Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Leptin levels in gingival crevicular fluid in periodontal health and disease.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE A high concentration of leptin is associated with healthy gingival tissue, and the concentration of leptin decreases as periodontal disease progresses. However, to date, the leptin concentration in gingival crevicular fluid has not been documented. Hence, the present study was carried out to explore the presence of leptin in gingival crevicular fluid in periodontal health and disease, and to probe further into its possible role in periodontal disease progression. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 45 adult patients were selected, based on their body mass index, for the study. They were categorized into three groups of 15 patients each, based on their periodontal tissue status, as follows: group I (clinically healthy gingiva with no loss of attachment); group II (chronic gingivitis with no loss of attachment); and group III (chronic periodontitis). Gingival crevicular fluid samples of 1 microL were collected extracrevicularly using white color-coded 1-5 microL calibrated volumetric microcapillary pipettes from one site in each person, and samples were analyzed for leptin using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. RESULTS The concentration of leptin in gingival crevicular fluid of patients in group I (2292.69 pg/mL) was statistically higher (p < 0.05) than in those of groups II (1409.95 pg/mL) and III (1071.89 pg/mL). This suggests a negative correlation of gingival crevicular fluid leptin concentration with clinical attachment loss (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION As periodontal tissue destruction increased, there was a substantial decrease in gingival crevicular fluid leptin concentration. This observation extends our knowledge of the protective role of leptin in periodontal health.
Phosphorylated TDP‐43 in frontotemporal lobar degeneration and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

TAR DNA‐binding protein of 43kDa (TDP‐43) is deposited as cytoplasmic and intranuclear inclusions in brains of patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitinated inclusions (FTLD‐U) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Previous studies reported that abnormal phosphorylation takes place in deposited TDP‐43. The aim of this study was to identify the phosphorylation sites and responsible kinases, and to clarify the pathological significance of phosphorylation of TDP‐43.
Venom gland components of the ectoparasitoid wasp, Anisopteromalus calandrae

The wasp Anisopteromalus calandrae is a small ectoparasitoid that attacks stored product pest beetle larvae that develop inside grain kernels, and is thus a potential insect control tool. The components of A. calandrae venom have not been studied, but venom from other organisms contains proteins with potential applications, such as pest management tools and treatments for human diseases. We dissected female A. calandrae and collected venom and associated glands. Using high throughput sequencing, a venom gland transcriptome was assembled that contained 45,432 contigs, 25,726 of which had BLASTx hits. The majority of hits were to Nasonia vitripennis, an ectoparasitoid from the same taxonomic family, as well as other bees, wasps, and ants. Gene ontology grouped sequences into eleven molecular functions, among which binding and catalytic activity had the most representatives. In this study, we highlighted the most abundant sequences, including those that are likely the functional components of the venom. Specifically, we focused on genes encoding proteins potentially involved in host developmental arrest, disrupting the host immune system, host paralysis, and transcripts that support these functions. Our report is the first to characterize components of the A. calandrae venom gland that may be useful as control tools for insect pests and other applications.
Sonification and the interaction of perceptual dimensions: Can the data get lost in the map?

Many sonification techniques use acoustic attributes such as frequency, intensity, and timbre to represent different characteristics of multidimensional data. Here we demonstrate a perceptual interaction between changes in pitch and loudness, as well as perceived asymmetries in directional change. Three experiments show that changes in loudness can influence judgments of pitch change, changes in pitch can influence loudness change, and that increases in loudness are judged to change more than equivalent decreases. Within a sonification of stock market data, these characteristics created perceptual distortions in the data set. The results imply that in situations where precision is critical, caution should be exercised when using lower level acoustic dimensions such as frequency and intensity to represent multidimensional data.
Modeling Internet Attacks

—As the frequency and complexity Internet attacks increase, systems administrators need more sophisticated tools to warn and direct their responses. The foundation for any such effort is a coherent model of exploits and vulnerabilities that is rich enough to capture the behavior and composition of multi-stage attacks. This paper describes an enhanced attack tree model of Internet attacks, and a companion specification language for expressing aggregate attack behaviors and modalities. A distributed attack notification and visualization system is briefly described that uses the model as a common representation for incidents captured by Intrusion Detection Systems (IDSs).
Planar surface segmentation of a point cloud using local geometric patterns

This paper presents a method for segmenting a 3D point cloud into planar surfaces using recently obtained discretegeometry results. In discrete geometry, a discrete plane is defined as a set of grid points lying between two parallel planes with a small distance, called thickness. Contrarily to the continuous case, there exist a finite number of local geometric patterns (LGPs) appearing on discrete planes. Moreover, such a LGP does not possess the unique normal vector but a set of normal vectors. By using those LGP properties, we first reject non-linear points from a point cloud, and then classify non-rejected points whose LGPs can have common normal vectors into a planar-surfacepoint set. From each planar-surface-point set, we also estimate parameters of a discrete plane by minimizing its thickness.
Pseudomonas-Derived Ceramidase Induces Production of Inflammatory Mediators from Human Keratinocytes via Sphingosine-1-Phosphate

Ceramide is important for water retention and permeability barrier functions in the stratum corneum, and plays a key role in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). A Pseudomonas aeruginosa-derived neutral ceramidase (PaCDase) isolated from a patient with AD was shown to effectively degrade ceramide in the presence of Staphylococcus aureus-derived lipids or neutral detergents. However, the effect of ceramide metabolites on the functions of differentiating keratinocytes is poorly understood. We found that the ceramide metabolite sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) stimulated the production of inflammatory mediators such as TNF-α and IL-8 from three-dimensionally cultured human primary keratinocytes (termed “3D keratinocytes”), which form a stratum corneum. PaCDase alone did not affect TNF-α gene expression in 3D keratinocytes. In the presence of the detergent Triton X-100, which damages stratum corneum structure, PaCDase, but not heat-inactivated PaCDase or PaCDase-inactive mutant, induced the production of TNF-α, endothelin-1, and IL-8, indicating that this production was dependent on ceramidase activity. Among various ceramide metabolites, sphingosine and S1P enhanced the gene expression of TNF-α, endothelin-1, and IL-8. The PaCDase-enhanced expression of these genes was inhibited by a sphingosine kinase inhibitor and by an S1P receptor antagonist VPC 23019. The TNF-α-binding antibody infliximab suppressed the PaCDase-induced upregulation of IL-8, but not TNF-α, mRNA. PaCDase induced NF-κB p65 phosphorylation. The NF-κB inhibitor curcumin significantly inhibited PaCDase-induced expression of IL-8 and endothelin-1. VPC 23019 and infliximab inhibited PaCDase-induced NF-κB p65 phosphorylation and reduction in the protein level of the NF-κB inhibitor IκBα. Collectively, these findings suggest that (i) 3D keratinocytes produce S1P from sphingosine, which is produced through the hydrolysis of ceramide by PaCDase, (ii) S1P induces the production of TNF-α via S1P receptors, and (iii) released TNF-α stimulates the production of inflammatory mediators such as IL-8.
Dietary level and source of neutral detergent fiber and ileal endogenous nitrogen flow in pigs.

Two experiments were conducted to study the effect of dietary level and source of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) on ileal dry matter flow and on total and endogenous N flow at the terminal ileum. Twenty-two crossbred 6-wk-old castrated male pigs with an average BW of 9 kg were used. The pigs were fitted with a post-valvular T-cecal cannula and two indwelling blood catheters. During the experimental period of 10 d, the pigs were 11 wk of age with an average BW of 14 kg. They were fed 2.6 times their maintenance requirement for energy of a corn starch-based, semisynthetic diet. The diets contained 178 g of soy isolate/kg as the only source of nitrogen (N). In diets of Exp. 1, purified NDF was included at 0 and 200 g/kg of feed at the expense of glucose. The diets of Exp. 2 contained one of the three different NDF sources (purified NDF, wheat bran, or sunflower hulls) at a level of 144 g of NDF/kg of DM. The purified NDF (pNDF) was isolated from the same batch as the wheat bran (WB) used in Exp. 2. The endogenous N flow at the terminal ileum of these pigs was determined with the 15N-isotope dilution method. The inclusion of NDF in the experimental diets increased (P < .05) the daily DM flow at the terminal ileum. Dry matter flow was increased . 697 g for every g/kg increase in NDF in the diet. The different sources of dietary NDF gave similar (P > .05) ileal DM flows. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Theories of Organizational Culture

The notion that organizations may have specific cultures is found sprinkled in a vast array of publications on strategy and business policy, on organizational behaviour and theory. Although the absence of a solid theoretical grounding for the concept of organizational culture has been frequently lamented, little effort has been exerted to bring within the perimeter of the management and organizational field the relevant concepts found in cultural anthropology. The purpose of this paper is therefore three-fold: First, to provide a typology of schools of thought in cultural anthropology in order to understand the diverse and complex theories of culture advanced in this field; Second, to relate these different points of view to the emerging notions of organiza tional culture found explicitly or implicitly in the management and organization literature; Third, to pull together the insights and findings derived from this enquiry in order to propose an integrative concept of organizational culture as a useful metaphor for studying the processes of decay, adaptation and radical change in complex organizations.
Association testing with Mendel

This report presents an overview of association testing strategies from a user's perspective, with particular attention to the capabilities of the computer program Mendel. Association testing is driven by the nature of the study sample, the nature of the disease trait, and the kind of markers employed. The practicing statistician must also choose whether to conduct parametric or nonparametric tests. Because of the complexities involved, Mendel offers users several analysis options. The different options are tied together by shared input and output conventions and a shared language for defining models. Mendel also features new statistics and theory found in no other genetics software. The most important innovations include: association testing by penetrance estimation, expansion of matched‐pair designs to permutation unit designs, and a rigorous implementation of the measured genotype approach for quantitative trait loci. This report explains how Mendel imputes allele counts and conducts both asymptotic and permutation tests in the measured genotype framework. Genet. Epidemiol. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Expression of Prostaglandin E2 Enzymes in the Synovium of Arthralgia Patients at Risk of Developing Rheumatoid Arthritis and in Early Arthritis Patients

Objective Arthralgia may precede the development of synovial inflammation in autoantibody-positive individuals at risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A major pathway involved in pain is the prostaglandin (PG) E2 pathway. We investigated this pathway in the synovium of individuals with RA-specific autoantibodies and in early arthritis patients. Methods Nineteen autoantibody-positive individuals (IgM-rheumatoid factor and/or anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies) with arthralgia (n=15) and/or a positive family history of RA (n=8), who had been prospectively followed for at least 2 years, were included. In addition, we included early arthritis patients (disease-modifying antirheumatic drug naïve) who after 2 years follow up fulfilled classification criteria for RA (n=63), spondyloarthritis (SpA; n=14), or had unclassified arthritis (UA; n=27). In all subjects we assessed pain and performed synovial biopsy sampling by mini-arthroscopy at baseline. Tissue sections were examined by immunohistochemistry to detect and quantify PGE2 pathway enzymes expression levels (mPGES-1; COX-1 and -2; 15-PGDH). Results In both study groups synovial expression of PGE2 enzymes was not clearly related to pain sensation. Expression levels at baseline were not associated with the development of arthritis after follow up (6 out of 19 autoantibody-positive individuals). However, in early SpA patients the expression levels of mPGES-1 and COX-1 were significantly increased compared to RA and UA patients. Conclusion Pain in autoantibody-positive individuals without synovial inflammation who are at risk of developing RA and in early arthritis patients may be regulated by pathways other than the PGE2 pathway or originate at sites other than the synovium. In contrast, in SpA, the PGE2 pathway may be inherently linked to the pathophysiology/etiology of the disease.
Reconciling Concept and Context: The Dilemma of Implementation in School-Based Health Promotion

The researchers used grounded theory methodology to study the implementation of a school-based alcohol and drug prevention project in secondary schools in British Columbia, Canada. Preventionworkers (PWs) were responsible for working with school and community personnel in a collaborative process to develop, implement, and evaluate prevention strategies in the school using an adaptation of the Precede-Proceed Model for health promotion planning. Before they could begin to do this, PWs had to establish their credibility in the school. Once accepted, the focus of the PWs’workwas to reconcile the goals, values, and philosophy of the project with those of the school. In doing so, PWs encountered many practical dilemmas. The challenges in resolving these dilemmas are presented, and the implications for policy and practice are discussed.
EXPLORING THE EFFECTS OF DISPLACEMENT ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF UNACOMPANIED GIRL CHILDREN AT A REFUGEE CAMP IN ZIMBABWE

This article examines the effects of displacement on the unaccompanied girl child at Tongogara Refugee Camp in Manicaland province of Zimbabwe. Displacement is a term that refers to the removal or separation of the children from their parents and immediate families or settings in which they have initially been reared. Displaced children include varying categories of children who experience separation from their families and social settings due to several varied reasons. In this study, a qualitative phenomenological design was used with focus group discussions, interviews and observations as data collection instruments to eight (8) girls, two (2) teachers and three (3) social workers based in the camp. Findings from this study revealed that over seventy percent of unaccompanied girl children suffer from trauma and stress, most of their psycho social needs have not been met due to a lack of qualified personnel as well as a lack of communication between them and the service providers . The study also revealed that this lack which is necessary in sustaining the very being of unaccompanied girl children has adversely affected their health, intellectual capabilities, academic achievements, emotional, physical, moral and social development. This study recommends early intervention programmes for these children, sustainable programmes for development of comfortable foster conditions as well as strong psycho social support with follow up for the affected children.
Presença do Efeito Framing em Práticas Orçamentárias: Um Estudo Experimental (The Presence of Framing Effect in Budget Practices: An Experimental Study)

Portuguese Abstract: O objetivo deste trabalho e analisar a eventual presenca do efeito framing em praticas relacionadas ao orcamento empresarial. Para atingir o objetivo da pesquisa foi realizado um experimento em uma amostra com 99 estudantes de pos-graduacao na cidade de Salvador, Bahia. Para medir a associacao entre o framing e praticas orcamentarias utilizou-se o teste qui-quadrado, a analise fatorial e o modelo de regressao ordinal, utilizados para verificar se o envolvimento com praticas orcamentarias pode minimizar o efeito do framing. Os principais resultados permitiram corroborar as suposicoes indicadas por outras pesquisas empiricas sinalizadas por este trabalho. Verificou-se a presenca do efeito framing tanto em relacao a qualidade da elaboracao de previsoes orcamentarias, apresentadas em termos de sucesso [fracasso], quanto em relacao a classificacao da rentabilidade da empresa, apresentada em termos de lucro [prejuizo]. Por fim, verificou-se que o envolvimento com praticas o rcamentarias nao e capaz de minimizar a presenca do framing, sendo que a variavel envolvimento com o processo orcamentario, presente no modelo de regressao, nao explica, por si so, a presenca do efeito framing.English Abstract: The objective of this paper is to analyze the possible presence of the framing effect on business practices related to the budget. To achieve the objective of the research experiment was conducted on a sample consisting of 99 graduate students in the city of Salvador, Bahia. Data analysis was performed by using the chi-square to measure the association between the framing and budgeting practices, and the application of factor analysis and ordinal regression model was used to verify that the involvement in budgeting practices can minimize the effect of framing. The principal results corroborate other assumptions indicated by empirical research flagged for this work. There was the presence of the framing effect in relation to the quality of preparation of budget estimates, presented in terms of success [failure], and in relation to the classification of the company's profitability, presented in terms of profit [loss]. Finally, it was found that involvement in budgeting practices is not able to minimize the presence of framing, with variable involvement with the budget process, present in the regression model, does not explain by itself the presence of the framing effect.
Impact of Trivalent Arsenicals on Selenoprotein Synthesis

Background Exposure to arsenic has been associated with development of skin, lung, bladder, liver, and kidney cancer. Recent evidence suggests that an increase in oxidative stress in cells treated with arsenicals represents the molecular mechanism behind arsenic-induced carcinogenesis. Selenium, in the form of selenocysteine, is necessary for the activity of several enzymes with a role in defense against reactive oxygen species. A mutual sparing effect between arsenic and selenium has been shown in animal studies when both metalloids are present in high concentrations. Objectives To determine whether changes in selenoprotein synthesis may be an underlying mechanism behind arsenic-induced carcinogenesis, we analyzed the new synthesis of selenoproteins within cells after exposure to inorganic or methylated arsenicals using a human keratinocyte cell model. Results Addition of arsenite to culture medium blocked new synthesis of selenoproteins when selenium was present in the form of selenite, and appeared to stimulate the use of serum-derived selenium. Monomethylarsonous acid (MMAIII) treatment of cells, in contrast, did not block all new synthesis of selenoproteins but did result in an increase in cytosolic thioredoxin reductase (TrxR1) at both the mRNA and protein levels. MMAIII also reduced the new synthesis of cellular glutatione peroxidase (cGpx) and other smaller selenoproteins. Dimethylarsinous acid (DMAIII) stimulated selenoprotein synthesis by an as yet unknown mechanism. Conclusions These results suggest that arsenite and MMAIII are key metabolites that trigger higher levels of TrxR1, and both lead to a reduction in the expression of cGpx. Together these effects certainly could lead to carcinogenesis given the knowledge that many cancers have higher levels of TrxR, and reduced Gpx levels will reduce the cell’s ability to defend against reactive oxygen species. Based on these results, the impact of the trivalent arsenicals arsenite and MMAIII on selenoprotein synthesis may indeed represent a potential molecular mechanism for the higher rates of cancer observed in populations exposed to high levels of arsenic.
Polar Codes for SCMA Systems

In this paper, we design and compare multilevel polar coding (MLPC) and bit-interleaved polar coded modulation (BIPCM) for uplink sparse code multiple access (SCMA) systems that operate over fast and block fading channels. Both successive cancellation (SC) and successive cancellation list (SCL) decoding algorithms are considered. Simulation results show that, with either decoder, BIPCM performs better than its MLPC counterpart. Also, both BIPCM and MLPC exhibit a performance advantage over LTE turbo-coded and WiMAX LDPC SCMA systems when the SCL technique is used for decoding.
Chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction: Report of a case Kronik idiopatik intestinal psödo-obstrüksiyon

Chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIIP), a syndrome of ineffectual motility due to a primary disorder of the enteric nerve or muscle, is rare and is a disorder of intestinal motility, characterized by recurrence of continuous symptoms and signs of intestinal obstruction in the absence of true mechanical obstruction. It is impossible to identify by clinical appearance and routine laboratory research, and there are a few reports of mostly unnecessary laparotomy. Early diagnosis of intestinal pseudo-obstruction is important to avoid repeated laparotomies. Generally, the age at first operation is in the fifth or sixth decade of life. A full-thickness intestinal biopsy is necessary for a certain diagnosis.