Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Miniplate With a Bendable C-Tube Head Allows the Clinician to Alter Biomechanical Advantage Without Physically Moving the Skeletal Anchorage Device

BackgroundsThis article introduces a binary function of a miniplate with a bendable C-tube head used in corticotomy-assisted segment intrusion. The advantage of the device is that the point of force application can be altered without having to move the miniplate or place an additional anchorage device. MethodsCases for this study were selected from patients who received perisegmental corticotomy with compression osteogenesis (Speedy Surgical Orthodontics) for segmental intrusion. For the skeletal anchorage on patients who received Speedy Surgical Orthodontics for posterior segment intrusion to improve on severe open bite correction, the C-tube was placed on the buccal wall of the maxilla for traction of orthopedic force as a temporary skeletal anchorage. The C-tube head portion is made with titanium grade II, which makes bending easy with a Weingart plier. This adjustment regains distance and range needed to continue intrusion of posterior segment. ResultsAs an alternative to orthognathic surgery to correct a severe open bite, perisegmental corticotomy combined with orthopedic force application from a temporary skeletal anchorage device can be used. The corticotomy-assisted segment intrusion is a 2-stage procedure: first, the corticotomy is performed in the palate and 2 weeks later in the buccal alveolus. A C-plate was placed in the midpalatal area, and a C-tube was placed apical to the buccal corticotomy site. Elastics were used with orthopedic forces to induce compression osteogenesis. As the intrusion took place, the elastic stretched, and resultant force and range in the buccal segment decreased. The C-tube head was adjusted by bending to gain more distance, reviving the elastic force on the posterior segment until desired intrusion was accomplished. ConclusionsThe miniplate with a bendable C-tube head serves for temporary skeletal anchorage of orthopedic traction force to achieve segmental intrusion and has the advantage that the bendable head can be adjusted to improve the force application for intrusion without having to move or place another temporary skeletal anchorage device.
Adaptation during early childhood among mothers of children with disabilities.

This study documents the extent to which child-related and parenting stress vary during the early childhood period among mothers of children with developmental disabilities. The degree to which specific aspects of the family environment predict stress levels measured at age 3 years and 5 years, after controlling for child characteristics and family income, is also investigated. The Parenting Stress Index was completed by 79 mothers of children with developmental disabilities at three time points: (1) within 1 month of the child's entry into an early intervention program (T1); (2) within 1 month of the child's third birthday (T3); and (3) within 1 month of the child's fifth birthday (T5). Data on child characteristics and family income as well as measures of the family environment (i.e., negative life events, cohesion, and family support) were gathered at both T1 and T3. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to assess whether there was significant change in the child-related and parenting stress scores across the three time points. Two sets of hierarchical regression equations were also analyzed. The first examined which child, family, and family environment characteristics assessed at T1 predicted stress at T3. The second identified the predictors of T5 stress based on independent variables measured at T3. Child-related stress increased significantly across the three time points, whereas parenting stress remained fairly stable. By age 5 years, one-third of the mothers had child-related stress scores above the clinical cutoff point. Regression analyses revealed the importance of the family environment in predicting both stress outcomes. The only statistically significant predictor of child-related stress at T3 was family cohesion, whereas parenting stress at T3 was predicted by income, cohesion, and family support. The predictors of both child-related and parenting stress at T5 were the same. Greater family cohesion and fewer negative life events predicted lower stress scores at T5. The significant increase in child-related stress during the early childhood period warrants attention by pediatricians, educators, and other professionals who must evaluate the needs of families of children with disabilities for supportive services. Aspects of the family environment were shown to be critical and consistent determinants of both child-related and parenting stress throughout the early childhood period. This finding suggests that pediatricians, in particular, must assess more than simply the diagnosis or the cognitive impairment of the child with a disability to make informed decisions about the frequency with which they should see particular families and whether referral to other services is necessary.
Identification of Electromechanical Modes Based on the Digital Taylor-Fourier Transform

The digital Taylor-Fourier transform (DTFT) is used to identify low-frequency electromechanical modes in power systems. The identification process is based on the time-frequency analysis of nonlinear signals that arise after a large disturbance. The DTFT creates a signal decomposition, from which mono-component signals are extracted by spectral analysis using a filter bank. This analysis is accomplished through sliding-window data, which is updated each sample, yielding estimates of the reconstructed signal and providing information of its instantaneous damping and frequency. Results demonstrate the applicability of the proposition.
Response Facilitation and Inhibition in Manual, Vocal, and Oculomotor Performance: Evidence for a Modality-Unspecific Mechanism

Abstract In 2 experiments (N = 10, Experiment 1; N = 16, Experiment 2), the authors investigated whether evidence for response facilitation and subsequent inhibition elicited by masked prime stimuli can be observed for output modalities other than manual responding. Masked primes were followed by target stimuli that required a 2-choice manual, saccadic, or vocal response. Performance was measured for compatible trials in which primes and targets were identical and for incompatible trials in which they were mapped to opposite responses. When primes were presented centrally, performance benefits were obtained for incompatible trials; whereas for peripherally presented primes, performance benefits were found in compatible trials. That pattern of results was obtained for manual responses and for saccadic eye movements (Experiment 1), demonstrating that those effects are not mediated by specialized dorsal pathways involved in visuomanual control. An analogous pattern of effects was found when manual and vocal responses were compared (Experiment 2). Because vocal responding is controlled by the inferotemporal cortex, that result shows that prime-target compatibility effects are not primarily mediated by the dorsal stream, but appear to reflect modality-unspecific visuomotor links that allow rapid activation of motor responses that may later be subject to inhibition.
Genotype-phenotype relationships in human red/green color-vision defects: molecular and psychophysical studies.

The relationship between the molecular structure of the X-linked red and green visual pigment genes and color-vision phenotype as ascertained by anomaloscopy was studied in 64 color-defective males. The great majority of red-green defects were associated with either the deletion of the green-pigment gene or the formation of 5' red-green hybrid genes or 5' green-red hybrid genes. A rapid PCR-based method allowed detection of hybrid genes, including those undetectable by Southern blot analysis, as well as more precise localization of the fusion points in hybrid genes. Protan color-vision defects appeared always associated with 5' red-green hybrid genes. Carriers of single red-green hybrid genes with fusion in introns 1-4 were protanopes. However, carriers of hybrid genes with red-green fusions in introns 2, 3, or 4 in the presence of additional normal green genes manifested as either protanopes or protanomalous trichromats, with the majority being protanomalous. Deutan defects were associated with green-pigment gene deletions, with 5' green-red hybrid genes, or, rarely, with 5' green-red-green hybrid genes. Complete green-pigment gene deletions or green-red fusions in intron 1 were usually associated with deuteranopia, although we unexpectedly found three carriers of a single red-pigment gene without any green-pigment genes to be deuteranomalous trichromats. All but one of the other deuteranomalous subjects had green-red hybrid genes with intron 1, 2, 3, or 4 fusions, as well as several normal green-pigment genes. The one exception had a grossly normal gene array, presumably with a more subtle mutation. Amino acid differences in exon 5 largely determine whether a hybrid gene will be more redlike or more greenlike in phenotype. Various discrepancies as to severity (dichromacy or trichromacy) remain unexplained but may arise because of variability of expression, postreceptoral variation, or both. When phenotypic color-vision defects exist, the kind of defect (protan or deutan) can be predicted by molecular analysis. Red-green hybrid genes are probably always associated with protan color-vision defects, while the presence of green-red hybrid genes may not always manifest phenotypically with color-vision defects. Four subjects who were found to have 5' green-red hybrid genes in addition to normal red- and green-pigment genes had normal color vision as determined by anomaloscopy. These were discovered among a group of 129 Caucasian males who had been recruited as volunteers for a vision study. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Alternative to beta coefficients in the context of diffusions

We develop an alternative to the beta coefficient of the CAPM theory. We show the link between this notion and the Wiener chaos expansion of the underlying processes. In the setting of Markov diffusions, we define the drift-neutral beta, which is the quantity of benchmark such that the resulting portfolio is immune to an infinitesimal change of drift on the Brownian motion driving the benchmark. Our approach yields a coefficient which in many practical cases depends on the initial values of both the portfolio and its benchmark. It can also be used to take into account extreme risks and not only the variance. We study several classical diffusion processes and give a full analysis in the case of Jacobi processes. Examples with credit indices show the efficiency of the method in hedging a portfolio.
Perturbation of thyroid hormone homeostasis in the adult and brain function.

Although a critical role of thyroid hormones in mammalian brain development is well established and extensively documented, the adult CNS is often thought to be a thyroid hormone-insensitive organ. The presence in the adult brain of thyroid hormone, along with high levels of nuclear T3 receptors and the strict regulation of intracerebral T3 levels, coupled with overt psychomotor and cognitive dysfunctions in adult-onset dysthyroidism, casts doubt upon this assumption. We have therefore investigated the influence of thyroid hormones on the biochemistry, metabolism and molecular biology of adult rat brain regions and confluent neurons and astrocytes in culture. Our results and those in the literature show that brain nuclear T3 receptor and angiotensinogen mRNA levels and 5'D-II activity are dependent upon normal thyroid hormone concentrations. Several subfractions of cell signalling proteins (G protein alpha subunits) are compromised in hypo- and hyperthyroidism and the activities of protein kinases A and C are up-regulated in the hypothyroid state in a brain region-specific manner. The activities of acid phosphatase and aryl sulphatase A are compromised in the brain of hypothyroid rats, indicating a degree of lysosomal dysfunction, and several neurotransmitter metabolic enzymes and receptor systems are also affected. Metabolic experiments indicate that glutamate and acetate metabolism are compromised in the hypothyroid state, although glucose metabolism remains normal. Primary cultures of confluent neurons and astrocytes also strongly indicate a critical role for thyroid hormones in the control of amino acid uptake, protein synthesis, glycoprotein synthesis and 2-deoxyglucose uptake, in a cell-specific manner. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Expression pattern and tissue localization of the class B scavenger receptor BmSCRBQ4 in Bombyx mori

Class B scavenger receptors (SR‐Bs) are cell surface glycoproteins involved in various physiological processes in vivo, including the transport and metabolism of lipids, binding and phagocytosis of xenobiotics, and signaling. But little information is available about silkworm SR‐Bs; it is necessary to study these SR‐Bs for revealing their function. In this study, we cloned the full‐length coding sequence of BmSCRBQ4, a SR‐B gene from the silkworm Bombyx mori L. We found that the BmSCRBQ4 gene consists of nine exons and eight introns, with an open reading frame of 1371 bp encoding 456 amino acids. Gene expression studies determined that BmSCRBQ4 messenger RNA (mRNA) was expressed in unfertilized eggs, during embryonic development and throughout the majority of the larval period. Expression of mRNA was detected in the mid gut, middle silk gland, posterior silk gland, head, integumentum, fat body, testes and the ovaries of the larval B. mori Dazao strain, as well as in the silkworm cell lines BmN and BmE. Protein expression studies found BmSCRBQ4 protein was expressed only in the testes, fat body and middle silk gland of larvae, as well as in the silkworm cell lines BmN and BmE. The BmSCRBQ4 protein showed variability in banding patterns in different tissues and cells when analyzed by Western blotting. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the BmSCRBQ4 protein localizes to the constitutive membranes or cellular membranes of these tissues. These results indicated that BmSCRBQ4 gene may play some physiologically relevant roles at the cell surface in each tissue.
The effects of noise vocoding on gap detection thresholds

Abstract Gap detection threshold (GDT), the shortest silent interval a person can perceive, is a commonly used measure of temporal processing resolution. The purposes of this study were: (1) to examine the effects of noise vocoding, which has been used to simulate what signals sound like through a cochlear implant, on GDTs in normal-hearing subjects, and (2) to further the understanding of neural mechanisms underlying gap detection using the Auditory Late Response (ALR). Thirteen normal listeners participated. In behavioral tests, the GDTs were determined for the original and vocoded stimuli. In ALR recordings, the subjects were presented with auditory stimuli with and without containing gaps and stimuli with and without being vocoded. Results showed that GDTs were significantly elevated for vocoded stimuli with spectral resolutions of 4 and 20 channels compared to those for the original stimuli. A gap effect was observed in the post-gap ALR. Current densities for N1 peaks evoked by stimuli with zero- vs. non-zero ms gaps, pre- vs. post-gap markers, and original vs. vocoded stimuli were obtained using the standardized low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA) method. Paired comparisons of pre- and post-gap current density values were made. Results showed a statistical difference between the N1s evoked by pre- vs. post-gap markers, with the activation in the middle frontal gyrus and precentral gyrus. The results suggest that: (1) noise vocoding does affect temporal processing resolution assessed with GDTs, (2) gap detection may involve the recruitment of cognitive neural resources, and (3) the ALR has a potential value of objectively estimating temporal processing resolution.
Investor Sentiment and ETF Liquidity - Evidence from Asia Markets

This study aims to analyze the effect of investor sentiment on Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) liquidity, and to capture the variations in investor sentiment, mainly focusing on Asian ETF market data. We employ the Volatility Index and GARCH model to capture the volatility-clustering effect in the study. The empirical result shows that ETF has liquidity, and the degree of investor sentiment plays an important role in ETF liquidity within Asian countries. It indicates a volatility-clustering effect, dealing with the difference of trading systems, regulations in the market, and finds that the relationship between VIX and ETF liquidity is significantly different. Considering hedging against market risk and portfolio investment, this paper suggests that investors should take investor sentiment into their investment decisions, and re-adjust the investment weight of ETF product.
A Novel src- and ras-suppressed Protein Kinase C Substrate Associated with Cytoskeletal Architecture*

We previously identified a novel src- and ras-suppressed gene, 322, encoding a mitogenic regulatory function (Lin, X., Nelson, P. J., Frankfort, B., Tombler, E., Johnson, R., and Gelman, I. H. (1995) Mol. Cell. Biol. 15, 2754-2762). Here, we characterize the 322 gene product as an in vivo and in vitro substrate of protein kinase C (PKC). Hence, we named this product SSeCKS (pronounced essex) for Src Suppressed C Kinase Substrate. Rabbit polyclonal sera raised against glutathione S-transferase (GST)-SSeCKS recognized a myristylated 280/290-kDa doublet in Rat-6 fibroblasts. SSeCKS levels in src- and ras-transformed Rat-6 cells were 15- and 8-fold less, respectively, than those in untransformed cells. Short-term addition of phorbol ester resulted in a 5-fold increase in SSeCKS phosphorylation which was inhibited by bis-indolylmaleimide. In vitro phosphorylation of GST-SSeCKS by purified rabbit brain PKC-α was enhanced by phosphatidylserine and blocked by excess PKC pseudosubstrate inhibitor peptide. GST-SSeCKS bound purified PKC-α or PKC from Rat-6 lysates in a phosphatidylserine-dependent manner. Four SSeCKS domains containing Lys/Arg-rich motifs similar to the PKC phosphorylation site in MARCKS were phosphorylated in vitro by PKC. Immunofluorescence analysis showed SSeCKS present throughout the cytoplasm with enrichment in podosomes and at the cell edge. Short-term addition of phorbol esters caused the movement of SSeCKS from plasma membrane sites to the perinucleus coincident with a loss of actin stress fibers. These data suggest a role for SSeCKS in the control of cellular cytoskeletal architecture.
Cell fusion by the envelope glycoproteins of persistent measles viruses which caused lethal human brain disease

Measles virus (MV) rarely induces lethal diseases of the human central nervous system characterized by reduced expression of the viral envelope proteins and by lack of viral budding. The MV envelope contains two integral membrane proteins, termed fusion (F) protein and hemagglutinin (H) protein, and a membrane-associated matrix (M) protein. Previously, analysis of MV genes from autopsy material indicated that the M protein and the F protein intracellular domain are often drastically altered by mutations. Here, we present evidence that truncation of the F protein intracellular domain does not impair fusion function, and we suggest that this alteration interferes with viral budding. Unexpectedly, certain combinations of functional F and H proteins were unable to induce syncytium formation, an observation suggesting that specific F-H protein interactions are required for cell fusion. We also found that three of four H proteins of persistent MVs are defective in intracellular transport, oligosaccharide modification, dimerization, and fusion helper function. Thus, MVs replicating in the brain at the terminal stage of infection are typically defective in M protein and in the two integral membrane proteins. Whereas the M protein appears dispensable altogether, partial preservation of F-protein function and H-protein function seems to be required, presumably to allow local cell fusion. Certain subtle alterations of the F and H proteins may be instrumental for disease development.
Effect of cell-plating density on the steroidogenic activity of human cumulus cells.

Expansion of the cumulus mass results in dilution of cumulus cells in accumulated hyaluronic acid. This process is associated with an increase in progesterone secretion. The present study was carried out to evaluate the relationship between these two processes in vitro. Dilution of human cumulus cells was attempted by changing the cell-plating density of cumulus cells in culture. Concurrent with an increase in cell-plating density from 0.25 x 10(4) to 8 x 10(4), progesterone secretion increased by 10.5 times (P < 0.001), 9 times (P < 0.001), and 5.9 times (P < 0.001), and oestradiol secretion increased by 1.4 times (P < 0.001), 1.1 times (P > 0.05), and 2.6 times (P < 0.005) during days 0-3, 3-5, and 5-7 of culture, respectively. However, when steroid secretion was expressed in terms of ng per number of cells, the increase in cell-plating density from 0.25 x 10(4) to 8 x 10(4) coincided with a decrease in progesterone secretion of 3 times (P < 0.001), 3.5 times (P < 0.001), 30 times (P < 0.001), and 12.5 times (P < 0.001) during days 0-3, 3-5, and 5-7 of culture, respectively. The progesterone:oestradiol ratio increased gradually with the increase in cell-plating density. However, at the higher range of cell-plating density the progesterone:oestradiol ratio decreased with extension of the culture period. Addition of human FSH (hFSH) or hCG increased progesterone secretion when the cumulus cells were plated at 2 x 10(4), but in most cases not at 0.25 x 10(4) or 8 x 10(4) cells per dish. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
[Retrospective analysis of maternal and infant birth features of hepatoblastoma patients].

OBJECTIVE To explore the risk factors for hepatoblastoma. METHODS A case-cohort study using Logistic regression multiple variables analysis of medical record data sets was conducted to examine infant and perinatal risk factors for hepatoblastoma. RESULTS Birth weight less than 1,000 g was associated with a strongly increased risk of hepatoblastoma (odds risk, OR = 26.0, 95% confidence interval, CI: 14.0 to 65.7). After adjustment of birth weight, a moderately increased risk of hepatoblastoma was found for older maternal age ( > 35 years vs. 20 to 34 years: OR = 2.6, 95% CI: 0.9 to 5.9), maternal smoking (OR = 2.9, 95% CI: 1.1 to 4.2) and higher maternal pregnancy body mass index (OR = 3.2, 95% CI: 1.0 to 6.7). CONCLUSION Very low birth weight and maternal characteristics including overweight, smoking are associated with hepatoblastoma risk.
Human-like motion of a humanoid in a shadowing task

Humanoid robots have - by definition - some level of human-likeness in body form. According to previous research in HRI, this leads to a higher expectation of human-like behavior. Nevertheless, human-likeness is not an easy notion to define for motion even in a task as straight forward as real-time motion copying (the shadowing task) as this paper will try to argue. The main hypothesis of this paper is that subjective evaluation of robot's motion's human-likeness depends not only on the objective similarity between robot's motion and human motion but also on the interaction context (e.g, whether or not the human have previously engaged in mutual or back imitation with the robot). Moreover, the paper proposes two features of motion similarity that affect subjective evaluation of human-likeness and accuracy in the shadowing task and shows that human-likeness is a different attribution dimension form both accuracy and humanness (measured using human-nature traits). The paper reports a controlled user study involving 36 participants and 108 HRI sessions to support these claims.