Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of reinforcement bar on accuracy of removable partial denture framework fabricated by casting with a 3D-printed pattern and selective laser sintering.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate the accuracy of removable partial denture frameworks fabricated by 3D-printed pattern casting (AM-Cast) and selective laser sintering (SLS) under different co nditions with a reinforcement bar. METHODS A partially edentulous model was scanned with a dental laboratory scanner, and CAD software was used to design the framework. Reinforcement bars (n=0-2) were set on the lingual side of the framework. 3D scanning of the fabricated frameworks by AM-Cast and SLS was performed, and the obtained data were overlapped with the design data. The differences in shape among setting conditions of the bar were statistically compared using the Bonferroni method after the Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS The ranges in differences of the AM-Cast-0, AM-Cast-1, and AM-Cast-2 were -0.167 to 0.128 mm, -0.101 to 0.105 mm, and -0.185 to 0.015 mm, respectively. The ranges of SLS-0, SLS-1, and SLS-2 were -0.166 to 0.035 mm, -0.182 to 0.049 mm, and -0.138 to 0.038 mm, respectively. Large discrepancies were observed at the joining area of the lingual bar on the right side of the AM-Cast. A significant difference was found between the AM-Cast-0 and AM-Cast-1, and between the AM-Cast-0 and AM-Cast-2. CONCLUSIONS The setting conditions of the reinforcement bar affected the accuracy of the lingual bar in the AM-Cast; however, no effect was observed on the displacement of the central area of the lingual bar in SLS. Setting a single reinforcing bar on the retentive latticework contributed to improving the accuracy of the lingual bar in the AM-Cast but not the displacement of the central area of the lingual bar in SLS.
Low antithrombin levels in neonates and infants undergoing congenital heart surgery result in more red blood cell and plasma transfusion on cardiopulmonary bypass

Neonates have lower levels of antithrombin (AT) due to immature liver synthetic function. AT deficiency may lead to inadequate anticoagulation with heparin during cardiac surgery resulting in consumption of coagulation factors and increased blood transfusion. The goal of this study is to examine the effect of AT level on the transfusion requirements of neonates and infants undergoing open heart surgery.
Factors Predicting the Onset of Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment or Alzheimer’s Dementia in Persons With Subjective Cognitive Decline

The objective of the current retrospective cohort study was to identify vascular and/or neuropsychiatric risk factors predicting clinical progression in persons with subjective cognitive decline (SCD). Information on 1,525 persons with SCD (mean age = 73.8 [SD = 8.1] years) was obtained from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center. Clinical progression occurred from SCD to either amnestic mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s dementia over an average of 4.7 (SD = 2.9) years. Stepwise Cox regression was used. Compared to obesity (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.59) in the univariate unadjusted model, obesity (HR = 0.64), current smoking (HR = 2.02), and depressive symptoms (HR = 1.35) were significant after adjusting for covariates in the univariate model. In the multivariate adjusted model, obesity (HR = 0.64), current smoking (HR = 2.04), and depressive symptoms (HR = 1.36) remained significant predictors. Interventions should be designed to minimize transition by managing smoking and depressive symptoms. Further research is required for associations between obesity and clinical progression to test the hypothesis of obesity paradox.
Eye Preference for Emotional Stimuli in Sichuan Snub-Nosed Monkeys

This study presents the first evidence of effects of applying both positive and negative stimuli simultaneously on visual laterality in Old World monkeys. Thirteen captive individuals of Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) were chosen as focal subjects in the monocular box task. In total, 4 emotional categories (the preferred, the novel, the neutral, and the fearful) of visual stimuli were applied, and eye preference was recorded when individuals looked at each stimulus through an observation hole in the box. We found evidence of visual laterality at the individual level, but not at the group level for each stimulus. For the preferred stimulus, 9 individuals showed significant right-eye preference while 4 individuals showed significant left-eye preference. For the other 3 stimuli, 7 individuals displayed significant right-eye preference while 6 individuals displayed significant left-eye preference. Totally, 11 of 13 individuals showed consistency in the visual laterality direction (7 right-eye preference and 4 left-eye preference) across the 4 stimuli. The remaining 2 individuals displayed right-eye preference for the preferred stimulus while they showed left-eye preference for the other 3 stimuli. There was no significant difference among various stimuli regarding the direction of visual laterality. However, there was a significant difference in the strength of visual laterality among various stimulus categories. The strength of visual laterality for the preferred stimulus was significantly lower than that for the other 3 stimuli. The strength of visual laterality for the fearful stimulus was significantly higher than that for the novel stimulus and the neutral stimulus. Furthermore, the looking duration for the preferred stimulus was significantly higher than that for the other 3 stimuli. The looking duration for the novel stimulus was significantly higher than that for the neutral stimulus and the fearful stimulus. The looking duration for the neutral stimulus was significantly higher than that for the fearful stimulus. Our findings indicate emotional valence of stimuli significantly influence eye looking duration and the strength of visual laterality but not for the direction of visual laterality in this species. Taken together, emotional valence of stimuli plays an important role in the eye use of R. roxellana.
Evidence that immunization with TP0751, a bipartite Treponema pallidum lipoprotein with an intrinsically disordered region and lipocalin fold, fails to protect in the rabbit model of experimental syphilis

Deconvolution of syphilis pathogenesis and selection of candidate syphilis vaccinogens requires detailed knowledge of the molecular architecture of the Treponema pallidum outer membrane (OM). The T. pallidum OM contains a low density of integral OM proteins, while the spirochete’s many lipoprotein immunogens are periplasmic. TP0751, a lipoprotein with a lipocalin fold, is reportedly a surface-exposed protease/adhesin and protective antigen. The rapid expansion of calycin/lipocalin structures in the RCSB PDB database prompted a comprehensive reassessment of TP0751. Small angle X-ray scattering analysis of full-length protein revealed a bipartite topology consisting of an N-terminal, intrinsically disordered region (IDR) and the previously characterized C-terminal lipocalin domain. A DALI server query using the lipocalin domain yielded 97 hits, 52 belonging to the calycin superfamily, including 15 bacterial lipocalins, but no Gram-negative surface proteins. Surprisingly, Tpp17 (TP0435) was identified as a structural ortholog of TP0751. In silico docking predicted that TP0751 can bind diverse ligands along the rim of its eight-stranded β-barrel; high affinity binding of one predicted ligand, heme, to the lipocalin domain was demonstrated. qRT-PCR and immunoblotting revealed very low expression of TP0751 compared to other T. pallidum lipoproteins. Immunoblot analysis of immune rabbit serum failed to detect TP0751 antibodies, while only one of five patients with secondary syphilis mounted a discernible TP0751-specific antibody response. In opsonophagocytosis assays, neither TP0751 nor Tpp17 antibodies promoted uptake of T. pallidum by rabbit peritoneal macrophages. Rabbits immunized with intact, full-length TP0751 showed no protection against local or disseminated infection following intradermal challenge with T. pallidum. Our data argue that, like other lipoprotein lipocalins in dual-membrane bacteria, TP0751 is periplasmic and binds small molecules, and we propose that its IDR facilitates ligand binding by and offloading from the lipocalin domain. The inability of TP0751 to elicit opsonic or protective antibodies is consistent with a subsurface location.
Trivalent non-symmetric vertex-transitive graphs of order at most 150

Let X be a simple undirected connected trivalent graph. Then X is said to be a trivalent non-symmetric graph of type (II) if its automorphism group A = Aut(X) acts transitively on the vertices and the vertex-stabilizer Av of any vertex v has two orbits on the neighborhood of v. In this paper, such graphs of order at most 150 with the basic cycles of prime length are investigated, and a classification is given for such graphs which are non-Cayley graphs, whose block graphs induced by the basic cycles are non-bipartite graphs.
EMPROVING outcomes: Evaluating the effect of an ultralung protective strategy for patients with ARDS treated with ECMO

Since the initiation of an adult extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) program at our institution, the program has managed well over 200 patients with ECMO in a 3‐year time frame. While there is a plethora of research evaluating ECMO for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), few studies have evaluated the impact that ventilator management after cannulation might have on outcomes. We hypothesized that failure to properly protect the lungs after cannulation would lead to higher mortality.
Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans Biosynthesis and Post Synthesis Mechanisms Combine Few Enzymes and Few Core Proteins to Generate Extensive Structural and Functional Diversity

Glycosylation is a common and widespread post-translational modification that affects a large majority of proteins. Of these, a small minority, about 20, are specifically modified by the addition of heparan sulfate, a linear polysaccharide from the glycosaminoglycan family. The resulting molecules, heparan sulfate proteoglycans, nevertheless play a fundamental role in most biological functions by interacting with a myriad of proteins. This large functional repertoire stems from the ubiquitous presence of these molecules within the tissue and a tremendous structural variety of the heparan sulfate chains, generated through both biosynthesis and post synthesis mechanisms. The present review focusses on how proteoglycans are “gagosylated” and acquire structural complexity through the concerted action of Golgi-localized biosynthesis enzymes and extracellular modifying enzymes. It examines, in particular, the possibility that these enzymes form complexes of different modes of organization, leading to the synthesis of various oligosaccharide sequences.
Real-Time Dissemination of Aggregate Data on Presentation and Outcomes of Patients With Venous Thromboembolism: The RIETE Infographics Project

In the current era of patient empowerment and precision medicine, access to timely information is critical to decision-making. Unfortunately, we currently lack patient-specific, real-time data about clinical presentation, risk of thrombotic or hemorrhagic events, key risk factors, and adverse outcomes in patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE). Accordingly, the Registro Informatizado Enfermedad TromboEmbólica (RIETE) investigators developed a tool to provide an open-source, real-time graphic representation of VTE-related data derived from over 90 000 patients with confirmed VTE. This information is intended to facilitate discussion in the informed decision-making process. The current article describes the aims, rationale, methods, and ongoing and future efforts of the real-time VTE infographics developed by the RIETE registry collaborators.
“Re-identifying yourself”: a qualitative study of veteran views on implantable BCI for mobility and communication in ALS

Abstract Objectives Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology to assist with mobility and communication is an active area of research in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Implantable BCI offers promise for individuals with severe disease, such as locked-in syndrome, but also raises important ethical issues. We undertook in-depth qualitative interviews with ALS patients from a Veterans Administration hospital ALS multi-disciplinary clinic and explored their perspectives on issues of identity, privacy, enhancement, informed consent, and responsibility related to implantable BCI. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with sixteen (n = 16) individuals, and transcripts were analysed using a modified grounded theory approach. Results Emergent themes included: (1) attitudes towards BCI were characterised by fear, hope, and hesitation about adoption of BCI technology; (2) analogies to other technologies were a useful tool in understanding and communicating opinions about ethical issues in BCI; (3) concerns about potentially socially stigmatising effects of BCI and the burden of adjustment to new therapeutic devices were important considerations to be weighed against the potential functional benefit of BCI use; (4) therapeutic decision-making in ALS often intimately involves loved ones; and (5) prospective decision-making about BCI was significantly affected by weighing the timing of the intervention with the progression of illness. Conclusion The interest in BCI and views on ethical issues raised by BCI is moderated by the experience of living with ALS. The findings from this study can help guide the development of implantable BCI technology for persons with ALS. Implications for rehabilitation Loved ones will play crucial roles in helping patients think through the possible benefits and burdens of getting a BCI device. Providers should consider how the ideal timing for getting an implantable BCI device will vary based on the priorities of persons with ALS and their disease stage. Concerns about social stigma, burden of adjustment, and the desire to maximise time left with loved ones may outweigh the potential functional benefits of BCI devices for some persons with ALS.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Exercise on Metabolic Syndrome Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Increments in inflammatory indicators and low levels of physical activity are correlated to the expansion of the metabolic syndrome (MetS). Objective: The purpose of this study was to establish if exercise training ameliorates inflammatory status in MetS patients. Data sources: PubMed, CINAHL, and Medline, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases and reference lists of included studies were searched. Study selection: Twenty randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of exercise-training impact on inflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL) 6, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-18) with concurrent control groups were included in this analysis. Results: Results demonstrated an overall significant decrease in serum levels of TNF-α (mean difference (MD): −1.21 pg/ml; 95% confidence interval (CI): −1.77, −0.66), CRP (MD: −0.52 mg/l; 95% CI: −0.79, −0.25), IL-8 (MD: −1.31 pg/ml; 95% CI: −2.57, −0.06), and a significant increase in IL-10 (MD: 0.48 pg/ml; 95% CI: 0.10, 0.86). But exercise training did not change the level of IL-6 (MD: −0.69 pg/ml; 95% CI: −1.53, 0.14) and IL-18 (MD: −53.01 pg/ml; 95% CI: −166.64, 60.62). Conclusion: Exercise training improves TNF-α, CRP, IL-8, and IL-10 levels in patients with MetS. For some variables, isolated aerobic exercise, and combined aerobic and resistance exercise appears to be optimal. Future research is needed to clarify the mechanisms underlying exercise training’s effect on this population’s inflammatory markers. More studies are required to confirm these findings.
Evaluating the Suitability of Hazelnut Skin as a Feed Ingredient in the Diet of Dairy Cows

Simple Summary Agriculture is estimated to generate about 700 million tons of waste annually in the Eurpoean Union (EU). Most of the by-products derived from the agricultural industry become organic waste, thus resulting in the loss of valuable nutrients and bioactive compounds and causing environmental and economic issues. Increasing the efficiency of waste management is a major global challenge that must be met in order to minimize the abovementioned negative impacts. Some agro-industrial by-products can be valorized by their inclusion in feed formulations. Hazelnut skin is a by-product of the hazelnut industry. It is a good source of phenolic compounds, polysaccharides, unsaturated fatty acids, and vitamin E. In this study, we evaluated the productive performance of dairy cows in response to the inclusion of hazelnut skin in the diet. We observed no effects of hazelnut skin on either the milk production level or fat and protein contents. The oleic acid concentration in milk was strongly increased by including hazelnut skin in the cows’ diet. Improvements in the antioxidant activity and sustainability of milk production in terms of food–feed competition were also observed. These results are of practical application for feed manufacturers and farmers, as they support the inclusion of sustainable and low-cost feed ingredients in ruminant diets, with the aim of supporting the expected increase in livestock production in the upcoming years. Abstract Hazelnut skin (HS) was evaluated as a source of nutrients for dairy cows. In total, 26 Aosta Red Pied cows were divided into two balanced groups. All cows were fed hay ad libitum. The control group was also given 6 kg of concentrate, while the hazelnut skin group (HAZ) was given 1 kg of the same concentrate that was substituted by 1 kg of HS. The dry matter intake of the cows was reduced by the dietary inclusion of HS (p ≤ 0.001). The milk yield and main constituents were unaffected by treatment. Milk from HAZ cows showed decreased concentrations of de novo saturated fatty acids (FAs), odd- and branched-chain FA, α-linolenic acid, and long-chain n-3 FAs, as well as increased concentrations of stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, total monounsaturated FAs, trans biohydrogenation intermediates, and α–tocopherol. Replacing the concentrate with HS increased the human-inedible feed quota in the diet and improved the sustainability of milk production in terms of the food-feed competition. Our results suggest that it is possible to add economic value to organic waste from the hazelnut industry using HS as a feed ingredient for dairy cows, enhancing the feed efficiency and milk antioxidant activity and having expected impacts on the nutraceutical quality of milk fat.
Non-Coding RNAs as Cancer Hallmarks in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

The discovery of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and their role in tumor onset and progression has revolutionized the way scientists and clinicians study cancers. This discovery opened new layers of complexity in understanding the fine-tuned regulation of cellular processes leading to cancer. NcRNAs represent a heterogeneous group of transcripts, ranging from a few base pairs to several kilobases, that are able to regulate gene networks and intracellular pathways by interacting with DNA, transcripts or proteins. Deregulation of ncRNAs impinge on several cellular responses and can play a major role in each single hallmark of cancer. This review will focus on the most important short and long non-coding RNAs in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), highlighting their implications as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets as they relate to the well-established hallmarks of cancer. The key molecular events in the onset of CLL will be contextualized, taking into account the role of the “dark matter” of the genome.
Salvia coccinea poisoning among migratory Gaddi goats: Evidences from mid hills of Himachal Pradesh (India)

An outbreak of nitrate poisoning due to accidental ingestion of Salvia coccinea vernacularly called Kali phool by a flock of 300 migratory Gaddi goats with 20% mortality was reported during winter in Kangra Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India. The history, clinical signs, characteristic post mortem findings, presence of excess level of nitrates in the foliage of Salvia coccinea plants (12.63% on dry matter basis) and 6.2 mg % of nitrite contents in the sera of ailing goats evidences the nitrate poisoning owing to Salvia coccinea (Kali phool) among Gaddi goats.
Total organic carbon concentrations in ecosystem solutions of a remote tropical montane forest respond to global environmental change

The response of organic carbon (C) concentrations in ecosystem solutions to environmental change affects the release of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from forests to surface and groundwaters. We determined the total organic C (TOC) concentrations (filtered <1–7 µm) and the ratios of TOC/dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) concentrations, electrical conductivity (EC), and pH in all major ecosystem solutions of a tropical montane forest from 1998 to 2013. The forest was located on the rim of the Amazon basin in Ecuador and experienced increasing numbers of days with >25°C, decreasing soil moisture, and rising nitrogen (N) deposition from the atmosphere during the study period. In rainfall, throughfall, mineral soil solutions (at the 0.15‐ and 0.30‐m depths), and streamflow, TOC concentrations and fluxes decreased significantly from 1998 to 2013, while they increased in stemflow. TOC/DON ratios decreased significantly in rainfall, throughfall, soil solution at the 0.15‐m depth, and streamflow. Based on Δ14C values, the TOC in rainfall and mineral soil solutions was 1 year old and that of litter leachate was 10 years old. The pH in litter leachate decreased with time, that in mineral soil solutions increased, while those in the other ecosystem solutions did not change. Thus, reduced TOC solubility because of lower pH values cannot explain the negative trends in TOC concentrations in most ecosystem solutions. The increasing TOC concentrations and EC in stemflow pointed at an increased leaching of TOC and other ions from the bark. Our results suggest an accelerated degradation of DOM, particularly of young DOM, associated with the production of N‐rich compounds simultaneously to changing climatic conditions and increasing N availability. Thus, environmental change increased the CO2 release to the atmosphere but reduced DOM export to surface and groundwater.
Dependencies of Surface Condensation on the Wettability and Nanostructure Size Differences

When changing surface wettability and nanostructure size, condensation behavior displays distinct features. In this work, we investigated evaporation on a flat hydrophilic surface and condensation on both hydrophilic and hydrophobic nanostructured surfaces at the nanoscale using molecular dynamics simulations. The simulation results on hydrophilic surfaces indicated that larger groove widths and heights produced more liquid argon atoms, a quicker temperature response, and slower potential energy decline. These three characteristics closely relate to condensation areas or rates, which are determined by groove width and height. For condensation heat transfer, when the groove width was small, the change of groove height had little effect, while change of groove height caused a significant variation in the heat flux with a large groove width. When the cold wall was hydrophobic, the groove height became a significant impact factor, which caused no vapor atoms to condense in the groove with a larger height. The potential energy decreased with the increase of the groove height, which demonstrates a completely opposing trend when compared with hydrophilic surfaces.