Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of Dental Caries in Adult South Indian Population in Association with Dietary Pattern: A Comparative Study

Background: Dental caries is considered to be one of the most prevalent dental diseases among humans. It involves cycles of demineralization and remineralization. The etiology and pathogenesis of dental caries are multifactorial. The role of diet plays an important aspect in occurrence and progression of dental caries. Indians have differing dietary habits due to various religious and personal reasons. A substantial number of Indians are vegetarian by choice. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of vegetarian and mixed diet over the prevalence of dental caries. Materials and Methods: This observational cross-sectional study was conducted among 104 individuals. Healthy subjects who were 20–40 years of age, with no systemic disease, and not on any medications were included in this study. A thorough dental examination was performed by a single investigator with the help of mouth mirror and probe. The examination of patients involved the sequential assessment of teeth starting from 1 to 32. All the exposed and accessible surfaces of the teeth were examined for dental caries, and the data were recorded. Statistical Analysis: The data obtained were statistically analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 11.0, and the results were tabulated. Univariate analysis was performed to find an association between caries and diet. Results: Distribution of the respondents according to dietary practices revealed 51% of the population consuming mixed diet and 49% consuming vegetarian diet. Oral hygiene was measured in terms of frequency of brushing tooth. Among the enrolled subjects, 57% brushed their teeth once a day and 42% brushed twice a day. No significant association was found between vegetarian and mixed dietary habits and dental caries. Two-sample independent t test was carried out to find the mean age. The mean age of caries group was 30.93 ± 12.27 and in without caries group, 27.83 ± 11.58, which is statistically not significant (P = 0.218). Conclusion: The study did not show any significant association between dietary habits and prevalence of dental caries.
Expression of recombinant G-CSF receptor domains and their inhibitory role on G-CSF function

Background and purpose: Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is routinely used in combination with chemotherapy to battle neutropenia. However, studies suggest that this chemokine may increase the risk of metastasis and malignancy in many cancers. To counteract the adverse effects of G-CSF in cancer, antibodies have been used to block its action. However, antibodies are large and complex molecules which makes their production expensive. Thus in this study, we aim to construct different structure variants of the G-CSF receptor containing different domains and select the best variant that prevents the adverse actions of this chemokine. These novel structures are smaller than antibodies and easier to produce. Experimental approach: Different domains of the G-CSF receptor were designed and cloned into the pET28a expression vector. These recombinant receptor subunits were then expressed in Escherichia coli and purified using standard affinity chromatography techniques. Interaction of recombinant receptor subunits with G-CSF was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and NFS60 cells. Findings / Results: Two recombinant receptor subunits containing D1 + D2 + D3 domains and D2 domain showed the strongest inhibitory activity to G-CSF. Conclusion and implications: These novel recombinant receptor variants could be candidates for further studies in the development of novel therapeutics.
A Rare Case of Hemorrhagic Melanotic Schwannoma in a 38-year-old Female

Melanotic schwannoma is a rare form of nerve sheath tumor composed of melanin-producing neoplastic Schwann cells. Less than 200 cases have been reported worldwide. The entity has been associated with Carney complex, a rare genetic disorder characterized by multiple benign tumors. A 38-year-old female presented to our unit with sudden-onset lower back pain and radiculopathy triggered by a mechanical injury. Imaging demonstrated a lesion within the left L5/S1 neural exit foramen with remodeling of bony architecture typical of a chronic, benign process. She proceeded for resection and histology revealed a psammomatous melanotic schwannoma. The patient recovered well with improvement in symptomology. Due to the aggressive nature of the disease, she remains under surveillance for local recurrence and distant metastasis. Clinicians should be aware of this malignant entity, despite its possible presentation with radiological features of a chronic, benign process. Unusual characteristics such as hemorrhage should be treated with a high index of suspicion.
EC-IC Bypass; Our Experience of Cerebral Revascularization with Intraoperative Dual-Image Video Angiography (Diva)

Background: Extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) arterial bypass has been used in the treatment of various cerebrovascular ischemic disease due to atherosclerosis or Moyamoya disease, skull base tumors encasing large IC artery or complex IC aneurysms. Aim: The aim is to analyze surgical technique (EC-IC bypass) and its outcome with intraoperative use of dual image video angiography (DIVA) and Doppler ultrasound. Materials and Methods: We studied in this article a series of 23 patients operated in Banbuntane Hotokukai Hospital, Fujita Health University, for which a superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery anastomosis was done for steno-occlusive disease, giant IC aneurysm or Moyamoya disease. The study was conducted between 2018 and 2020. We used dual-image video angiography (DIVA) and Doppler ultrasound to assess the luminal patency of anastomosis during the procedure. Results: In this study, three patients presented with Moyamoya disease, 4 had aneurysm, whereas 16 patients presented with the vascular steno-occlusive disease. The patients were divided into three categories (steno-occlusive disease, Moyamoya, and flow replacement for giant aneurysm). Dual image video angiography, along with intraoperative Doppler, helped us in the assessment of luminal patency of the anastomosis. Conclusion: Hemodynamic recovery after cerebrovascular bypass brings about a better outcome in ischemic stroke. The result of surgery improves with proper selection of patients with hemodynamic impairment (in Stage 2). With various modalities such as intraoperative Doppler, DIVA (Dual-image Video Angiography) and improved surgical techniques may aid in the reduction of complications and improve clinical outcome.
Cutting-edge Relational Graph Data Management with Edge-k: From One to Multiple Edges in the Same Row

Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMSs) are widely employed in several applications, including those that deal with data modeled as graphs. Existing solutions store every edge in a distinct row in the edge table, however, for most cases, such modeling does not provide adequate performance. In this work, we propose Edge-k, a technique to group the vertex neighborhood into a reduced number of rows in a table through additional columns that stores up to k edges per row. The technique provides a better table organization and reduces both table size and query processing time. We evaluate Edge-k table management for insert, update, delete and bulkload operations, and compare the query processing performance both with the conventional edge table — adopted by the existing frameworks — and with the Neo4j graph database. Experiments using Single-Source Shortest Path (SSSP) queries reveal that our new proposal approach always outperforms the conventional edge table as well as it was faster than Neo4j for the first iterations, being slightly slower than Neo4j only for iterations after having loaded the whole graph from disk to memory. It was able to reach a speedup of 66% over a representative real dataset, with an average reduction of up to 58% in our tests. The average speedup over synthetic datasets was up to 54%. Edge-k was also the best one when performing graph degree distribution queries. Moreover, the Edge-k table obtained a processing time reduction of 70% for bulkload operations, despite having an overhead of 50% for individual insert, update and delete operations. Finally, Edge-k advances the state of the art for graph data management within relational database systems.
LABAREDA: A Predictive and Elastic Load Balancing Service for Cloud-Replicated Databases

Cloud computing emerges as an alternative to promote quality of service for data-driven applications. Database management systems must be available to support the deployment of cloud applications resorting to databases.Many solutions use database replication as a strategy to increase availability and decentralize the workload of database transactions among replicas. Due to the distribution of database transactions among replicas, load balancing techniques improve the computational resources utilization. However, several solutions use the current state of the database service to make decisions for the distribution of transactions. This article proposes a predictive and elastic load balancing service for replicated cloud databases. Experiments carried out showed that the use of prediction models can help to predict possible SLA violations in time series that represent workloads of cloud-replicated databases.
Identification,activity and function determination of several salivary enzymes secreted by Macrosiphum avenae

Parafilm method was adopted for feeding the third instar nymphs of Macrosiphum avenae on two liquid diets (20% sucrose and redistilled water). Their saliva after feeding for 24 h was collected and assayed identifying salivary enzymes and determining their activities. The results showed that pectinase, polyphenol oxidase and cellulase were identified in 20% sucrose diet; cellulase was identified in redistilled water diet; peroxidase was not identified in both diets. The activities of pectinase, polyphenol oxidase and cellulase secreted into 20% sucrose diet by 30 aphids were 2.59×10~ -3 U/g, 7×10~ -3 U/g and 7.89×10~ -3 U/g, respectively; and cellulase activity secreted into redistilled water diet by 30 aphids was 3.68×10~ -3 U/g. In the behavioral response test, the predator Coccinella septempunctata and parasitoid Aphidius avenae of M. avenae showed much preference for the volatiles in wheat seedlings treated by pectinase. It was so concluded that pectinase secreted by M. avenae play an important role in wheat plant indirect defense induced by aphid feeding.
Expansion of the geographic range of the eucalypt pest Paropsisterna cloelia (Stål) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) through synonymy and invasion

The accidental introduction of the eucalypt‐feeding paropsine beetle Paropsisterna cloelia (Paropsisterna variicollis) into New Zealand (NZ) in 2016 prompted investigation of the species complex to which the invasive species belongs. Two mitochondrial gene regions, Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 and Cytochrome b, were sequenced from field‐collected specimens superficially resembling P. cloelia collected in Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia (WA) and NZ. Four distinct Paropsisterna species groups were found, and representatives from each clade were identified with named species using morphology. P. cloelia was confirmed via sequencing and morphology to occur in all sampled geographic regions. The WA and NZ populations showed no diversity at the gene regions studied and hence represent invasive populations. The invasive WA haplotype was shared with both Tasmania and Victoria, whereas the NZ haplotype was unique, but most similar to one shared between WA, Tasmania and Victoria. The melanistic colour variant of P. cloelia was only found in eastern mainland Australian populations and was absent from Tasmania and invasive populations. Implications for pest management, including biological control, are discussed.
Bleeding Disorders in Bothrops atrox Envenomations in the Brazilian Amazon: Participation of Hemostatic Factors and the Impact of Tissue Factor

Bleeding is a common hemostatic disorder that occurs in Bothrops envenomations. We evaluated the changes in coagulation, fibrinolysis components, and platelets in Bothrops atrox envenomations with bleeding. This is an observational study with B. atrox snakebite patients (n = 100) treated in Manaus, Brazilian Amazon. Bleeding was recorded on admission and during hospitalization. We found that the platelet count in our patients presented a weak correlation to tissue factor, factor II, and plasminogen. Tissue factor presented weak correlation to factor V, II, D-dimer, plasminogen, alpha 2-antiplasmin, and moderate correlation to fibrinogen and fibrin/fibrinogen degradation product (FDP). Patients with systemic bleeding (n = 20) presented low levels of factor V, II, fibrinogen, plasminogen, and alpha 2-antiplasmin, and high levels of tissue factor and FDP compared to those without bleeding. Patients with only local bleeding (n = 41) and without bleeding showed similar levels of hemostatic factors. Thrombocytopenia was observed mainly in patients with systemic bleeding and increased levels of serum venom. No association was found between venom levels and systemic bleeding, or between venom levels and clinical severity of envenomation. This is the first report that shows the participation of the extrinsic coagulation pathway in the consumption coagulopathy of B. atrox envenomations with systemic bleeding due to tissue factor release.
Surveys in northern Utah for egg parasitoids of Halyomorphahalys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) detect Trissolcusjaponicus (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae)

Abstract The highly polyphagous and invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorphahalys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), has become a significant insect pest in North America since its detection in 1996. It was first documented in northern Utah in 2012 and reports of urban nuisance problems and plant damage have since increased. Biological control is the preferred solution to managing H.halys in North America and other invaded regions due to its alignment with integrated pest management and sustainable practices. Native and non-native biological control agents, namely parasitoid wasps, have been assessed for efficacy. Trissolcusjaponicus (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) is an effective egg parasitoid of H.halys in its native range of southeast Asia and has recently been documented parasitising H.halys eggs in North America and Europe. Field surveys for native and exotic egg parasitoids using wild (in situ) and lab-reared H.halys egg masses were conducted in suburban and agricultural sites in northern Utah from June to September 2017–2019. Seven native wasp species in the families Eupelmidae and Scelionidae were discovered guarding H.halys eggs and adult wasps from five of these species completed emergence. Native species had low mean rates of adult emergence from wild (0.5–3.7%) and lab-reared (0–0.4%) egg masses. In 2019, an adventive population of T.japonicus was discovered for the first time in Utah, emerging from 21 of the 106 wild H.halys egg masses found that year, and none from lab-reared eggs. All T.japonicus emerged from egg masses collected on Catalpaspeciosa (Warder). Our results support other studies that have observed biological control of H.halys from T.japonicus and improved parasitoid wasp detection with wild as compared to lab-reared H.halys egg masses.
Multi-Ports Unified Power Quality Conditioner for Active Distribution Network

This paper proposes a novel multi-ports unified power quality conditioner (UPQC) and its control strategy for the active distribution network. Topological wise, it is composed of multiple dynamic voltage restorers (DVRs) connected into each head of feeder lines and the inter bus, and one active power filter (APF), where the multiple DVRs and APF share the same dc-link, Doing so, the multi-ports UPQC can be directly installed in the substation and save the number of dc-link capacitors and APFs. In view of its functionality, this novel UPQC can compensate the nodes voltage deviation and balances the output power between transformers in the popular parallel supply mode. The paper explains the detailed working principle and proposes a coordinated control scheme for this multi-ports UPQC. Furthermore, MATLAB/SIMULINK verified the performance of the proposed UPQC in 10kV active distribution network.
Ionic Liquids Toxicity—Benefits and Threats

Ionic liquids (ILs) are solvents with salt structures. Typically, they contain organic cations (ammonium, imidazolium, pyridinium, piperidinium or pyrrolidinium), and halogen, fluorinated or organic anions. While ILs are considered to be environmentally-friendly compounds, only a few reasons support this claim. This is because of high thermal stability, and negligible pressure at room temperature which makes them non-volatile, therefore preventing the release of ILs into the atmosphere. The expansion of the range of applications of ILs in many chemical industry fields has led to a growing threat of contamination of the aquatic and terrestrial environments by these compounds. As the possibility of the release of ILs into the environment s grow systematically, there is an increasing and urgent obligation to determine their toxic and antimicrobial influence on the environment. Many bioassays were carried out to evaluate the (eco)toxicity and biodegradability of ILs. Most of them have questioned their “green” features as ILs turned out to be toxic towards organisms from varied trophic levels. Therefore, there is a need for a new biodegradable, less toxic “greener” ILs. This review presents the potential risks to the environment linked to the application of ILs. These are the following: cytotoxicity evaluated by the use of human cells, toxicity manifesting in aqueous and terrestrial environments. The studies proving the relation between structures versus toxicity for ILs with special emphasis on directions suitable for designing safer ILs synthesized from renewable sources are also presented. The representants of a new generation of easily biodegradable ILs derivatives of amino acids, sugars, choline, and bicyclic monoterpene moiety are collected. Some benefits of using ILs in medicine, agriculture, and the bio-processing industry are also presented.
Targeting Vesicular Glutamate Transporter Machinery: Implications on Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 Signaling and Behavior

Cross talk between both pre- and postsynaptic components of glutamatergic neurotransmission plays a crucial role in orchestrating a multitude of brain functions, including synaptic plasticity and motor planning. Metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) 5 exhibits promising therapeutic potential for many neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders as a consequence of its modulatory control over diverse neuronal networks required for memory, motor coordination, neuronal survival, and differentiation. Given these crucial roles, mGluR5 signaling is under the tight control of glutamate release machinery mediated through vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUTs) that ultimately dictate glutamatergic output. A particular VGLUT isoform, VGLUT3, exhibits an overlapping, but unique, distribution with mGluR5, and the dynamic cross talk between mGluR5 and VGLUT3 is key for the function of specific neuronal networks involved in motor coordination, emotions, and cognition. Thus, aberrant signaling of the VGLUT3-mGluR5 axis is linked to various pathologies including, but not limited to, Parkinson disease, anxiety disorders, and drug addiction. We argue that a comprehensive profiling of how coordinated VGLUT3-mGluR5 signaling influences overall glutamatergic neurotransmission is warranted. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Vesicular glutamate receptor (VGLUT) 3 machinery orchestrates glutamate release, and its distribution overlaps with metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) 5 in regional brain circuitries, including striatum, hippocampus, and raphe nucleus. Therefore, VGLUT3-mGluR5 cross talk can significantly influence both physiologic and pathophysiologic glutamatergic neurotransmission. Pathological signaling of the VGLUT3-mGluR5 axis is linked to Parkinson disease, anxiety disorders, and drug addiction. However, it is also predicted to contribute to other motor and cognitive disorders.
Proliferation and Cluster Analysis of Neurons and Glial Cell Organization on Nanocolumnar TiN Substrates

Biomaterials employed for neural stimulation, as well as brain/machine interfaces, offer great perspectives to combat neurodegenerative diseases, while application of lab-on-a-chip devices such as multielectrode arrays is a promising alternative to assess neural function in vitro. For bioelectronic monitoring, nanostructured microelectrodes are required, which exhibit an increased surface area where the detection sensitivity is not reduced by the self-impedance of the electrode. In our study, we investigated the interaction of neurons (SH-SY5Y) and glial cells (U-87 MG) with nanocolumnar titanium nitride (TiN) electrode materials in comparison to TiN with larger surface grains, gold, and indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates. Glial cells showed an enhanced proliferation on TiN materials; however, these cells spread evenly distributed over all the substrate surfaces. By contrast, neurons proliferated fastest on nanocolumnar TiN and formed large cell agglomerations. We implemented a radial autocorrelation function of cellular positions combined with various clustering algorithms. These combined analyses allowed us to quantify the largest cluster on nanocolumnar TiN; however, on ITO and gold, neurons spread more homogeneously across the substrates. As SH-SY5Y cells tend to grow in clusters under physiologic conditions, our study proves nanocolumnar TiN as a potential bioactive material candidate for the application of microelectrodes in contact with neurons. To this end, the employed K-means clustering algorithm together with radial autocorrelation analysis is a valuable tool to quantify cell-surface interaction and cell organization to evaluate biomaterials’ performance in vitro.
Jugular Venous Reflux Can Mimic Posterior Fossa Dural Arteriovenous Fistulae on MRI/MRA.

Dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs) are high-flow, acquired shunts that can carry a high risk of intracranial hemorrhage. Since dAVFs can often be cured by endovascular means, early and accurate diagnosis can significantly improve patient morbidity. Time-of-flight (TOF) MRA and arterial spin labeling (ASL) techniques have increased the diagnostic utility of MRI for dAVF by showing hemodynamic rather than anatomic evidence of shunting. We describe seven patients who demonstrated co-localization of ASL signal and TOF flow-related enhancement in the left skull base, resulting in a misdiagnosis of dAVF and a recommendation by the interpreting radiologist for catheter angiogram. We identify benign jugular venous reflux as a common mechanism in each case, describe the physiology behind this imaging pitfall, and present an algorithmic diagnostic approach to differentiate between physiologic venous reflux and true posterior skull base dAVFs.