Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Confocal Microscopy Study of Undisturbed and Chlorhexidine-treated Dental Biofilm

Culturing of dispersed plaque samples and vitality staining of plaque smears are the most commonly used methods for evaluating the effects of antimicrobials on dental plaque. The visualization of the antimicrobial action on oral biofilm present on the substrate surface (in situ) would add valuable information to the existing knowledge about the treatment effects. This study aimed at combining the advantage of confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) to visualize plaque non-destructively with a vitality staining technique to assess the immediate bactericidal effect of chlorhexidine (CHX) on biofilm. Three 200-μmwide grooves were cut into bovine dentin discs for plaque accumulation. The discs were worn by six subjects for 6, 24, and 48 hrs, then broken into halves, one of which received a one-minute extra-oral 0.2% CHX treatment, while the other served as control. Both halves were stained for vital fluorescence measurements and visualized by CLSM. Plaque vitality (in %) was quantified by image analysis in three plaque layers-outer, middle, and inner. The CHX effect was significant in six-hour samples (p < 0.001) and only in the outer layer of the 48-hour plaque (p < 0.001), demonstrating a resistant nature of dental biofilm to a single CHX treatment. With the present approach, we have shown that it is possible to visualize and quantitate the antimicrobial treatment effect on biofilm still present on the substrate on which it was grown.
Perspectives for the lionfish invasion in the South Atlantic: Are Brazilian reefs protected by the currents?

The Indo-Pacific lionfish species Pterois volitans and P. miles are piscivorous predators that were introduced probably via aquarium release to the northwestern Atlantic approximately 15 yr ago and rapidly spread and established through the Greater Caribbean. Possible ecological impacts of this invasion on native species are a legitimate cause for concern. Despite predictions that lionfishes will extend their range throughout most of the eastern coast of South America, they are yet to be recorded in Brazil. We pres- ent a perspective analysis of the lionfish in vasion in the southwestern Atlantic by investigating patterns of fish species movement across the Amazon-Orinoco plume (AOP), a large freshwater and sediment runoff between the Caribbean and the Brazilian Provinces that repre- sents a 'porous' barrier to dispersal for reef organisms. We analyzed records of species that have recently crossed the barrier and found that the Brazilian Pro - vince contributes a significantly higher proportion of its endemic fauna to the pool of crossers, indicating that movements of va grant species across the AOP are more common from Brazil towards the Caribbean than vice versa. Nevertheless, despite infrequent migration south - wards against the currents, our analysis indicates that such migration has occurred historically and has re- sulted in the establishment of new populations. Our analysis indicates that a combination of the effects of the AOP and prevailing currents along northern Brazil may slow the pace of the potential invasion, which could help eradication programs if action is taken before lionfishes become widespread and established in Brazil.
Teamwork Pattern of Project Risk Management Based on Knowledge Reuse

In most cases, during the development of a project, almost every participant find the progress or result has gradually deviated from their former expectation. Moreover, cognitive differences made by individual or team will in turn affect the progress and final result of the project. In this way, the projectpsilas smooth development and final finish is not just relying on a certain team, but also the coordination and cooperation of a number of teams. So, it is the key to success that to make sure good and efficient communication among those teams. Based on the pattern analysis and the knowledge reuse, a teamwork pattern of project risk is suggested. And then its application background, structure, advantages and disadvantages are analyzed. At last, an example is analyzed to point out that effective project risk management depends on not only internal project members, but also cooperation with the exterior organization and different teams.
Sentiment-based Classification of Radical Text on the Web

The total number of webpages has grown substantially since the birth of the Internet. So too have the number of webpages dedicated to radical yet subtle content. As these new circumstances have necessitated a guided data collection method, one that can sidestep the laborious manual methods that have been classically utilized, simple keyword analysis has not been sufficient to identify radical sites on Web 1.0 – pro-extremist, anti-extremist, and news sites, for example, may use the same keywords to discuss the same event but have a very different motivation. In an effort to explore this problem, we completed an exercise involving the use of a web-crawler to collect 20,000 webpages from five sentiment-based classes to assess their differences: (1) radical Right sites, (2) radical Islamic sites, (3) anti-extremist sites, (4) news source sites discussing extremism, and (5) sites that did not discuss extremism. Parts-of-Speech (POS) tagging was used to identify 198 of the most frequent keywords within the data, and the sentiment value for each of these keywords was calculated for each webpage using sentiment analysis. With these values, a decision tree was applied to three classification models. Results suggest that radical Islamic text can be classified at a much higher rate of success than radical Right text.
COMPARING THE PERFORMANCE‐ENHANCING EFFECTS OF SQUATS ON A VIBRATION PLATFORM WITH CONVENTIONAL SQUATS IN RECREATIONALLY RESISTANCE‐TRAINED MEN

The purpose of this investigation was to compare the performance-enhancing effects of squats on a vibration platform with conventional squats in recreationally resistance-trained men. The subjects were 14 recreationally resistance-trained men (age, 21–40 years) and the intervention period consisted of 5 weeks. After the initial testing, subjects were randomly assigned to either the “squat whole body vibration‘’ (SWBV) group (n = 7), which performed squats on a vibration platform on a Smith Machine, or the “squat‘’(S) group (n = 7), which performed conventional squats with no vibrations on a Smith Machine. Testing was performed at the beginning and the end of the study and consisted of 1 repetition maximum (1RM) in squat and maximum jump height in countermovement jump (CMJ). A modified daily undulating periodization program was used during the intervention period in both groups. Both groups trained at the same percentage of 1RM in squats (6–10RM). After the intervention, CMJ performance increased significantly only in the SWBV (p < 0.01), but there was no significant difference between groups in relative jump height increase (p = 0.088). Both groups showed significant increases in 1RM performance in squats (p < 0.01). Although there was a trend toward a greater relative strength increase in the SWBV group, it did not reach a significant level. In conclusion, the preliminary results of this study point toward a tendency of superiority of squats performed on a vibration platform compared with squats without vibrations regarding maximal strength and explosive power as long as the external load is similar in recreationally resistance-trained men.
Treating Selective Mutism Using Modular CBT for Child Anxiety: A Case Study

Selective mutism is a rare, debilitating condition usually seen in children. Unfortunately, there is little research examining effective treatments for this disorder, and designing an evidence-based treatment plan can be difficult. This case study presents the evidence-based treatment of an 8-year-old Caucasian boy with selective mutism using an established treatment for anxiety—Modular Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Childhood Anxiety Disorders (Chorpita, 2007). The treatment consisted of 21 sessions and included modules on psychoeducation, exposure, cognitive restructuring, social skills, and maintenance and relapse prevention. The client's symptoms were greatly improved by the end of treatment based on fear hierarchy ratings, self-report and parent-report questionnaires, and child and parent clinical interviews. In addition, at discharge the client no longer met criteria for selective mutism. Improvements were maintained when the client was reassessed at 1-month and 6-month follow-up appointments.
The Clk/Sty protein kinase phosphorylates SR splicing factors and regulates their intranuclear distribution.

Mammalian Clk/Sty is the prototype for a family of dual specificity kinases (termed LAMMER kinases) that have been conserved in evolution, but whose physiological substrates are unknown. In a yeast two‐hybrid screen, the Clk/Sty kinase specifically interacted with RNA binding proteins, particularly members of the serine/arginine‐rich (SR) family of splicing factors. Clk/Sty itself has an serine/arginine‐rich non‐catalytic N‐terminal region which is important for its association with SR splicing factors. In vitro, Clk/Sty efficiently phosphorylated the SR family member ASF/SF2 on serine residues located within its serine/arginine‐rich region (the RS domain). Tryptic phosphopeptide mapping demonstrated that the sites on ASF/SF2 phosphorylated in vitro overlap with those phosphorylated in vivo. Immunofluorescence studies showed that a catalytically inactive form of Clk/Sty co‐localized with SR proteins in nuclear speckles. Overexpression of the active Clk/Sty kinase caused a redistribution of SR proteins within the nucleus. These results suggest that Clk/Sty kinase directly regulates the activity and compartmentalization of SR splicing factors.
The role of antioxidant vitamins in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Abstract Preeclampsia (PE) is an important and a leading cause of both maternal morbidity and adverse perinatal outcomes. Despite progress in perinatal medicine for patients with an established diagnosis of PE, a therapeutic approach other than termination of pregnancy was unsuccessful. Women predisposed to PE begin pregnancy with a certain degree of endothelial dysfunction, a lesion that precedes shallow placentation. The proposed sequence of events comprises endothelial dysfunction, defective trophoblast invasion, and consequential impaired placental perfusion, immune maladaptation and inflammation. The possible link between these could be oxidative stress by excessive production of reactive oxygen species coupled with inadequate or overwhelmed antioxidant defense mechanisms. These defense mechanisms, involving antioxidant vitamins and enzyme systems, may restrain the extent of damage caused by oxidative stress. Markers of oxidative stress in women with established PE were confirmed. Accordingly, these findings support an expected beneficial effect of antioxidant therapy in the prevention of PE and other pregnancy-related disorders. Numerous studies have been carried out in order to investigate this possible and simple prophylactic and/or therapeutic approach in prevention of oxidative stress and eventual reduction of PE and its perinatal complications. In this review the role of vitamin antioxidants in prevention and treatment of PE is discussed. Despite the logic behind using antioxidant vitamins, the data, thus far, are at best conflicting.
Postpartum sexual function in women and infant feeding methods.

OBJECTIVE To assess postpartum sexual function in mothers using different infant feeding methods. METHODS The comparative cross-sectional study comprising women referred to health centres in Mashhad, Iran, was conducted from July 7 to December 11, 2011. Sexual function and infant-feeding method of the subjects were assessed four months after childbirth. Data was collected using the standard Female Sexual Function Index and baby's feeding method questionnaire. SPSS 11.5 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS There were 366 women in the study with a mean age of 26.70±4.70 years who were using four methods of infant-feeding: exclusive breastfeeding, breastfeeding plus complementary feeding, formula milk, and breastfeeding plus formula. There was a significant difference between women's sexual function score and infant-feeding method (p=0.04). The highest score 6.23±3.5 belonged to women who had exclusive breastfeeding. CONCLUSIONS There was a difference in women's sexual function between different groups of infant feeding methods. The highest score of sexual function was found in breastfeeding women. Women need to be educated about exclusive breastfeeding and its positive effects on sexual function.
Constituents with tyrosinase inhibitory activities from branches of Ficus erecta var. sieboldii King

Phytochemical investigation of the branches of Ficus erecta var. sieboldii King resulted in the isolation of eight constituents: p-hydroxybenzoic acid (1), methyl p-hydroxybenzoate (2), vanillic acid (3), methyl vanillate (4), syringic acid (5), β-sitosterol (6), α-amyrin acetate (7), and ethyl linoleate (8). Their chemical structures were identified via spectroscopic means as well as by comparing their data with literature values. Studies on tyrosinase inhibition activities were conducted for the isolated compounds. Among them, p-hydroxybenzoic acid (1) and methyl p-hydroxybenzoate (2) were identified as active tyrosinase inhibitors with IC50 values of 0.98 ± 0.042 and 0.66 ± 0.025 mM, respectively, showing comparable activities to that of arbutin (IC50 = 0.32 ± 0.015 mM), a standard control. Inhibition kinetics, as analyzed by Lineweaver-Burk plots, indicated that compounds 1 and 2 were competitive inhibitors of diphenolase of mushroom tyrosinase. Notably, isolated compounds 1–8 were reported for the first time as constituents of F. erecta.
Varieties of capitalism, governance, and high‐tech export performance

Purpose – This paper aims to assess the extent to which convergence in institutional regimes is likely to occur, by examining all ten new EU member states in Central and Eastern Europe in terms of their development of comparative advantages in high‐tech export markets either by drawing on foreign investors in the form of multinational companies or by making use of domestic institutional resources.Design/methodology/approach – The article uses fuzzy sets and qualitative comparative analysis to examine both necessary and sufficient causes of success in high‐tech export markets. By doing so, it can address the important issue of institutional complementarity.Findings – While it finds that countries that have stronger records in such markets share common features, there are also important differences between them – not least in the areas of employee relations. This, together with other evidence presented in the paper, suggests that convergence around a specific institutional model is unlikely to happen.Origin.
Prospective phase II study of FOLFIRI for mCRC in Japan, including the analysis of UGT1A1 28/6 polymorphisms.

OBJECTIVES This is the first phase II study to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of the first-line FOLFIRI, as well as the influence of uridine diphosphate glucuronosyl transferase 1, family polypeptide A1 gene (UGT1A1) 28/6 polymorphism, in Japanese metastatic colorectal cancer patients. METHODS Fifty-two patients were enrolled in this study and were administrated FOLFIRI (irinotecan; 150 mg/m(2)) as first-line chemotherapy. Thirty-nine patients accepted the evaluation of UGT1A1 genotypes. In patients with UGT1A1 28 homozygosity, the starting dose was reduced (100 mg/m(2)) according to the Food and Drug Administration recommendation and our previous phase I study. RESULTS After a median follow-up period of 22 months, complete response was achieved in 1.9%, partial response in 38.5 %, stable disease in 51.9% and progressive disease in 3.9%. The overall response rate was 40.4%, the disease control rate was 92.3% and the median overall survival time was 22.3 months. The major toxicity was grade 3-4 neutropenia in 44.2%. There was no definite relation between UGT1A1 28, 6 polymorphisms and toxicity. However, homozygosity for UGT1A1 28 or UGT1A1 6 and double heterozygosity for both UGT1A1 28 and UGT1A1 6 were significantly associated with severe neutropenia in metastatic colorectal cancer patients (P< 0.001). CONCLUSIONS FOLFIRI is effective and tolerable for Japanese metastatic colorectal cancer patients. Homozygosity for UGT1A1 28 or 6 and heterozygosity for both UGT1A1 28 and 6 are associated with severe neutropenia.
REDUCTION OF SOME DITHIOPHOSPHONATES IN APROTIC MEDIA ON FRESHLY COPPER PLATED GLASSY CARBON ELECTRODE

Dithiophosphonates are reduced electrochemically with two electron transfer in acetonitrile containing 0.1 M tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate (TBATFB) at a freshly copper plated GC electrode. The peaks for all of the dithiophosphonate derivatives were observed at about –1.5 V (vs. Ag/Ag + ) at copper plated GC electrode. Data revealed that the reduction process on copper electrode was irreversible and followed by EC mechanism. The diffusion coefficients and numbers of electrons transferred were found by UME electrode using Baranski method. The adsorption tests were applied to examine the adsorption characteristics of the derivatives under investigation. Simulation CV voltammograms of dithiophosphonates were acquired by DigiSim ® 3.03 version and compared with the experimental voltammograms to calculate the chemical and electrochemical constants.
Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Modeling of Unboosted Atazanavir in a Cohort of Stable HIV-Infected Patients

ABSTRACT Limited data on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) of unboosted atazanavir (uATV) in treatment-experienced patients are available. The aim of this work was to study the PK/PD of unboosted atazanavir in a cohort of HIV-infected patients. Data were available for 58 HIV-infected patients (69 uATV-based regimens). Atazanavir concentrations were analyzed by using a population approach, and the relationship between atazanavir PK and clinical outcome was examined using logistic regression. The final PK model was a linear one-compartment model with a mixture absorption model to account for two subgroups of absorbers. The mean (interindividual variability) of population PK parameters were as follows: clearance, 13.4 liters/h (40.7%), volume of distribution, 71.1 liters (29.7%), and fraction of regular absorbers, 0.49. Seven subjects experienced virological failure after switch to uATV. All of them were identified as low absorbers in the PK modeling. The absorption rate constant (0.38 ± 0.20 versus 0.75 ± 0.28 h−1; P = 0.002) and ATV exposure (area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h [AUC0–24], 10.3 ± 2.1 versus 22.4 ± 11.2 mg · h · liter−1; P = 0.001) were significantly lower in patients with virological failure than in patients without failure. In the logistic regression analysis, both the absorption rate constant and ATV trough concentration significantly influenced the probability of virological failure. A significant relationship between ATV pharmacokinetics and virological response was observed in a cohort of HIV patients who were administered unboosted atazanavir. This study also suggests that twice-daily administration of uATV may optimize drug therapy.
Diet and colorectal cancer: fibre back on the menu?

The Romans believed that illnesses stemmed from the “heart” but the Greeks from the gut. Were the Greeks right after all? Dietary influence on colorectal cancer (CRC) has been extensively studied but with very little agreed consensus. Pederson et al ( Gut 2003; 52 :861–7) reawaken this idea by showing a causal relationship between alcohol and rectal cancer while Dray et al ( Gut 2003; 52 :868–73) conclude that prolonged survival post curative surgery for CRC was associated with high energy intake. What about fibre? Burkitt was the first to attribute CRC to fibre deficiency1 which was later challenged by Cleave as excess sugar or “the saccharine disease”. 2 A wealth of epidemiological and interventional studies have presented conflicting views. Particularly damning were …
Response of retinoblastoma with vitreous tumor seeding to adenovirus-mediated delivery of thymidine kinase followed by ganciclovir.

PURPOSE To evaluate the feasibility and safety of adenovirus-mediated gene therapy as a treatment for tumor seeds in the vitreous of children with retinoblastoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS An Institutional Biosafety Committee-, Institutional Review Board-, Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee-, and US Food and Drug Administration-approved phase I study used intrapatient dose escalation of adenoviral vector containing a herpes simplex thymidine kinase gene (AdV-TK) followed by systemic administration of ganciclovir to treat bilateral retinoblastoma with vitreous tumor seeding refractory to standard therapies. Vitreous tumor seeds were treated by intravitreous injection of AdV-TK adjacent to disease sites. Each injection was followed by ganciclovir delivered intravenously every 12 hours for 7 days. RESULTS Eight patients with vitreous tumor seeds were enrolled. One patient who was treated with 10(8) viral particles (vp) had resolution of the tumor seeds around the injection site. The seven patients who were treated with doses > or = 10(10) vp had resolution of their vitreous tumor seeds documented by fundoscopy. Toxicity included mild inflammation at 10(10) vp and moderate inflammation, corneal edema, and increased intraocular pressure at 10(11) vp. One patient was free of active vitreous tumor seeds 38 months after therapy. There has been no evidence of extraocular spread of tumor along the needle tract in any patient. CONCLUSION AdV-TK followed by ganciclovir can be administered safely to children with retinoblastoma. Suicide gene therapy may contribute to the treatment of children with retinoblastoma tumor seeds in the vitreous, a resistant complication of retinoblastoma.
Monitoring and Diagnosis for the DC–DC Converter Using the Magnetic Near Field Waveform

A new diagnostic method for the dc-dc converter, which utilizes the magnetic near field as the diagnostic criterion, is proposed in this paper. The magnetic near field of the converter is captured using a loop magnetic near field probe. The frequency information in the measured waveform is extracted by the fast Fourier transfer; the interested low-order harmonic components are classified by the neural network while the interested high-order harmonic components are evaluated using the simple mathematical method. Finally, by compromising the results of the two parts, the detailed diagnostic conclusions are obtained. In this paper, the methodologies of the measurement and diagnosis are clearly described; then, the proposed method is used to monitor and diagnose the buck and phase shift full bridge converters. The experimental results are presented to show the validity of the analysis. Since the two chosen examples include most of the potential situations, the proposed method can be generalized and applied to many other types of converters.
MNNG Induces Dramatic DNA Damage and Non‐Apoptotic Changes in Cervical Carcinoma HeLa Cells

Abstract: It has been previously reported that a short treatment of human cervix carcinoma HeLa cells with N‐methyl‐N′‐nitro‐N‐nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) induced apoptosis. We examined the action of MNNG on HeLa cells and compared it with that of cisplatin. MNNG damaged the integrity of the cell membrane and killed the cells within 3 hours. During this period no changes characteristic for apoptosis, such as cell shrinkage, condensation of nuclei, chromatin fragmentation or activation of caspases, could be detected. However, the exposure of HeLa cells to 50 μM MNNG for 1 h resulted in dramatic DNA damage. The MNNG‐induced disruption of cell membrane associated with cell death indicates that HeLa cells die by necrosis.