Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dental management of patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are the most common forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), both of unknown aetiology. These conditions are characterised by the chronic and recurrent inflammation of different parts of the gastrointestinal tract, but while in CD, chronic inflammation may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, in UC, mucosal inflammatory changes are confined to the colon. IBD is currently on the increase, and it is important for the dental professional to be familiar with the condition as patients with IBD may present oral manifestations of the underlying disease. Such manifestations of IBD may precede the onset of intestinal radiographic lesions by as much as a year, or even more. Treatments used to manage IBD can affect the delivery of routine dental care.
A haplotype of glycogen synthase kinase 3β is associated with early onset of unipolar major depression

Recent findings suggest that glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) may play a role in the pathophysiology and treatment of mood disorders. Various genetic studies have shown the association of GSK3β polymorphisms with different mood disorder phenotypes. We hypothesized that genetic variants in the GSK3β gene could partially underlie the susceptibility to mood disorders. We performed a genetic case–control study of 440 psychiatrically screened control subjects and 445 mood disorder patients [256 unipolar major depressive disorder (MDD) and 189 bipolar disorder (BD)]. We genotyped a set of 11 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and determined the relative frequency of a known copy number variant (CNV) overlapping the GSK3β by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We found no evidence of association with MDD or BD diagnosis, and we further investigated the age at onset (AAO) of the disorder and severity of depressive index episode. We found that rs334555, located in intron 1 of GSK3β, was nominally associated with an earlier AAO of the disease in MDD (P = 0.001). We also identified a haplotype containing three SNPs (rs334555, rs119258668 and rs11927974) associated with AAO of the disorder (permutated P = 0.0025). We detected variability for the CNV, but we could not detect differences between patients and controls for any of the explored phenotypes. This study presents further evidence of the contribution of GSK3β to mood disorders, implicating a specific SNP and a haplotype with an earlier onset of the disorder in a group of well‐characterized patients with unipolar MDD. Further replication studies in patients with the same phenotypic characteristics should confirm the results reported here.
Effects of variation in quality of leaf detritus on growth of the eastern tree-hole mosquito, Aedes triseriatus (Diptera: Culicidae)

Growth of larvae of the eastern tree-hole mosquito, Aedes triseriatus (Say), measured as survival to adulthood, development time, and body mass at adult emergence, was significantly better when larvae were provided with fresh rather than senescent beech leaves as food substrate. Leaf type affected larval growth performance independently of ration of leaf available per larva when the ration level was high and larvae were not densely crowded, but leaf type and ration level had interactive effects on larval growth performance when ration was more limiting and larvae denser. Fresh leaves contained about twice as much nitrogen, had a lower carbon:nitrogen ratio, leached more mass into water, and contained significantly more soluble protein and carbohydrate than did senescent leaves. Thus, the observed growth responses could be explained on the basis of variation in nutrient content of, and greater leaching from, the fresh leaves. Larval growth was also significantly better on intact senescent beech leaves than on leaves that had been leached to remove soluble protein and carbohydrate; it was also significantly better on leaves whose surfaces had flourishing bacterial growth than on leaves with disinfected surfaces. Growth of female larvae fit well a pupation window model where larvae attained a minimum mass to emergence past a minimum development time across a range of leaf substrates varying in quality and quantity.
Era of customization and specialization

In order to drastically improve the energy efficiency, we believe that future computer processors need to go beyond parallelization, and provide architecture support of customization and specialization so that the processor architecture can be adapted and optimized for different application domains. Customization can be made to computing cores, memory hierarchy, and network-on-chips for efficient adaptation for different workload. Also, we believe that future processor architectures will make extensive use of accelerators to further increase energy efficiency. Such architectures present many new challenges and opportunities, such as accelerator scheduling, sharing, memory hierarchy optimization, and efficient compilation and runtime support. In this talk, I shall present our ongoing research in these areas in the Center for Domain-Specific Computing.
Membrane IgM-mediated signaling of human B cells. Effect of increased ligand binding site valency on the affinity and concentration requirements for inducing diverse stages of activation.

The potential for ligand-initiated signal transduction through B cell membrane IgM is assessed in terms of ligand concentration, binding site valency, and binding site affinity for membrane Ig. Estimates of the physicochemical requirements for achieving G0* enhancement of class II MHC expression, G1 entry, and S phase entry in human B cells were made by comparing the stimulatory effects of three affinity-diverse anti-Cmu2 mAb when in bivalent (unconjugated) form, or as mAb-dextran conjugates with low binding site valency (oligovalent ligands) or high binding site valency (multivalent ligands). An increase in binding site number (and concomitant molecular mass) caused a profound reduction in both the minimal concentration and affinity requisites for B cell activation. The enhancing effect of increased binding site valency was most evident for the signaling of those most distal stages in B cell activation, i.e., G1 and S phase, which were difficult to induce with bivalent ligands. The results suggest that highly multimeric TI-2 Ag may be good immunogens because they are able to elicit a full activation response not only from infrequent high affinity B cells, but also from a substantial proportion of the many lower affinity Ag-specific B cells in virgin B cell populations. Interestingly, the activation of B cells by ligands with binding sites of high intrinsic affinity (Ka = 5 x 10(8) M-1) was less influenced by increases in binding site valency than was B cell activation by ligands with intermediate binding site affinity (Ka = 2 x 10(7) M-1). This suggests that the minimal epitope valency requirement for T cell-independent B cell activation by mIg cross-linking Ag may be dependent on the intrinsic affinity with which membrane Ig molecules on a given B cell interact with the redundantly expressed epitopes.
Neuroendocrine responses to stimulation of the vagus nerves in bursts in conscious calves.

Effects of stimulation of the peripheral ends of the vagus nerves below the heart at 4 Hz continuously, and at 40 Hz for 1 s at 10 s intervals, have been compared in conscious calves below behavioural threshold. Neither pattern of stimulation caused any significant change in mean aortic blood pressure or heart rate but both invariably produced a substantial increase in the flow of intestinal lymph. Each form of stimulation provoked release of glucagon, insulin and pancreatic polypeptide from the pancreas and produced a small but significant rise in mean arterial plasma glucose concentration. The release of gastric inhibitory peptide‐ and bombesin‐like molecules from the gastrointestinal tract was not affected by vagal stimulation whereas release of vasoactive intestinal peptide was observed in response to both patterns of vagal stimulation. Evidence was obtained to suggest that gastrin‐like peptides are preferentially released into the bloodstream whereas cholecystokinin‐like peptides are not. Vagal stimulation releases somatostatin from the gastrointestinal tract but discontinuous stimulation seems to inhibit the release of somatostatin into the general circulation. The results that have been obtained, employing this particular protocol, suggest that the pattern of the stimulus that is applied to the vagal splanchnic innervation has relatively little effect on neuroendocrine response in this species.
Virtuelle Natur als Erholungs(t)raum

Virtuelle Welten sind Bestandteil unseres Alltags geworden: Wir treffen uns in Chatrooms oder in Fantasiewelten und gehen in Online-Shops einkaufen. Sie dienen auch unserer Erholung. Aber kann man sich auch in virtueller Natur erholen und dies genauso gut oder sogar besser als in der physischen Natur? Vorliegendes Buch beschaftigt sich mit diesen Fragen: Es gibt einen Einblick in die Naturerholungsforschung, in Simulationen/VR und das Konzept der erlebnisbezogenen Kunstlichkeit. Es stellt erstmals eine Studie vor, in der die erholsame Wirkung von zwei Natursimulationen im Vergleich zur physischen Natur untersucht wird. Dabei wird nicht nur die Bedeutung der erlebnisbezogenen Kunstlichkeit betrachtet, sondern auch Faktoren des subjektiven Erlebens und der Bewertung, die ebenfalls einen Einfluss auf die Erholung in Natursimulationen nehmen konnen. Das Buch liefert damit einen Beitrag zur bislang kaum untersuchten okologischen Validitat und Vergleichbarkeit von Natursimulationen.
Phytoestrogens for Treatment of Menopausal Symptoms: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of phytoestrogens for treatment of menopausal symptoms. DATA SOURCES: We searched the Cochrane Library and MEDLINE from 1966 to March 2004, using a detailed list of terms related to phytoestrogens and menopausal symptoms and also hand-searched abstracts from relevant meetings. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: Randomized trials were eligible if they involved symptomatic perimenopausal or postmenopausal women, compared phytoestrogen with placebo or control, reported hot flush frequency or menopausal symptom scores, and were at least 4 weeks in duration. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: Data were extracted onto standardized forms using a prospectively developed protocol. Twenty-five trials involving 2,348 participants met criteria. At baseline, the mean age was 53.1 years, mean duration of menopause was 4.3 years, and mean daily hot flush frequency was 7.1. Mean study duration was 17 weeks. Trials were grouped into categories according to type of phytoestrogen: soy foods, beverages, or powders (n = 11); soy extracts (n = 9); and red clover extracts (n = 5). Of the 8 soy food trials reporting hot flush frequency outcomes, 7 were negative. Five trials of soy foods provided information to calculate effect sizes; these were in the small-to-medium range, favoring placebo in 3 trials and soy in 2. Of the 5 soy extract trials reporting hot flush frequency, 3 (including the 2 largest trials) were negative. Effect sizes were calculated for 2 soy extract trials: one favored placebo with small effect size and the other favored soy with moderate effect size. Red clover trials showed no improvement in hot flush frequency (weighted mean difference −0.60, 95% confidence interval −1.71 to 0.51). Adverse effects were primarily gastrointestinal and taste intolerance in the soy food and beverage trials. CONCLUSION: The available evidence suggests that phytoestrogens available as soy foods, soy extracts, and red clover extracts do not improve hot flushes or other menopausal symptoms.
MoS2 hybrid nanostructures: from octahedral to quasi-spherical shells within individual nanoparticles.

MoS2, a layered compound with tribological and catalytic applications, is known to form a range of hollow closed nanostructures and nanoparticles, including graphene-like structures. These have been demonstrated experimentally through high-temperature synthesis and pulsed laser ablation (PLA), and theoretically with quantum chemical calculations. The smallest allowed structures are nanooctahedra of 3 to 8 nm size. Nicknamed the “true inorganic fullerene” in analogy to carbon fullerenes, they differ from larger multiwalled MoS2 fullerene-like nanoparticles both in their morphology and predicted electronic properties. The larger fullerene-like particles are quasi-spherical (polyhedral) or nanotubular, typically with diameters of 20 to 150 nm. Above a few hundred nm in size, these nanoparticles transform into 2H-MoS2 platelets. Fullerene-like particles have been recognized as superior solid lubricants with numerous commercial applications, and MoS2 nanooctahedra may have catalytic applications. Understanding the fundamental commonality of these two morphologies might prove essential in the development of new materials. The research on hollow MoS2 nanostructures of minimal size (< 10 nm in diameter) was initiated in 1993 upon the first independent proposal of the formation of nanooctahedra of MoS2 [3,5] (and BN) with six rhombi in their corners. In 1999, it was demonstrated that twoto four-walled MoS2 nanooctahedra, 3–5 nm in size and up to ca. 10 atoms, could be obtained by PLA. Similar results were subsequently reported in Ref. [1, 2] as illustrated in Figure 1a. Recent studies of high energy density methods such as laser ablation and arc– discharge resulted in small structures with only a limited number of atoms: Mo–S clusters or double-walled nanooctahedra.
LRRK2 G2019S founder haplotype in the Chinese population

The G2019S mutation in the LRRK2 (leucine‐rich repeat kinase) gene appears very rarely in the Chinese population. Among Chinese subjects who were non‐G2019S carriers, we demonstrated the frequency of the LRRK2 G2019S founder haplotype (T‐254‐A‐G‐A‐154) in Parkinson's disease and controls to be 33% and 30%. This rate is similar to the frequency in European noncarriers, indirectly supporting the association of this haplotype with G2019S carriers. The haplotype is likely to be more ancient than the G2019S mutation because it is also found in a population with a very low carrier rate. © 2006 Movement Disorder Society
Involvement of Nitric Oxide in Peripheral Antinociception Mediated by kappa- and delta-Opioid Receptors

Nitricoxide (NO) has been reported to enhance the analgesic effect of the peripherally administered [micro sign]-opioid receptor agonists, but the role of NO on the analgesic effect of the peripherally administered kappa and delta opioid receptor agonists is still unclear. We examined the effects of peripherally applied kappa- and delta-opioid receptor agonists and of their interactions with the NO-releasing drug, FK409, on the behavioral response to intraplantar injection of formalin in rats (the formalin test). The formalin injection results in a biphasic appearance of agitation behavior, consisting of the early (Phase 1; 0-9 min) and late (Phase 2; 10-60 min) responses. The active enantiomer of kappa-opioid receptor agonist, (-)U50,488H, dose-dependently suppressed the agitation response in both phases of the formalin test when applied peripherally. A peripheral delta-opioid receptor agonist, [D-Pen2,5] enkephalin (DPDPE), suppressed only Phase 2 of the formalin test. Local application of FK409 after the administration of a subthreshold dose of each opioid resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in the Phase 1, but not Phase 2, response to the formalin test for both agonists. Interactions between peripheral opioids and FK409 were reversed with both naloxone and carboxy-PTIO (NO scavenger). Systemic injections of either a kappa- or delta-agonist had no interaction with peripherally applied FK409. Peripheral FK409 alone did not have any significant effect on the formalin test. These data indicate that the antinociceptive effects of peripherally applied kappa- and delta-opioid agonists on the formalin test are potentiated by the local action of NO. Implications: The analgesic effects of peripherally applied kappa- and delta-opioid receptor agonists during inflammation induced by formalin injection in the rat are, at least partly, mediated by the NO-cGMP pathway. (Anesth Analg 1998;87:388-93)
A Neuroprotective Role for Gap Junctions

Glial-neuronal interactions have been implicated in both normal information processing and neuroprotection. One pathway of cellular interactions involves gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC). In astrocytes, gap junctions are composed primarily of the channel protein, connexin43 (Cx43), and provide a substrate for formation of a functional syncytium implicated in the process of spatial buffering in the CNS. Thus gap junctional communication may be neuroprotective following a CNS insult that entails glutamate cytotoxicity (i.e. ischemia). We have shown that blocking gap junctions during a glutamate insult to co-cultures of astrocytes and neurons results in increased neuronal injury. To assess the effect of reduced Cx43 and GJIC on neuroprotection, we examined brain infarct volume in wild type and Cx43 heterozygote null mice following focal ischemia. Cx43 heterozygous null mice exhibited a significantly larger infarct volume compared to wild type. At the cellular level, a significant increase in TUNEL positive cells was observed in the penumbral region of the Cx43 heterozygote mice. These results suggest that augmentation of GJIC in astrocytes may contribute to neuroprotection following ischemic injury. These findings support the hypothesis that gap junctions play a neuroprotective role against glutamate cytotoxicity.
Intravesical mitomycin C for superficial transitional cell carcinoma

Intravesical instillation of mitomycin C after a transurethral resection of a bladder tumor constitutes a standard treatment modality in the management of superficial transitional cell carcinoma in the urinary bladder. An immediate instillation of mitomycin C after transurethral resection has been shown to reduce the recurrence rate of superficial transitional cell carcinoma. Intravesical mitomycin C is generally considered to be a safe treatment option, but the past few years have seen the publication of a number of case reports on severe complications following mitomycin C instillation. This article reports on the mode of action, as well as the intravesical effects and current indications for mitomycin C instillation. This review will summarize the oncological benefits of mitomycin C in comparison with other intravesical treatments, such as bacillus Calmette–Guérin, and elucidate the incidence and types of possible complications associated with intravesical mitomycin C chemotherapy.
Personalized health care: From theory to practice

The practice of medicine stands at the threshold of a transformation from its current focus on the treatment of disease events to an emphasis on enhancing health, preventing disease and personalizing care to meet each individual's specific health needs. Personalized health care is a new and strategic approach that is driven by personalized health planning empowered by personalized medicine tools, which are facilitated by advances in science and technology. These tools improve the capability to predict health risks, to determine and quantify the dynamics of disease development, and to target therapeutic approaches to the needs of the individual. Personalized health care can be implemented today using currently available technologies and know‐how and thereby provide a market for the rational introduction of new personalized medicine tools. The need for early adoption of personalized health care stems from the necessity to reduce the egregious and wasteful burden of preventable chronic diseases, which is not effectively addressed by our current approach to care.
00 Low Frequency Ocean Ambient Noise : Measurements and Theory < A Paper Presented at the NATO I Advanced Research Workshop on Ambient Noise Mechanisms , 15-19 June 1987 , La Spezia , Italy

Low frequency ocean ambient noise data are reviewed and summarized. The experimental data, both omnidirectional and directional, when not dominated by shipping noise, are shown to suggest wind dependent noise at the low frequencies (<500 Hz). Candidate mechanisms are examined with the result that wave-turbulence interaction at low sea states and collective bubble oscillations at high sea states are Identified as possible sources of this sound. A description of the sonic properties of bubbly water is presented for low void fractions consistent with those observed in bubble clouds and plumes produced by breaking waves. A description of the collective bubble-water mixture as the resonant oscillation of a flexible volume with a sonic speed determined by the properties of the mixture is presented.
Post-extraction evaluation of sockets with one plate loss--a microtomographic and histological study.

AIM The aim of this study is to evaluate the characteristics of socket repair after teeth extraction with loss of a bone plate. MATERIAL AND METHOD Lower incisors were extracted from 120-day-old male rabbits. A standardized defect of 5 mm in the buccal plate was created in one of the socket sites. Furthermore, complete closures of the sockets entrance were performed. Two groups of biopsies were obtained: one with 14 days of healing and the other with 112, to perform the micro-CT and histological evaluations of the tested group with plate loss comparing with the control group with the intact buccal bone wall. RESULTS Plate loss sites demonstrated reduction in width when compared to the intact ones and, this difference decreased with time. CONCLUSION Long-term analysis showed that plate loss interfered in final ridge measurements by reducing the middle portion of the socket width compared to the intact plate sockets. The histological and micro-CT qualitative analysis showed that both sites presented similar pattern of healing, despite the reduced dimension found in plate loss sites.
BAPX‐1/NKX‐3.2 Acts as a Chondrocyte Hypertrophy Molecular Switch in Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) development involves a shift of the articular chondrocyte phenotype toward hypertrophic differentiation via still poorly characterized mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to test our hypothesis that the function of BAPX‐1/NKX‐3.2 is impaired in OA chondrocytes and leads directly to loss of hypertrophic protection of the articular chondrocyte, which is central in the changing chondrocyte phenotype that drives OA.
On the aerodynamic effects of pitching phase angle on a two-dimensional hovering wing

This paper reports a fundamental investigation of the effects of pitching phase angle on the aerodynamics of a two-dimensional (2D) flapping wing executing simple harmonic motion in hovering mode. Direct force measurement and digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) were employed to obtain the time-dependent aerodynamic forces acting on the wing and the associated flow structures, respectively. Six pitching phase angles, i.e. 0°, 60°, 90°, 110°, 150° and 180°, were studied. For the present set of wing motions, the delayed pitching (i.e. ø &#60; 90°) caused the averaged lift to decrease and the averaged drag to increase, overall reducing the lift to drag ratio greatly. On the other hand, the advanced pitching, in the range of 90° &#60; ø ≤ 110°, caused the lift to increase and drag to decrease, resulting in higher lift to drag ratio. But further increase in the phase angle had the opposite effects, resulting in both the lift and lift to drag ratio peaking at ø ≈ 110°.