Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dimensional changes of dental arch following non-extraction orthodontic treatment

Introduction: Since the emergence of normal occlusion concept, selecting an appropriate treatment plan with or without tooth extraction has been a controversial subject. Nowadays, both methods can be successfully used for treatment of patients. However, some clinicians still believe that non-extraction orthodontic treatments have fewer complications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate dental arch dimensional changes following non-extraction orthodontic treatment. Materials &Methods: A total of 200 pre- and post-treatment diagnostic dental casts belonging to 100 patients (non-ext treated by 0.18 roth system) who met the inclusion criteria for this study were collected from the archives of Shahid Beheshti Dental School. Sampling was nonrandomized. A digital caliper with the accuracy of 0.1 mm was used for the measurement of variables such as inter-canine width , inter-premolar width and inter-molar width. Results: Non-extraction orthodontic treatment increased all the variables, except for the mandibular inter-canine width and incisor-canine distance. Conclusion: Non-extraction orthodontic treatment causes a significant increase in almost all
Adenovirus Infections in Stem Cell Transplant Recipients: Recent Developments in Understanding of Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Management

Adenovirus is increasingly recognized as an important pathogen in stem cell transplant recipients, reflecting increased awareness about the virus, together with changes in transplant practice such as the performance of more high-risk transplants, and improvements in diagnostic methods. In retrospective studies, the reported incidence of adenovirus infections ranged between 4-20% with a similar variation in the proportion of patients developing invasive disease. In contrast, the incidence of adenovirus infection varies between 20-30% in recent prospective studies on T-cell depleted or mismatched allografts and about 30-40% of these patients develop invasive disease. These prospective studies have established a relationship between the risk of invasive adenovirus disease and a number of factors such as the extent of T-cell depletion, the intensity of immunosuppressive therapy and the kinetics of lymphocyte recovery post-transplant. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays to detect adenovirus DNA in peripheral blood have shown a strong correlation between viremia and the risk of disseminated adenovirus disease. These developments have led to the possibility of a preemptive antiviral treatment strategy for asymptomatic adenovirus infections. In addition, a better understanding of the interactions between adenovirus and host immune system in the post-transplant setting might enable development of effective immunotherapeutic strategies against adenovirus infections.
Microwave antenna near field power estimation

The far field power density of fixed point to point microwave antennas is well known. However, the near field power density has not been extensively studied. With the wide deployment of small high frequency antennas, interest in this issue has increased. This paper provides simple but accurate formulas for calculating near field power density for circular and square aperture antennas typically used in fixed point to point microwave systems.
NT-proBNP and Echocardiographic Parameters for Prediction of Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with CKD Stages G2-G4.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Natriuretic peptides and echocardiographic parameters both predict cardiovascular events in patients with CKD. However, it is unknown whether simultaneous assessment of amino-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and echocardiographic parameters provides complementary or redundant predictive information; in the latter case, one of these two might be dispensable. We aimed to analyze the implications of using NT-proBNP alone, echocardiographic parameters alone, or a combination of both for prediction of adverse cardiovascular outcome. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS Within the longitudinal Cardiovascular and Renal Outcome in CKD 2-4 Patients-The Fourth Homburg Evaluation Study, we prospectively studied 496 patients with CKD stages G2-G4, in whom we measured NT-proBNP. Left ventricular mass index, left atrial volume index, diastolic left ventricular function, and systolic left ventricular function were assessed echocardiographically. During 4.5±2.0 years of follow-up, the occurrence of (1) decompensated heart failure or all-cause mortality and (2) atherosclerotic events or all-cause mortality was recorded. We assessed the association of NT-proBNP and echocardiographic parameters with outcome (using Cox models) and evaluated the increased discriminative value associated with the addition of echocardiographic parameters and NT-proBNP (using integrated discrimination improvement and net reclassification improvement). RESULTS During follow-up, 104 patients suffered decompensated heart failure or all-cause mortality, and 127 patents had atherosclerotic events or all-cause mortality. In univariable analyses, NT-proBNP and echocardiographic parameters predicted cardiovascular events. NT-proBNP remained an independent predictor for both end points in multivariate analysis, whereas left ventricular mass index, left atrial volume index, and diastolic left ventricular function did not. The addition of NT-proBNP on top of clinical and various echocardiographic variables was associated with improvements in reclassification for decompensated heart failure or all-cause mortality (integrated discrimination improvement =6.5%-8.3%; net reclassification improvement =23.1%-27.0%; all P≤0.03). Adding echocardiographic variables on top of clinical variables and NT-proBNP was not associated with significant net reclassification improvement (all P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our data confirm NT-proBNP is an independent predictor of adverse outcomes in patients with CKD. The additional use of echocardiography for improvement of risk stratification is not supported by our results.
Position estimation of synchronous reluctance motor at standstill using disturbance observer

Recently, synchronous reluctance motors (SynRMs) have attracted study because of their favorable properties, including limited thermal expansion of the shaft due to low heat generation by the rotor, the ability to drive at high velocity, a low degree of torque ripple and an absence of demagnetization problems. Sensorless control of SynRMs is now desired, and several methods have been proposed. These methods, however, have difficulties at low speed when the voltage signal necessary to estimate rotor position is very small. The authors have proposed a new position estimation method using high-frequency extended e.m. f. (EEMF) in which high-frequency voltage and current are calculated using a disturbance observer. Simulations have shown the new method to be very useful. This paper discusses the ability of the new method to estimate rotor position when the rotor is at a standstill, as demonstrated through experiments.
The Association Between Local Economic Conditions and Opioid Prescriptions Among Disabled Medicare Beneficiaries

Background: This paper concerns public health crises today—the problem of opioid prescription access and related abuse. Inspired by Case and Deaton’s seminal work on increasing mortality among white Americans with lower education, this paper explores the relationship between opioid prescribing and local economic factors. Objective: We examined the association between county-level socioeconomic factors (median household income, unemployment rate, Gini index) and opioid prescribing. Subjects: We used the complete 2014 Medicare enrollment and part D drug prescription data from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to study opioid prescriptions of disabled Medicare beneficiaries without record of cancer treatment, palliative care, or end-of-life care. Measures and Research Design: We summarized the demographic and geographic variation, and investigated how the local economic environment, measured by county median household income, unemployment rate, Gini index, and urban-rural classification correlated with various measures of individual opioid prescriptions. Measures included number of filled opioid prescriptions, total days’ supply, average morphine milligram equivalent (MME)/day, and annual total MME dosage. To assess the robustness of the results, we controlled for individual and other county characteristics, used multiple estimation methods including linear least squares, logistic regression, and Tobit regression. Results and Conclusions: Lower county median household income, higher unemployment rates, and less income inequality were consistently associated with more and higher MME opioid prescriptions among disabled Medicare beneficiaries. Geographically, we found that the urban-rural divide was not gradual and that beneficiaries in large central metro counties were less likely to have an opioid prescription than those living in other areas.
Can impaired working memory functioning be improved by training? A meta-analysis with a special focus on brain injured patients.

OBJECTIVE Deficits in working memory (WM) are commonly observed after brain injuries and cause severe impairments in patients' everyday life. It is still under debate if training can enhance or rehabilitate WM in case of malfunction. The current meta-analysis investigates this issue from a clinical point of view. It addresses under which conditions and for which target group WM training may be justifiable. METHOD Relevant WM training studies were identified by searching electronic literature databases with a comprehensive search term. In total, 103 studies, which added up to 112 independent group comparisons (N = 6,113 participants), were included in the analysis. RESULTS Overall, WM training caused a moderate and long-lasting improvement in untrained WM tasks. Moreover, improvement of WM functioning led to sustainable better evaluation of everyday life functioning, however, effect sizes were small. Concerning transfer effects on other cognitive domains, long-lasting improvements with small effect sizes were observed in cognitive control and reasoning/intelligence. In contrast, small immediate, but no long-term effects were found for attention and long-term memory. Studies with brain injured patients demonstrated long-lasting improvements in WM functions with moderate to large effect sizes. A main moderator variable of intervention efficacy is the number of training sessions applied. CONCLUSION WM training produces long-lasting beneficial effects which are strongly pronounced in patients with acquired brain injuries. This finding supports the application of WM training in clinical settings. To determine optimal training conditions, future studies must systematically investigate the characteristics of interventions as they are at present inevitably confounded.
The Role of Fluorine-18 Deoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography in the Management of Patients With Metastatic Melanoma: Impact on Surgical Decision Making

Malignant melanoma can metastasize to almost any organ site. Optimal management requires sensitive radiographic evaluation of the entire body. The optimal management of patients with metastatic melanoma requires accurate assessment of extent of disease (EOD). The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of fluorine-18 deoxyglucose (FDG) whole-body positron emission tomography (PET) in determination of EOD in patients with metastatic melanoma and its impact on surgical and medical management decisions. Forty-nine patients (30 men, 19 women; aged 25–83 years) with known or suspected metastatic melanoma underwent EOD evaluation using computerized tomography (CT) of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. After formulation of an initial treatment plan, the patients underwent FDG-PET imaging. The EOD determined by PET was compared with physical examination and conventional radiography findings. Fifty-one lesions were pathologically evaluated. The impact of PET on patient management was assessed based on the alterations made in the initial treatment plan after reevaluation of the patients using the information obtained by PET. The PET scan identified more metastatic sites in 27 of 49 (55%) of the patients who had undergone a complete set of imaging studies, including CT scans of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis, and MRI of the brain. In 6 of those 27 patients, PET detected disease outside the fields of CT and MRI. Fifty-one lesions were resected surgically. Of these, 44 were pathologically confirmed to be melanoma. All lesions larger than 1 cm (29 of 29) were positive on PET, whereas only 2 of 15 (13%) lesions smaller than 1 cm were detected by PET. The results of PET led treatment changes in 24 patients (49%). Eighteen of these changes (75%) were surgical. In 12 cases (67%), the planned operative procedure was cancelled, and in 6 cases (33%), an additional operation(s) was performed. In 6 of 24 (25%) patients, biochemotherapy, radiation therapy, or an experimental immunotherapy protocol was prompted by identification of new foci of disease. Compared with conventional imaging, FDG-PET provides more accurate assessment of EOD in patients with metastatic melanoma. Significant surgical and medical treatment alterations were made based on PET results.
A 20-Pulse Asymmetric Multiphase Staggering Autoconfigured Transformer For Power Quality Improvement

This letter presents a 20-pulse multiphase staggering autoconfigured transformer (MSAT) for power quality improvement in medium and high power applications. The proposed autoconfigured transformer is a combination of delta and zig-zag transformers. Contrary to the prior art multipulse autoconnected transformers, magnetic rating of the proposed configuration is only 40% of the load rating in addition to improved power quality indices. Moreover, the creation of a neutral point ascribed to inbuilt zig-zag windings supplements as one of the remarkable advantages of the proposed MSAT. Therefore, with this suggested configuration, the performance of zig-zag transformer is accomplished within the autoconfigured transformer. A detailed comparison of the proposed MSAT configuration with that of other multipulse autoconnected transformers in terms of magnetic rating and power quality indices are presented. Further, the feasibility and operability of the proposed MSAT are verified and validated through experimental tests on the laboratory prototype. The test results so obtained complies with the IEEE-519 and IEC 61000-3-2 standards on power quality requirements.
Gain of chromosome arm 17q and adverse outcome in patients with neuroblastoma.

BACKGROUND Gain of genetic material from chromosome arm 17q (gain of segment 17q21-qter) is the most frequent cytogenetic abnormality of neuroblastoma cells. This gain has been associated with advanced disease, patients who are > or =1 year old, deletion of chromosome arm 1p, and amplification of the N-myc oncogene, all of which predict an adverse outcome. We investigated these associations and evaluated the prognostic importance of the status of chromosome 17. METHODS We compiled molecular cytogenetic analyses of chromosome 17 in primary neuroblastomas in 313 patients at six European centers. Clinical and survival information were collected, along with data on 1p, N-myc, and ploidy. RESULTS Unbalanced gain of segment 17q21-qter was found in 53.7 percent of the tumors, whereas the chromosome was normal in 46.3 percent. The gain of 17q was characteristic of advanced tumors and of tumors in children > or =1 year of age and was strongly associated with the deletion of 1p and amplification of N-myc. No tumor showed amplification of N-myc in the absence of either deletion of 1p or gain of 17q. Gain of 17q was a significant predictive factor for adverse outcome in univariate analysis. Among the patients with this abnormality, overall survival at five years was 30.6 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 21 to 40 percent), as compared with 86.0 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 78 to 91 percent) among those with normal 17q status. in multivariate analysis, gain of 17q was the most powerful prognostic factor, followed by the presence of stage 4 disease and deletion of 1p (hazard ratios, 3.4, 2.3, and 1.9, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Gain of chromosome segment 17q21-qter is an important prognostic factor in children with neuroblastoma.
Reconfigurable delay cell for area-efficient implementation of on-chip MOSFET monitor schemes

To measure target MOSFET variation, specific monitor schemes are required. With device scaling, developing each monitor scheme is costly. This paper proposes a universal delay monitor cell which enables measurements of various types of variations with single monitor scheme. The monitor cell is reconfigurable and standard cell compatible; thus it can be used in the conventional place and route flow. An area-efficient monitor scheme to monitor global, local, and dynamic variations is developed. Measurement results from a 65-nm test chip shows the validity of the proposed monitor cell. The proposed cell enables area-efficient and low cost implementation of monitor schemes which can be integrated with application such as testing and adaptive voltage scaling.
Estrogen Replacement Effectively Improves the Accelerated Intimal Hyperplasia Following Balloon Injury of Carotid Artery in the Ovariectomized Rats

Present experiments were designed to investigate the effects of ovariectomy (OVX) and estrogen replacement (ER) on neointimal formation after balloon injury of the rat carotid artery. Young adult female rats were divided into 3 groups of sham operation (control), ovariectomy, and ovariectomy plus estrogen replacement. Estrogen replacement was initiated by implanting a sustained release pellet containing water-soluble 17β-estradiol 1 week after the ovariectomy. Carotid arteries were harvested 2 weeks after the balloon injury for determinations. The balloon injury caused intimal hyperplasia, which was accompanied by the impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation and cyclic GMP production, and accumulation of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) as an endogenous NOS inhibitor. Bilateral ovariectomy accelerated the intimal hyperplasia. The acceleration was accompanied by the enhanced impairment of NO production, attenuated reendothelialization, and enhanced accumulation of ADMA. The estrogen replacement improved the accelerated intimal hyperplasia with concomitant improvement of the impaired NO production and accumulated asymmetric dimethylarginine, and facilitated reendothelialization. These results suggests that the enhanced impairment of NO production, which possibly results from the accumulated asymmetric dimethylarginine and lack of reendothelialization, may contribute to the acceleration of intimal hyperplasia by ovariectomy and that estrogen replacement effectively improves the intimal hyperplasia by restoring the impaired NO production through reducing endogenous NOS inhibitor and facilitating reendothelialization.
“Sovereignty at Sea: The law and politics of saving lives in the Mare Liberum”, DIIS Working Paper, 18/2010

6 . Introduction 7 . With great power, comes great responsibility: Sovereignty between autonomy and responsibility 8 3. The geo-politics of search and rescue in the Mediterranean 3 3. Moving migration control from the border to the high seas 6 3. Bilateral treaties, interception practices and the outsourcing of migration control 7 3.3 Shifting migration control to foreign territorial waters and the claiming of the sovereign other 9 3.4 Competing regimes and legal interpretation 4. The politics of law at the interplay of sovereignty and governmentality 3 5. Conclusion 7 References 9 DIIS WORKING PAPER 2010:18
Reliability and validity of the Coolidge Axis II Inventory: a new inventory for the assessment of personality disorders.

This group of studies describes the development of a 200 item, self-report, 4-point true-false inventory (Coolidge Axis II Inventory [CATI]) to assess personality disorders according to the criteria established in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd ed., rev. [DSM-III-R]; American Psychiatric Association, 1987). The 13 personality disorder scales of the CATI had a mean test-retest reliability of . 90 and a median internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) of . 76. There was a 50% concordance rate with clinician's diagnosis for 24 personality disordered patients. The median concurrent validity (raw score sums) between the CATI and the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-II for the 13 personality disorder scales was . 58. Preliminary studies also support the reliability and validity of Depression, Anxiety, and Brain Dysfunction scales.
Degradation of copepod fecal pellets: key role of protozooplankton

Copepod fecal pellets are often degraded at high rates within the upper part of the water column. However, the identity of the degraders and the pro- cesses governing the degradation remain unresolved. To identify the pellet degraders we collected water from Oresund (Denmark) approximately every second month from July 2004 to July 2005. These water sam- ples were divided into 5 fractions ( 200 μm) was indicated, but this was not a domi- nating degradation process. Mesozooplankton did not contribute significantly to the degradation. However, grazing of mesozooplankton on the pellet degraders impacts pellet degradation rate indirectly. In conclu- sion, protozooplankton seems to include the key organisms for the recycling of copepod fecal pellets in the water column, both through the microbial loop and, especially, by functioning as an effective 'proto- zoan filter' for fecal pellets.
Optimization, refinement and reduction of murine in vivo experiments to assess therapeutic approaches for haemophilia A

The tail cut bleeding model (CUT) is routinely used in factor VIII-deficient mice to assess pharmacodynamic effects of therapeutic strategies for haemophilia A. Results from this model are highly variable, many modifications to the model are reported and at times the animals’ wellbeing may be compromised by recording survival as an endpoint. We therefore investigated if the ferric chloride carotid occlusion model (COM) used for thrombosis research can be applied to enhance data quality and animal welfare in haemophilia A research. Relative dose effects and relative dose variations were calculated for the CUT and COM. The requisite sample sizes were estimated and the importance of survival rates to assess rebleeds during recovery was evaluated by correlating initial blood loss to mortality. Relative dose effects increased with higher doses in both models. The COM was more sensitive at lower doses than the CUT, had up to 82% less variation across doses and clearly showed superior accuracy. Only 5% of the sample size required for the CUT would be needed to establish non-inferiority between a specific therapeutic dose in haemophilia A mice and healthy wild-type animals. A strong statistically significant correlation was found between initial blood loss and mortality within 24 h. Our findings clearly suggest that the COM is a valid tool for assessing haemophilia A treatment in vivo. The highly reproducible data means that significantly fewer animals are required and a more humane endpoint can be used by directly assessing clot stability instead of survival rate.