developed in business, we have recognized that P2P marketing is promising from now on. We devise five models for applying P2P networks to the marketing field (P2P marketing), and clarify P2P's marketing features through comparisons with existing Internet marketing. Consequently, we reveal features not currently held by Web pages or mail.
Switch based non-linear models for system level 3-D ESD simulation

ESD sensitivity of components at the system level is one of the key EMC risks in hand held devices. It is often very difficult to estimate what are the causes and effects from the pass or fail type results of the system level ESD tests. Therefore, simulations are necessary. However, non-linear simulation models of materials are lacking. This paper proposes a measurement method and a related non-linear model for material ESD characterization in 3-D electromagnetic simulations.
Internet-based ICT adoption among SMEs: Demographic versus benefits, barriers, and adoption intention

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the demographic characteristics of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with regards to their patterns of internet‐based information and communications technology (ICT) adoption, taking into account the dimensions of ICT benefits, barriers, and subsequently adoption intention.Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire‐based survey is used to collect data from 406 managers or owners of SMEs in Malaysia.Findings – The results reveal that the SMEs would adopt internet‐based ICT regardless of years of business start‐up and internet experience. Some significant differences are spotted between manufacturing and service SMEs in terms of their demographic characteristics and internet‐based ICT benefits, barriers, and adoption intention. Both the industry types express intention to adopt internet‐based ICT, with the service‐based SMEs demonstrating greater intention.Research limitations/implications – The paper focuses only on the SMEs in the southern region .
A compact dual polarized UWB diversity wide-slot antenna

A compact dual-polarized printed ultra-wideband (UWB) wide-slot antenna for multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO)/ diversity application is proposed. The wide-slot antenna built on a printed circuit board (PCB) consists of two right-angled trapezoid radiation patches with two orthogonal feeding ports. High isolation is achieved by placing a short strip at the middle of the slot and etching an isosceles triangle on the ground plane. Measured results show that the isolation is better than 20 dB across the entire working band from 3-11 GHz. The envelope correlation coefficient between radiation patterns shows consistent diversity performance across the whole UWB band. These features make this proposed antenna very attractive for the application of diversity systems. Besides, the antenna has a compact size of 50mm*50mm, which is a good candidate for portable devices.
Towards passive brain–computer interfaces: applying brain–computer interface technology to human–machine systems in general

Cognitive monitoring is an approach utilizing realtime brain signal decoding (RBSD) for gaining information on the ongoing cognitive user state. In recent decades this approach has brought valuable insight into the cognition of an interacting human. Automated RBSD can be used to set up a brain–computer interface (BCI) providing a novel input modality for technical systems solely based on brain activity. In BCIs the user usually sends voluntary and directed commands to control the connected computer system or to communicate through it. In this paper we propose an extension of this approach by fusing BCI technology with cognitive monitoring, providing valuable information about the users' intentions, situational interpretations and emotional states to the technical system. We call this approach passive BCI. In the following we give an overview of studies which utilize passive BCI, as well as other novel types of applications resulting from BCI technology. We especially focus on applications for healthy users, and the specific requirements and demands of this user group. Since the presented approach of combining cognitive monitoring with BCI technology is very similar to the concept of BCIs itself we propose a unifying categorization of BCI-based applications, including the novel approach of passive BCI.
Aviation Display Support for Situation Awareness

Abstract : In this report, three prototype displays that are contrasted for aircraft navigation and tactical hazard awareness: a conventional 2D coplanar display, an exocentric ("God's eye") 3D display, and an immersed ("pilot's eye") 3D display. Strengths and weaknesses of each display type are discussed. In implementing these for Experiment 1, the immersed display was coupled with a global exocentric view of the airspace. In Experiment 1, thirty pilots flew with each of the displays around an airspace populated by waypoints, hazards and traffic. Performance measures revealed the anticipated costs and benefits of each display type. In Experiment 2, cognitive engineering principles were applied to remediate the weaknesses of each display type. Analysis of performance of 27 additional participants in flight path tracking and hazard awareness measures revealed success in application of the cognitive engineering principles. We also briefly describe the procedures employed in a third experiment in which additional design changes were examined.
The Unique Adaptation of the Life Cycle of the Coelomic Gregarine Diplauxis hatti to its Host Perinereis cultrifera (Annelida, Polychaeta): an Experimental and Ultrastructural Study

ABSTRACT. The coelomic gregarine Diplauxis hatti exhibits a unique adaptation of its life cycle to its polychaete host Perinereis cultrifera. Experimental and ultrastructural observations on natural populations from the English Channel showed that release of parasite spores is concomitant with the polychaete spawning. As the development of P. cultrifera is direct, the notochete larva ingest parts of the jelly coat covered with numerous sporocysts of D. hatti during hatching. Transepithelial migration of the sporozoites takes place in the gut of three‐ or four‐segment notochete larvae and syzygies of about 20 μm are observed in the coelom. Growth of these young syzygies is slow: after 18–24 mo they reach only 60–70 μm. They exhibit active pendular movements. In the English Channel, female and male gametogenesis of P. cultrifera begins at 19 mo and 2 yr, respectively; the somatic transformations (epitoky) in the last 4 mo of their 3‐year life. During epitoky, the syzygies undergo an impressive growth and reach 700–800 μm within a few weeks. A shift from pendular to active peristaltic motility is observed when the syzygies reach 200–250 μm. When gamogony occurs, syncytial nuclear divisions are initiated and cellularization produces hundred to thousands of male and female gametes of similar size. The male gametes exhibit a flagellum with 3+0 axoneme. The mixing of the gametes (“danse des gametes”) and fertilization are observed during 4–5 h. Zygotes differentiate sporoblasts with eight sporozoites. The sporozoites exhibit the canonical structure of Apicomplexa, a polarized cell with micronemes and rhoptries.
Guanine specific chemical sequencing of DNA by osmium tetroxide.

Osmium tetroxide (OS04) has been used to probe alterations in DNA structures in vitro (1,2) and in vivo (3). In neutral aqueous solutions, OsO4 predominantly reacts with thymine bases of single-stranded DNA; however, there is no reaction with native double-stranded (ds)DNA (4). In the presence of terdiay nitrogen donor ligands (such as pyridine), OS04 reacts with the pyrimidine moieties of polynucleotides (5). To make the reaction suitable for DNA sequencing significant efforts have been made to understand the precise mechanism of OsO4/pyridine reactivity and to eliminate background reactions with C and G residues (6). Here we present a new protocol in which OS04 predominantly reacts with G residues of dsDNA in the absence of pyridine and the background T reactivity is completely eliminated by the presence of CaCl2. Improved specific sequencing reaction with OSO4 could be used for in vivo footprinting of DNA-binding proteins as an alternative to dinethyl sulfate (DMS) based reaction because of its known limitations (7). A 250 bp fragment containing (TG) and (TC) repeats (8) was cloned into PCR II plasmid by PCR cloning method (Invitrogen TA Cloning Kit) according to the manufacturer's instuctions and purified by ultracentrifuge on CsCl gradients. Five tg of supercoiled DNA was dissolved in 12 mM HEPES (pH 7.9), 0 or 60 mM KCI, CaCl2 as indicated, 2 mM OSO4 (Sigma) in a total volume of 100 yd. Control reactions shown in Fig. 2 included 2% pyridine.
Interpretation of bone densitometry measurements: Disadvantages of a percentage scale and a discussion of some alternatives

EASUREMENTS ARE MADE on people for a variety of M purposes. Clinical purposes include diagnosis and monitoring of treatment in individuals and screening of selected groups for risk of disease. Scientific purposes include describing the attributes of populations and how those attributes are affected by factors of interest to the investigator. For clinical purposes the interpretation of a measurement requires an appropriate standard of comparison, based either on what is prevalent or on what is optimum for Prevalence-based standards are most appropriate when the measured variable is subject to homeostatic control, like plasma calcium, so that the usual range of values is the result of natural selection. Healthbased standards are more appropriate when the measured variable is a direct index of disease risk, like body weight, blood pressure, and serum cholesterol. For such measurements, their distribution in a community is used, not to define what constitutes health, but to determine the frequency of ill health. Measurements of bone density* share features in common with both types of measurement just described. The usual range of values for peak adult bone density reflects adaptation, both by the species and by the individual, to customary biomechanical demands,(31 thus supporting the use of prevalence-based standards. On the other hand, the universal fall in bone density with age constitutes a risk factor for fractures, and considrable progress has been made in relating the magnitude of risk to particular levels of bone den~ i ty . (~ -~ I Such relationships can provide a basis for making clinical decisions, particularly if future lifetime
Obstetric complications predict treatment response in first-episode schizophrenia

Background. Understanding the role of obstetric complications (OCs) in schizophrenia could potentially shed light on the heterogeneity in the aetiology and course of schizophrenia. Many investigators have reported an association between OCs and schizophrenia, but few have examined the association between OCs and treatment outcome. We investigated this question in a sample of patients studied during their first episode of schizophrenia, schizoaffective or schizophreniform disorder. Method. OC histories were obtained for 59 patients participating in the Hillside First Episode Study. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to estimate the effect of OCs on treatment response during the first episode of schizophrenia. Results. Twelve of the 59 patients (20%) had positive histories of OCs. This group exhibited lower rates of treatment response than those with negative OC histories (hazard ratio controlling for sex = 0·28; 95% CI = 0·13, 0·62). The positive OC group also had significantly greater lateral ventricle volume, baseline disorganization and number of live births. The effect of OC history on treatment response held when these three variables were controlled for. Conclusion. A history of obstetric complications predicted poor response to treatment in the first episode of schizophrenia. This large effect was based on a small sample of 59 patients. Thus, replication is called for.
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and stress

Os hipotalamus-hipofiza-nadbubrežna žlijezda (HHN) je vrlo važan ustroj u kojem se visestruko ispreplecu tri važna sustava – sredisnji živcani sustav (SŽS), endokrine žlijezde i imunosustav, s važnom ulogom u održavanju homeostaze, tj. fizioloske ravnoteže organizma u bazalnim uvjetima, a posebice u uvjetima stresa.Stres se može opisati kao zbroj "nespecificnih reakcija organizma na bilo kakve podražaje". Stres je proces koji utjece na sve organe i tkiva, i izaziva visoko integrirane odgovore i reakcije, no prvi sustavi koji su zahvaceni i promijenjeni stresom su neuroendokrini, kardiovaskularni, gastrointestinalni i imunosustav i kod tih se sustava prvo pokazuju funkcionalne promjene koje mogu dovesti do bolje prilagodbe ili adaptacije, ili do pogresne prilagodbe odnosno maladaptacije i bolesti.U kompleksnom odgovoru organizma na stresore sudjeluju i brojni neurotransmitori – kako u prijenosu signala u sredisnjem i perifernom živcanom sustavu tako te kao spona živcanog i endokrinog sustava na razini hipotalamusa, tako i izravnim djelovanjem na izvrsne strukture, ukljucivsi i stanice imunosustava.
A simplified fluorescence plus Giemsa method for consistent differential staining of sister chromatids.

The analysis of sister chromatid exchanges using the 5-bromodeoxyuridine probe method has become popular in cytological studies today. Many techhiques have been developed to stain the sister chromatids differentially. From our experience, we feel that the method of fluorescence plus Giemsa (FPG), originally developed by Perry and Wolff (1974) and later improved by Goto et al. (1978), gives the most satisfactory results. However, the staining protocols drafted by these authors are not as simple as the one currently practiced in our laboratory. Using metaphase chromosomes of Chinese hamster ovary cells which have replicated two cycles in culture medium containing 10 μM of 5-bromodeoxyuridine as an example, we carry out the simplified FPG method by the following steps.