Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Success Rate and Time for Bypassing the Fractured Segments of Four NiTi Rotary Instruments

Introduction: The aim of this in vitro study was to compare the success rate and time required for bypassing the fractured segments of four different nickel-titanium (NiTi) rotary systems. Methods and Materials: This study was conducted on the mesiobuccal canals of 60 mandibular molars with fully-formed apices. Fifteen Flex Master, K3, RaCe and Hero Shaper instruments with 0.04 taper and tip size of #30 and 25 mm in length, were obtained. These instruments were notched at a point 3 mm from the tip of the instrument and were driven into the canals using a handpiece until the instruments fractured and became lodged therein. In the next step, an endodontist tried to bypass the fractured segment using K-files. The number of bypassed samples and the time required for bypassing of each sample were recorded. The Chi-square test was used to compare the bypassing rate among the experimental groups. One-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey’s post hoc test was conducted to compare the time taken for bypassing of the fractured fragments. Results: One instrument in Flex Master group and two broken segments in each of the K3 and Hero groups were not bypassed. All of the samples in RaCe group were bypassed. No significant difference was found among four tested groups regarding rate of bypassing (P=0.738). The time taken to bypass fragments in the Hero group was significantly more than in those of K3 (P=0.047) and RaCe (P=0.024). Conclusion: Under the limitations of this study, design features of rotary files can influence the time needed to bypass separated fragments.
Compatibility between enhancers and promoters determines the transcriptional specificity of gooseberry and gooseberry neuro in the Drosophila embryo.

The two Drosophila genes gooseberry (gsb) and gooseberry neuro (gsbn) are closely apposed and divergently transcribed. While gsb is a segment‐polarity gene and mainly expressed in the epidermis, gsbn is expressed in the central nervous system. An intriguing question is how their transcriptional specificity arises. Here we show that different non‐overlapping enhancer or upstream control elements drive the specific expression of gsb and gsbn. Specificity of these enhancers for their genes is achieved by their inability to activate transcription in combination with the heterologous promoter of the other gene. These results therefore suggest that compatibility between the enhancer and its cognate promoter is a mechanism ensuring transcriptional specificity.
Folate receptor type gamma is primarily a secretory protein due to lack of an efficient signal for glycosylphosphatidylinositol modification: protein characterization and cell type specificity.

A novel isoform of the human folate receptor (FR, type gamma) was recently identified in hematopoietic tissues [Shen et al. (1994) Biochemistry 33, 1209-1215]. In that report, Cos-1 cells, transiently transfected with the cDNA for FR-gamma, produced relatively poor expression of the receptor on the cell surface. In this study, several recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines were produced by stable transfection with the cDNA for FR-gamma followed by amplification. Similar recombinant CHO cell lines were produced that expressed the glycosylphosphatidylinositol-(GPI-) anchored FR type beta and a truncated form of FR type beta (FR-beta delta), in which the normal carboxyl-terminal signal for GPI anchor attachment was deleted. Both FR-gamma-and FR-beta delta-expressing CHO cells produced a [3H]folic acid binding protein in the medium with a similar time course over a 24-h period; in contrast to intact FR-beta, relatively insignificant amounts of either FR-gamma or FR-beta delta were associated with the CHO cell surface and this was unaltered by the absence of serum in the medium. The FR-gamma- and FR-beta delta-producing CHO cells did not differ significantly in intracellular FR levels. Furthermore, the mRNA level for FR-gamma did not exceed that for FR-beta delta. When deglycosylated with hydrogen fluoride, both FR-gamma and FR-beta delta showed similar apparent molecular weights on Western blots as predicted for the intact polypeptides. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Modified vitrification method for cryopreservation of human ovarian tissues.

BACKGROUND Vitrification is a prospective technology in ovarian tissue cryopreservation, but it is still in an initial stage. This study was conducted to investigate a modified vitrification protocol for human ovarian tissue, which can be used as an alternative to preserve fertility for young women with cancer who have to undergo cytotoxic therapy and sterilization. METHODS Ovarian tissue samples were collected from 15 patients and randomly allocated to groups of fresh, vitrification, and conventional slow freezing. A modified carrierless vitrification method was applied. The proportion of morphologically intact follicles in fresh ovarian tissues was compared with that in warmed/thawed tissues. The initial growth of the follicles and the concentrations of estradiol and progesterone were detected to determine the viability and endocrine function of the cryopreserved tissues. RESULTS The proportion of morphologically intact primordial follicles in the fresh group (97.6%) was significantly higher than that in the other two groups (vitrification group 80.3% and slow-freezing group 72.6%, P < 0.001). In both the vitrification and slow-freezing groups, estradiol and progesterone were secreted continuously during 2-week culture in vitro, the proportion of primary follicles were both significantly increased compared to the fresh group. No statistically significant differences existed between the two groups after cryopreservation in the proportion of both primordial and primary follicles, and the concentrations of estradiol and progesterone (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION The modified vitrification method for cryopreservation of human ovarian tissues is effective, simple, and inexpensive.
Intermittent Complete Androgen Blockade in PSA Relapse after Radical Prostatectomy and Incidental Prostate Cancer

Objectives: To determine the efficacy, safety and feasibility of intermittent androgen deprivation (IAD) in patients with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) relapse after radical prostatectomy or with an incidental prostate cancer (pT1B) after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). Methods: Open, nonrandomized, prospective pilot study using the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue (LH-RHa), leuprorelin acetate (1-month depot) and cyproterone acetate. Results: Forty-four patients have been enrolled. After a 30–64 months’ follow-up no progression to androgen-independent status has been observed. Of the entire observation period, 26.6 months (44–58%) remained treatment-free. During the treatment-free periods, normal testosterone levels were obtained, resulting in a cessation of the symptoms of androgen suppression and an improvement in quality of life. Conclusions: These results indicate that IAD is an effective and feasible therapy in patients with early stages of prostate cancer. Larger trials are necessary to confirm these encouraging results. Therefore, a European prospective, randomized, multicenter study (RELAPSE study) has been started to compare IAD with continuous androgen blockade in terms of time to tumor progression, safety and quality of life in patients with PSA relapse after radical prostatectomy.
Evidence for a key role of leptin in osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the contribution of leptin (an adipose tissue-derived hormone) to the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis (OA), by determining the level of leptin in both synovial fluid (SF) and cartilage specimens obtained from human joints. We also investigated the effect of leptin on cartilage, using intraarticular injections of leptin in rats. METHODS Leptin levels in SF samples obtained from OA patients undergoing either knee replacement surgery or knee arthroscopy were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, histologic sections of articular cartilage and osteophytes obtained during surgery for total knee replacement were graded using the Mankin score, and were immunostained using antibodies to leptin, transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). For experimental studies, various doses of leptin (10, 30, 100, and 300 microg) were injected into the knee joints of rats. Tibial plateaus were collected and processed for proteoglycan synthesis by radiolabeled sulfate incorporation, and for expression of leptin, its receptor (Ob-Rb), and growth factors by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS Leptin was observed in SF obtained from human OA-affected joints, and leptin concentrations correlated with the body mass index. Marked expression of the protein was observed in OA cartilage and in osteophytes, while in normal cartilage, few chondrocytes produced leptin. Furthermore, the pattern and level of leptin expression were related to the grade of cartilage destruction and paralleled those of growth factors (IGF-1 and TGFbeta1). Animal studies showed that leptin strongly stimulated anabolic functions of chondrocytes and induced the synthesis of IGF-1 and TGFbeta1 in cartilage at both the messenger RNA and the protein levels. CONCLUSION These findings suggest a new peripheral function of leptin as a key regulator of chondrocyte metabolism, and indicate that leptin may play an important role in the pathophysiology of OA.
Correlation of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 messenger RNA with protein expression in primary breast cancer tissues: detection of higher levels in tumors with poor prognostic features.

BACKGROUND The insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-binding proteins (IGFBPs) regulate the actions of the IGFs by influencing interactions between the IGFs and the IGF receptors. IGFBP-3, one of the six known species of IGFBPs, is the predominant IGFBP in serum and is expressed by breast cancer cells. Compared with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive samples, ER-negative breast cancer cell lines and tumors express higher levels of IGFBP-3. Therefore, expression of IGFBP-3 may be relevant in breast cancer biology, although it is unknown whether IGFBP-3 levels correlate with other breast cancer prognostic factors besides ER status. It is also not known how different methods used to measure IGFBP-3 in breast cancer correlate. PURPOSE We measured IGFBP-3 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels in breast tumors by different methods to test how these methods compare and to investigate the relationship between IGFBP-3 and breast cancer prognostic factors. METHODS We analyzed 40 human breast tumors and examined IGFBP-3 expression by ligand blot analysis, immunoblot analysis, immunoradiometric assay (IRMA), and ribonuclease protection assay. Another set of 40 breast tumors, selected according to ER and progesterone receptor (PR) status, S phase, and ploidy, was analyzed by IRMA. RESULTS In 26 (65%) of 40 samples in which RNA could be isolated, IGFBP-3 mRNA levels correlated with IGFBP-3 levels measured by IRMA (two-sided; P = .0001) but not with IGFBP-3 levels measured by ligand blot or immunoblot. Protein levels were highly correlated among all protein assays. Because the IRMA was more sensitive and accurate than the ligand blot and immunoblot assays, we used IRMA to examine IGFBP-3 levels in an additional 20 primary breast tumors with poor prognostic features (ER and PR negativity, high S phase, and aneuploidy) and in 20 tumors with good prognostic factors (opposite features). IGFBP-3 levels were threefold higher in tumors with poor prognostic features (mean +/- standard deviation = 32.8 +/- 25.2 versus 11.8 +/- 9.7 ng/mg; two-sided; P = .003). CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that in human breast cancer, IGFBP-3 mRNA and protein levels are correlated and higher levels of IGFBP-3 are detectable in tumors with poor prognostic features. IMPLICATIONS IGFBP-3 may be involved in the regulation of breast cancer cell growth.
Causes of intoeing gait in children with cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND Intoeing is a frequent gait problem in children with cerebral palsy. It is essential to determine the cause(s) of intoeing when surgical intervention is being planned. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of various causes of intoeing in children with cerebral palsy and to determine whether the causes differ between children with bilateral and those with unilateral involvement. METHODS The cause of intoeing gait was examined retrospectively, with use of gait analysis, in 412 children with cerebral palsy (587 involved sides). The causes were evaluated separately for the children with bilateral involvement (diplegia or quadriplegia) and those with hemiplegia. RESULTS Overall, the most common causes of intoeing were internal hip rotation (322 of 587 sides) and internal tibial torsion (296 of 587 sides). Pes varus contributed to intoeing of thirty-five of the eighty-two involved limbs of the patients with hemiplegia and of forty-two of the 505 limbs of the patients with diplegia or quadriplegia. Multiple causes of intoeing were noted in 215 of the 587 involved limbs, including 176 of the 505 limbs of the patients with bilateral involvement and thirty-nine of the eighty-two involved limbs of the patients with hemiplegia. The most common causes of intoeing in the subjects with bilateral involvement were internal hip rotation (288 of 505), internal tibial torsion (261 of 505), and internal pelvic rotation (ninety-two of 505). The most common causes in the hemiplegic children were internal tibial torsion (thirty-five of eighty-two), pes varus (thirty-five of eighty-two), internal hip rotation (thirty-four of eighty-two), and metatarsus adductus (twenty of eighty-two). CONCLUSIONS More than one-third of children with cerebral palsy have multiple causes of intoeing. Pes varus commonly contributes to intoeing by children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy but rarely contributes to intoeing by those with diplegia or quadriplegia. These findings should be carefully considered prior to surgical correction of the intoeing gait of these patients.
New technical developments in multislice CT

The introduction of multislice CT was a breakthrough with regard to increased scan speed, improved axial resolution and better utilization of the tube output. The new generation of multislice CT scanners offering simultaneous acquisition of up to 16 sub-millimeter slices represents an important leap on the way towards true isotropic scanning. We present an evaluation of a state-of-the-art 16-slice CT system (SOMATOM Sensation 16, Siemens AG, Forchheim, Germany). After an introduction to the detector design we discuss dose utilization and finally elaborate on multislice spiral scanning with 16 slices. Due to the increased number of slices dose utilization is improved compared to current 4-slice CT scanners, and sub-millimeter collimation needs no longer be restricted to special applications. For CT systems with 8 or more slices, the cone-beam geometry causes severe artifacts if not corrected for by a so-called cone-correction, which thus becomes mandatory in this case. With the Adaptive Multiple Plane Reconstruction AMPR, cone beam artifacts are effectively suppressed, while the benefits of Adaptive Axial Interpolation are maintained: free selection of the spiral pitch according to the clinical needs of an examination, slice width independent of the pitch, full dose utilization at all pitch values. Clinical practice will have to demonstrate the application spectrum that is opened with the new generation of multislice CT systems.
Are Farmers’ Behaviors Rational When They Pay Less for Social Endowment Insurance? Evidence from Chinese Rural Survey Data

ABSTRACT In recent years, farmers have had high participation rate in the rural social endowment insurance in China, for which personal contribution and government subsidy are the main funding source. There have been increasingly more farmers participating into the program. However, their enthusiasm for high premium payment was rather low as most of them selected the minimum premium for insurance. In this article, the discounted utility theory from behavioral economics was adopted to analyze insurance selection behaviors of farmers; in addition, a discounted incremental utility model with a hyperbolic discounting function was also further constructed to describe their insurance decision-making processes. Based on the investigation of time preferences of farmers, their insurance participation behaviors of diverse natures were simulated. The corresponding results indicated that active insurance participation and low insurance premium payment were rational choices for most farmers; in comparison, for the elders with higher income, different choices can be made. Therefore, policy makers could formulate differentiated subsidy policies directing at farmers from different groups, so as to stimulate their enthusiasm for premium payment.
Determining a standard for information security culture

II OPSOMMING . IV 1 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND . 1 1.1 Problem Statement . 2 1.2 Aims and Objectives . 3 1.3 Research Methods . 5 1.4 Chapter Division . 6 1.5 Summary . 6 2 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW . 7 2.1 Part One: Organisational Culture . 8 2.1.
Financial Reporting and Regulations in Zimbabwean and Swazi Charities: Towards a Practical Underpinning

There has been limited research, particularly in Zimbabwe and Swaziland, on the financial reporting and regulations governing charities. This study seeks to identify the financial reporting in charities, the regulations governing these charities and analyse the regulations’ adequacy. Charities play a significant role in development, furthering social and economic objectives by increasing support to disadvantaged members of the society. There are different types of charities and new forms of charities are established on a daily basis. This study focuses on non profit making organisations involved with charity work in Zimbabwe and Swaziland. There has been no attempt to date of moves towards providing regulatory guidelines that will assist stakeholders in their decision making and in the process, enhance transparency in charities. There is therefore a need to identify how all stakeholders can understand the financial statements of charities and in the process regulate the way they report and ensure transparency in their financial reporting. The study will report findings from interviews with charitable organisations with a critical emphasis towards Zimbabwean and Swazi charities. The study argues that the charities sector has significantly grown in the two countries and in view of the increasing financial growth; the regulatory framework has to be strengthened as well. The recommendations should benefit users, and all stakeholders in the Charities organisations.
How to measure research efficiency in higher education? Research grants vs. publication output

ABSTRACT An ongoing debate in the literature on the efficiency of higher education institutions concerns the indicator for research output for use in empirical analysis. While several studies have chosen to use the number of publications as this indicator, others rely on the amount of research grants. The present study investigates whether both measures lead to a similar assessment of universities. In addition, the number of publications belonging to the 10% and 1% most frequently cited papers in the corresponding subject category and publication year are evaluated. We show that there is a high correlation of efficiency values between the estimations using these indicators. This correlation is slightly higher when the efficiency values result from a data envelopment analysis than when they are determined with a stochastic frontier analysis. The results of this study provide helpful guidelines for researchers evaluating the efficiency of universities and are valueable for decision-makers in science policy.
Microvasculature of the cruciate ligaments and its response to injury. An experimental study in dogs.

UNLABELLED The normal vascular anatomy of the cruciate ligaments was investigated in eight dogs by microangiography, histology, and tissue-clearing (Spalteholz) techniques. The vessels were found to originate predominantly from the soft tissues (infrapatellar fat pad and synovial membrane) of the joint. The vascular response to partial surgical transection of the anteromedial mid-portion of the anterior cruciate ligament was evaluated in twelve dogs. This response, which was vigorous and extensive, appeared to arise from the soft tissues. Resection of the infrapatellar fat pad and synovial membrane at the time of injury tended to decrease this response. Spontaneous healing of the defect had not occurred in either group by eight weeks. CLINICAL RELEVANCE The predominant soft-tissue, as opposed to osseous, origin of the blood supply to the cruciate ligaments may be an important consideration in the repair of these structures. The preservation and utilization of the infrapatellar fat pad and synovial envelope may optimize the vascular response and healing of the ligament.
Novobiocin‐induced accumulation of etoposide (VP‐16) in wehi‐3B D+ leukemia cells

A previous report from this laboratory demonstrated that novobiocin produced supra‐additive cytotoxicity when combined with etoposide (VP‐16) or teniposide (VM‐26) in WEHI‐3B D+ and A549 cells. The increase in cytotoxicity was accompanied by an increase in the formation of drug‐stabilized protein‐DNA covalent complexes. We now report that novobiocin increased the amount of VP‐16‐induced covalent complexes between the 170 kDa form of topoisomerase II and DNA in WEHI‐3B D+ cells, as measured by the band‐depletion immuno‐blotting assay, while it did not affect the extractable topoisomerase II activity, measured by the unknotting of P4 phage DNA and by a DNA cleavage assay. Novobiocin progressively increased the steady‐state concentration of intracellular VP‐16. Removal of novobiocin resulted in a rapid return of VP‐16 to levels comparable to those seen with VP‐16 alone. The increased accumulation of VP‐16 was accounted for by an increase in the exchangeable fraction only. The novobiocin‐mediated increase in the steady‐state concentration of VP‐16 occurred whether novobiocin was added simultaneously with VP‐16 or was added after a steady‐state level of VP‐16 had been achieved. Novobiocin did not affect the initial rate of uptake of VP‐16; however, it inhibited the efflux of the epipodophyllotoxin. In fact, when cells were loaded with the same level of VP‐16 in the presence or absence of novobiocin, the efflux curves in the presence or absence of novobiocin were significantly different. We conclude that the inhibition of VP‐16 efflux by novobiocin is responsible for the increase in VP‐16 accumulation, leading to increased formation of VP‐16‐stabilized topoisomerase‐II‐DNA covalent complexes and increased cytotoxicity. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
SAIC Based Iterative Receivers for MC-CDMA Cellular Systems

In this paper, we consider iterative detector/receiver based on single antenna interference cancellation (SAIC) techniques for multicarrier code division multiple access (MC-CDMA) cellular systems. Since the performance of the users close to cell edge is mainly degraded by the intercell interference, it is important to suppress the intercell interference. Using spreading in MC-CDMA, the intercell interfering signals can be detected and cancelled. A better performance can also be achieved if iterative detectors/receivers are used. We propose low complexity iterative detector and receiver using the one-tap minimum mean square error (MMSE) equalizer and a simple group canceller as they are employed at the mobile station.