Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Immediate functional loading of single implants: a 1-year interim report of a 5-year prospective multicentre study.

PURPOSE The aim of this prospective multicentre study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of immediately loaded single implants. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients were recruited at six clinical centres. Inclusion criteria were singletooth replacement in fully healed sites or post-extraction sockets with adequate bone height and width, to place an implant of at least 3.5 mm in diameter and 10.0 mm in length. All implants (AnyRidge, MegaGen, Gyeongbuk, South Korea) were functionally loaded immediately after placement. After 3 months, final crowns were delivered. All implants were followed for 1 year. Outcome measures were: implant stability; complications; peri-implant marginal bone level changes; probing pocket depth. RESULTS Fifty-seven implants (38 in the maxilla and 19 in the mandible) were placed in 46 patients (23 males, 23 females, aged between 18 to 73 years). Ten implants were placed in post-extraction sockets. Two patients (two implants) withdrew from the study and were classified as drop-outs. At the end of the study, only one implant was lost in a healed site. All the surviving implants were stable, giving an overall 1-year survival rate of 97.7% (patient-based). A few complications (one patient experienced swelling after surgery, two had loosened abutments and another patient had a ceramic crown fracture) were encountered. After 1 year of functional loading, the patients had lost an average of 0.32 mm (± 0.22) of peri-implant marginal bone; the mean probing pocket depth (PPD) was 2.16 mm (± 0.68). CONCLUSIONS Within its limit (limited number of patients treated and self-evaluation of the outcomes), this study supports the concept that immediate functional loading of single dental implants can be a successful treatment procedure, with satisfactory clinical outcomes.
RhoA Interaction with Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptor and Transient Receptor Potential Channel-1 Regulates Ca2+ Entry

We tested the hypothesis that RhoA, a monomeric GTP-binding protein, induces association of inositol trisphosphate receptor (IP3R) with transient receptor potential channel (TRPC1), and thereby activates store depletion-induced Ca2+ entry in endothelial cells. We showed that RhoA upon activation with thrombin associated with both IP3R and TRPC1. Thrombin also induced translocation of a complex consisting of Rho, IP3R, and TRPC1 to the plasma membrane. IP3R and TRPC1 translocation and association required Rho activation because the response was not seen in C3 transferase (C3)-treated cells. Rho function inhibition using Rho dominant-negative mutant or C3 dampened Ca2+ entry regardless of whether Ca2+ stores were emptied by thrombin, thapsigargin, or inositol trisphosphate. Rho-induced association of IP3R with TRPC1 was dependent on actin filament polymerization because latrunculin (which inhibits actin polymerization) prevented both the association and Ca2+ entry. We also showed that thrombin produced a sustained Rho-dependent increase in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration [Ca2+]i in endothelial cells overexpressing TRPC1. We further showed that Rho-activated Ca2+ entry via TRPC1 is important in the mechanism of the thrombin-induced increase in endothelial permeability. In summary, Rho activation signals interaction of IP3R with TRPC1 at the plasma membrane of endothelial cells, and triggers Ca2+ entry following store depletion and the resultant increase in endothelial permeability.
Toxicity and Synergism in the Feeding Deterrence of Some Coumarins on Spodoptera frugiperda Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The phagodepression activity of five coumarins (=2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐ones), 6‐hydroxy‐7‐isoprenyloxycoumarin (1), 6‐methoxy‐7‐isoprenyloxycoumarin (2), 6,7‐methylenedioxycoumarin (3), 5‐methoxy‐6,7‐methylenedioxycoumarin (4), and 6‐methoxy‐7‐(2‐hydroxyethoxy)coumarin (5), from the Argentine native herb Pterocaulon polystachyum, was tested against Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae. Two analogs, scopoletin (6) and 2‐methoxy‐2‐methyl‐3,4,5,6,7,8‐hexahydro‐3H‐chromen‐5‐one (7), synthesized in our laboratory, were also evaluated for comparison. The compounds were added to an artificial diet at doses ranging from 50 to 200 μg per g of diet. Natural coumarins induced 100% of phagodepression when 200 μg were added per g of diet. Binary equimolar mixtures of the natural coumarins were phagodepressors against S. frugiperda surpassing the expected additive responses, indicating that these compounds can act synergistically against S. frugiperda larvae. Compounds 1 and 3 (non‐methoxylated coumarins), and the equimolar mixture of both, displayed the strongest phagodepression. Additionally, 50 μg/g of 1 and 3 incorporated to the larval diet caused 80 and 50% of pupal mortality, respectively, while a 100 μg/g dose of compounds 2, 4, 6, and 7 produced 60, 50, 10, and 80% pupal mortality, respectively. Larval growing rate during the early larval instars was significantly reduced by treatments with the methylenedioxycoumarins 3 and 4. Coincidentally, the larval period duration was significantly increased by the latter compounds.
Increased cannabinoid CB1 receptor binding and activation of GTP‐binding proteins in the basal ganglia of patients with Parkinson's syndrome and of MPTP‐treated marmosets

Recent evidence obtained in rat models of Parkinson's disease showed that the density of cannabinoid CB1 receptors and their endogenous ligands increase in basal ganglia. However, no data exists from post‐mortem brain of humans affected by Parkinson's disease or from primate models of the disorder. In the present study, we examined CB1 receptor binding and the magnitude of the stimulation by WIN55,212‐2, a specific CB1 receptor agonist, of [35S]GTPγS binding to membrane fractions from the basal ganglia of patients affected by Parkinson's disease. In Parkinson's disease, WIN55,212‐2‐stimulated [35S]GTPγS binding in the caudate nucleus, putamen, lateral globus pallidus and substantia nigra was increased, thus indicating a more effective activation of GTP‐binding protein‐coupled signalling mechanisms via CB1 receptors. This was accompanied by an increase in CB1 receptor binding in the caudate nucleus and the putamen, although no changes were observed in the lateral globus pallidus and the substantia nigra. Because Parkinson's disease patients had been chronically treated with l‐DOPA, brains were studied from normal common marmosets and 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)‐treated animals with and without chronic L‐DOPA treatment. MPTP‐lesioned marmosets had increased CB1 receptor binding in the caudate nucleus and the putamen compared to control marmosets, as well as increased stimulation of [35S]GTPγS binding by WIN55,212‐2. However, following l‐DOPA treatment these parameters returned towards control values. The results indicate that a nigro‐striatal lesion is associated with an increase in CB1 receptors in the basal ganglia in humans and nonhuman primates and that this increase could be reversed by chronic l‐DOPA therapy. The data suggest that CB1 receptor blockade might be useful as an adjuvant for the treatment of parkinsonian motor symptoms.
Development of resistance to vincristine in a childhood rhabdomyosarcoma growing in immune‐deprived mice

A cell line of childhood rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) has been grown as a xenograft in immune‐deprived mice. The tumor responded to vincristine (VCR), but not to vinblastine, doxorubicin or actinomycin D. The rate and frequency at which resistance developed from administration of VCR once weekly was investigated. Tumor growth could be inhibited for 6 weeks, after which time 11 of 16 xenografts grew progressively despite continued treatment. That this was a tumor‐acquired resistance was confirmed by growing both parent and “resistant” lines in the same host. Under these conditions VCR completely inhibited growth of the parent tumor, but not growth of the resistant line. Continued passage of the resistant line for 10 months in mice either treated with VCR (1.5 mg/kg/wk) or untreated, demonstrated that resistance to VCR was stable in the absence of selection pressure. In addition, the VCR‐resistant line acquired a stable change in karyotype with the addition of a number 9 chromosome and an additional, unknown marker.
Acquisition and Preprocessing of Hand Vein Image

Hand vein biometric identification technology has become a new research direction in domestic and international identification system. The set of hand vein image acquisition devices was designed and the light source parameters were optimized according to the image mean and standard deviation. Image preprocessing algorithm was used to further improve the image quality. Threshold method was used to remove the image background, and the image gray was normalized. It is show that the high-quality images can be obtained by using Optimized parameters acquisition device and image preprocessing procedure. The image acquisition system and pre-processing algorithm provide a good platform for further vein image feature extraction and matching.
High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Is a Predictor of Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction in Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease

Background Inflammation and microvascular dysfunction (MVD) are independently associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with ischemic heart disease. This study aimed to assess the relationship between inflammation, MVD, and myocardial injury. Methods Coronary microvascular function was assessed in 74 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using the index of microvascular resistance (IMR) by a pressure–temperature sensor-tipped wire. Serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) level was quantified by rate turbidimetry. Severe MVD was defined as IMR ≥ 30. Pearson correlation was computed to assess the relationships between hsCRP, troponin, and IMR of culprit vessel. Predictors of severe MVD were assessed by regression analysis. Results Acute coronary syndromes (ACSs) represented 49% of the total cohort. Study cohort was divided into low C-reactive protein (CRP) (hsCRP < 3 mg/L) and high CRP (hsCRP ≥ 3 mg/L) groups. There was higher representation of smokers (78 vs. 52%), diabetics (39 vs. 18%), and ACS (61 vs. 33%), as well as higher body mass index (29.4 ± 4.6 vs. 27.2 ± 4.1) in the high CRP group. Pre-PCI and post-PCI IMR were significantly elevated in the high CRP group compared to the low CRP group (pre-PCI IMR: 29.0 ± 13.9 vs. 17.4 ± 11.1, p < 0.0001; post-PCI IMR: 23.0 ± 16.8 vs. 15.5 ± 8.4, p = 0.02). Peak troponin levels were significantly raised in the high CRP group (9.96 ± 17.19 vs. 1.17 ± 3.00 μg/L, p = 0.002). There was a strong positive correlation between hsCRP and pre-PCI IMR (r = 0.85, p < 0.0001). Pre- and post-PCI IMR levels were correlated with peak troponin level (r = 0.45, p < 0.0001; r = 0.33, p = 0.005, respectively). Predictors of severe MVD include male gender (OR 3.0), diabetes (OR 3.7), smoking history (OR 4.0), ACS presentation (OR 8.5), and hsCRP ≥ 3 mg/L (OR 5.6). Conclusion hsCRP is a significant predictor of MVD while MVD is associated with myocardial injury, supporting the central role of inflammation and MVD in the pathophysiology and complications of coronary artery disease. Clinical Trial Registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN): 12617000648325. Universal Trial Number (UTN): U1111-1196-2246.
Analysing repeated measurements data: a practical comparison of methods.

A variety of methods are available for analysing repeated measurements data where the outcome is continuous. However, there is little information on how established methods, such as summary statistics and repeated measures analysis of variance (RMAOV), compare in practice with methods that have become available to applied statisticians more recently, such as marginal models (based on generalized estimating equation methodology) and multilevel models (that is, hierarchical random effects models). The aim of this paper is to exemplify the use of these methods, and directly compare their results by application to a clinical trial data set. The focus is on practical aspects rather than technical issues. The data considered were taken from a clinical trial of treatments for asthma in 240 children, in which a baseline and four post-randomization measurements of outcomes were taken. The simplicity of the method of summary statistics using the post-randomization mean of observations provided a useful initial analysis. However, fixed time effects or treatment-time interactions cannot be included in such an analysis, and choice of appropriate weighting when there is substantial missing data is problematic. RMAOV, marginal models and multilevel models generally provided similar estimates and standard errors for the treatment effects, although in one example with a relatively complex variance structure the marginal model produced less efficient estimates. Two advantages of multilevel models are that they provide direct estimates of variance components which are often of interest in their own right, and that they can be naturally extended to handle multivariate outcomes.
Long-term effects of cage-cleaning frequency and bedding type on laboratory rat health, welfare, and handleability: a cross-laboratory study

Cage-cleaning is necessary for a hygienic environment, but since rats communicate using scent, they might suffer if their cages are cleaned too frequently. Male rats (Sprague–Dawley and Wistar) were kept for five months across four animal units. Their cages were cleaned twice-weekly, weekly, or every two weeks, and contained either aspen woodchips or absorbent paper bedding. Aggression, injuries and general health, weight gain, chromodacryorrhoea (a stress-related Harderian gland secretion), handleability, and lung pathology were monitored, as was in-cage ammonia. Cleaning frequency had no clear impact on rat welfare, although frequent cleaning decreased ammonia concentrations and handleability, and non-aggressive skirmishing was highest in weekly cleaned rats. Surprisingly, bedding type did not affect ammonia, but all ammonia readings were unexpectedly low. However, rats kept on aspen had greater sneezing rates and lung pathology than those on paper bedding, but also had higher body weights. The results raise concerns about aspen bedding, which is relatively inert compared with other wood beddings, but nevertheless more harmful than paper. Animal unit significantly affected eight of the 11 variables tested, having interactive effects on five of them. The study also demonstrates the interactive effects of different animal units, casting doubt on the feasibility of standardization. We explored multiple variables of interest, so all findings require confirmation through further work. Nevertheless, cage-cleaning rates seem to affect socially housed male rats little, while bedding type has important effects on rat health.
Impact of spirituality on palliative care physicians: personally and professionally.

BACKGROUND Modern palliative care defines four key domains fundamental to a patients' holistic care: physical, emotional, social, and spiritual. Regardless of the symptom being addressed, all four domains of care may need to be addressed to reduce suffering and encourage healing. Yet, despite the spiritual domain consistently being asserted as an integral part of palliative care, more is written on how to provide the physical, emotional, and social aspects of care than on how to provide spiritual care. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to explore the perspectives and experiences of palliative care physicians regarding the spiritual domain of care and to identify the role of this domain both personally and professionally. DESIGN This study recruited a purposeful sample of palliative care physicians and utilized the qualitative method of phenomenology to elicit palliative care physician's perspectives and experiences regarding the importance of spirituality in providing palliative care to patients. RESULTS Themes that emerged from the study in relation to palliative care physicians' perspectives and experiences regarding the spiritual domain of care included the concept of spirituality and the difference between spirituality and religion. The overarching theme was the concept of how the participant's own spirituality impacted their practice and their practice impacted their spirituality. These were inextricably woven together. CONCLUSION Addressing spirituality was fundamental to a palliative care physician providing compassionate and holistic care. The impact of a physician's personal spirituality on practice and practice on spirituality were inextricably woven together.
Mapping the Transcription and Replication Promoters of Respiratory Syncytial Virus

ABSTRACT An important, unresolved issue in mononegavirus biology is whether or not transcription is initiated by the same promoter as RNA replication. In this study, residues important for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) transcription and RNA replication were identified by subjecting the first 26 nucleotides of genome RNA to saturation mutagenesis. This analysis was performed using a genome analog that allowed transcription and RNA replication to be dissociated from each other and monitored as independent events in an intracellular assay. This analysis showed that nucleotides 3C, 5C, 8U, 9U, 10U, and 11U were important for transcription and RNA replication. Additional nucleotides (1U, 2G, 6U, and 7U) were important for RNA replication, but not transcription. At position 4, G versus C or U augmented transcription and decreased replication, showing that the naturally occurring assignments in the genomic (4G) and antigenomic (4U) promoters are optimal for transcription and RNA replication, respectively. These data show that RSV transcription and RNA replication each involve a cis-acting signal at the very 3" end of the genome. This signal appears to contain a minimum, common element that functions in both transcription and RNA replication, defined by those substitutions that had similar effects on the two processes. Apart from these common nucleotides, other positions were involved in RNA replication but not transcription or had different effects on the two processes. This indicates that the promoters for transcription and replication involve overlapping sets of nucleotides at the very 3" end of the genome and provides evidence that the nucleotide preferences for the two processes are not identical.
Capacity Optimization for Resource Pooling in Virtualized Data Centers with Composable Systems

Recent research trends exhibit a growing imbalance between the demands of tenants’ software applications and the provisioning of hardware resources. Misalignment of demand and supply gradually hinders workloads from being efficiently mapped to fixed-sized server nodes in traditional data centers. The incurred resource holes not only lower infrastructure utilization but also cripple the capability of a data center for hosting large-sized workloads. This deficiency motivates the development of a new rack-wide architecture referred to as the composable system . The composable system transforms traditional server racks of static capacity into a dynamic compute platform. Specifically, this novel architecture aims to link up all compute components that are traditionally distributed on traditional server boards, such as central processing unit (CPU), random access memory (RAM), storage devices, and other application-specific processors. By doing so, a logically giant compute platform is created and this platform is more resistant against the variety of workload demands by breaking the resource boundaries among traditional server boards. In this paper, we introduce the concepts of this reconfigurable architecture and design a framework of the composable system for cloud data centers. We then develop mathematical models to describe the resource usage patterns on this platform and enumerate some types of workloads that commonly appear in data centers. From the simulations, we show that the composable system sustains nearly up to 1.6 times stronger workload intensity than that of traditional systems and it is insensitive to the distribution of workload demands. This demonstrates that this composable system is indeed an effective solution to support cloud data center services.
Auto calibration of position sensor while driving ECO vehicle

Resolver is a sensor which measures the position of PMSM motor for using vector control to drive. However an offset of resolver can be occurred while mounting it so that accurate position cannot be detected. In this study, resolver offset calibration which performed at the EOL (End of Line) process in the factory is replaced by performing it in driving situation of the vehicle. When motor controller requires resolver offset calibration, vehicle controller changes drive mode to make certain condition which motor controller can calibrate resolver offset by measuring d, q axis voltage of motor.
Intravenous heroin self‐administration decreases GABA efflux in the ventral pallidum: an in vivo microdialysis study in rats

Several lines of evidence suggest that opiate‐induced disinhibition of the ventral pallidum participates in the mediation of opiate reward, though direct in vivo evidence to support this hypothesis has been lacking. The present experiment tested this hypothesis by investigating alterations in ventral pallidal amino acid efflux using in vivo microdialysis during ongoing intravenous heroin self‐administration in rats. Concentrations of the inhibitory amino acid GABA in ventral pallidal dialysates were significantly reduced within the first 10 min of heroin self‐administration (0.02 mg per infusion; FR‐1), and remained ≈ 65% of presession baseline levels for the remainder of the 3‐h self‐administration session. Dialysate glutamate levels were unaltered during the first hour of heroin intake but significantly increased to a stable level of ≈ 120% presession values during the subsequent 2 h of self‐administration. Thus, heroin self‐administration is associated with both decreased GABA efflux and a late phase increase in glutamate efflux in the ventral pallidum. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that heroin self‐administration results in a disinhibition and/or excitation of the ventral pallidum.
Melanin content and distribution in the surface corneocyte with skin phototypes

Summary An individual's sensitivity to sunlight is traditionally assessed by the Boston or Fitzpatrick classification of skin type. The ability to tan depends, to some degree, on the melanin content of the epidermis. In the study reported here, surface corneocytes in exposed skin and unexposed skin have been assessed using a surface stripping slide mounting technique and an Optomax V image analyser, with which the percentage of corneocyte area occupied by melanin granules has been taken as the melanin content index (MCI). There was a significantly different MCI between different skin types for bolh exposed (P<0.0001) and unexposed (P<0.0001) areas using the Kruskal‐Wallis one‐way ANOVA test. There was also a positive significant correlation between MCI and skin types II‐VI in both exposed (r = 0.95, P< 0.00l) and unexposed areas (r = 0.89, P< 0.005). Image analysis also demonstrated that the number of melanin granules in surface corneocytes was significantly higher in the exposed area compared with the unexposed area, for skin types II, III, IV, V and VI. Melanin cap‐like structures were also observed in exposed corneocytes and heavily pigmented skin contained larger melanin particles than fairer skin. The results indicate that an individual's skin phototype and melanin content, assessed by image analysis, have a significant correlation.