Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Self-Reported Measures of Periodontitis in a Portuguese Population: A Validation Study

Self-reported questionnaires have been developed and validated in multiple populations as useful tools to estimate the prevalence of periodontitis in epidemiological settings. This study aimed to explore the accuracy of self-reporting for predicting the prevalence of periodontitis in a Portuguese population. The questionnaires were given to patients at a university clinic. Thirteen self-reported questions on periodontal health were gathered in a patient-reported questionnaire. Then, self-reporting responses were validated using full-mouth periodontal examination as a comparison. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, precision, and area under the curve-receiver operator characteristic (AUC-ROC). Self-reported answers from 103 participants (58 females and 45 males) were included. Self-reported gum health, loose teeth, tooth appearance, and use of dental floss were associated with different definitions of severe periodontitis. The self-reported questions on “having gum disease,” combined with “having gum treatment” and “having lost bone” were the items with higher performance for the 2018 case definition and the 2012 case definition, as well as for each respective severity staging. Categorization of tooth loss was only valuable for the prediction of periodontitis cases according to the 2012 case definition and its severe stage. Multiple self-reporting set-ups showed elevated performance levels for predicting periodontitis in Portuguese patients. These results may pave the way for future epidemiological surveillance programs using self-reporting approaches.
Neuroprotective and Regenerative Effects of Growth Hormone (GH) in the Embryonic Chicken Cerebral Pallium Exposed to Hypoxic–Ischemic (HI) Injury

Prenatal hypoxic–ischemic (HI) injury inflicts severe damage on the developing brain provoked by a pathophysiological response that leads to neural structural lesions, synaptic loss, and neuronal death, which may result in a high risk of permanent neurological deficits or even newborn decease. It is known that growth hormone (GH) can act as a neurotrophic factor inducing neuroprotection, neurite growth, and synaptogenesis after HI injury. In this study we used the chicken embryo to develop both in vitro and in vivo models of prenatal HI injury in the cerebral pallium, which is the equivalent of brain cortex in mammals, to examine whether GH exerts neuroprotective and regenerative effects in this tissue and the putative mechanisms involved in these actions. For the in vitro experiments, pallial cell cultures obtained from chick embryos were incubated under HI conditions (<5% O2, 1 g/L glucose) for 24 h and treated with 10 nM GH, and then collected for analysis. For the in vivo experiments, chicken embryos (ED14) were injected in ovo with GH (2.25 µg), exposed to hypoxia (12% O2) for 6 h, and later the pallial tissue was obtained to perform the studies. Results show that GH exerted a clear anti-apoptotic effect and promoted cell survival and proliferation in HI-injured pallial neurons, in both in vitro and in vivo models. Neuroprotective actions of GH were associated with the activation of ERK1/2 and Bcl-2 signaling pathways. Remarkably, GH protected mature neurons that were particularly harmed by HI injury, but was also capable of stimulating neural precursors. In addition, GH stimulated restorative processes such as the number and length of neurite outgrowth and branching in HI-injured pallial neurons, and these effects were blocked by a specific GH antibody, thus indicating a direct action of GH. Furthermore, it was found that the local expression of several synaptogenic markers (NRXN1, NRXN3, GAP-43, and NLG1) and neurotrophic factors (GH, BDNF, NT-3, IGF-1, and BMP4) were increased after GH treatment during HI damage. Together, these results provide novel evidence supporting that GH exerts protective and restorative effects in brain pallium during prenatal HI injury, and these actions could be the result of a joint effect between GH and endogenous neurotrophic factors. Also, they encourage further research on the potential role of GH as a therapeutic complement in HI encephalopathy treatments.
Health Promotion and Hydration: A Systematic Review About Hydration Care

Aim: Hydration and well-being are highly correlated. However, practice tells us that the significance of hydration is often unrecognized and is not treated as a priority. This review focuses on how health education can improve hydration levels among the adult population. Method: The research question of the study is “Can health promotion improve hydration among adults? ” A total of 934 papers were screened using search engines such as CINAHL, COCHRANE, PUBMED, EMBASE, and Google Scholar. Seventy-two articles were assessed for eligibility and 41 of them were selected for quality appraisal using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) Systematic Review Checklist, which left the study with 16 articles to be fully reviewed and included in the study. Results: The findings of the study show that water intervention programs help low-drinker participants to sustainably increase their water intake and maintain their habits through time. There was a sustainable impact on decreasing the number of falls, delirium, and the patient’s dependence, with an improvement in their overall condition. Conclusion: Dehydration is associated with increased morbidity and mortality and is an easily preventable condition, but is often overlooked. Public awareness and hydration education is needed to promote healthy habits, a subject in which nurses play a role of paramount importance.
Spatio-Temporal Image Representation and Deep-Learning-Based Decision Framework for Automated Vehicles

Driving maneuver decision-making is critical to the development and mass deployment of automated vehicles (AVs). The prevailing approaches are stuck with either specific optimization objectives or separate maneuver planning. Inspired by the inherent driving mechanism of human beings, we develop a comprehensive deep learning scheme that extracts and establishes informative image-based representation of dynamic traffic flows and then learns driving strategies from collected driving datasets based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Our scheme can effectively capture comprehensive and dynamic features of traffic flows surrounding the ego car and construct dynamic motion images through processing the spatio-temporal signals of all neighbor cars. These constructed virtual images cover all informative dynamic states of the neighbor cars, located in the maneuver-critical area, defined as the motion-sensitive area (MSA). Then, sequential spatio-temporal images together with labeled driving behaviors are fed into our proposed CNN model. The network can extract underlying motion patterns and learn proper driving behaviors, including both the lateral maneuver and longitudinal speed. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme in a typical highway scenario. Results suggest that the proposed scheme merits further investigation to promote the launch of AVs.
Experimental Evidence for the Anti-Metastatic Action of Ginsenoside Rg3: A Systematic Review

Cancer metastasis is the leading cause of death in cancer patients. Due to the limitations of conventional cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy, there is a need for novel therapeutics to prevent metastasis. Ginsenoside Rg3, a major active component of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, inhibits tumor growth and has the potential to prevent tumor metastasis. Herein, we systematically reviewed the anti-metastatic effects of Rg3 from experimental studies. We searched for articles in three research databases, MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) through March 2022. In total, 14 studies (eight animal and six in vitro) provide data on the anti-metastatic effects of Rg3 and the relevant mechanisms. The major anti-metastatic mechanisms of Rg3 involve cancer stemness, epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) behavior, and angiogenesis. Taken together, Rg3 would be one of the herbal resources in anti-metastatic drug developments through further well-designed investigations and clinical studies. Our review provides valuable reference data for Rg3-derived studies targeting tumor metastasis.
Auditory grouping is necessary to understand interrupted mosaic speech stimuli

The intelligibility of interrupted speech stimuli has been known to be almost perfect when segment duration is shorter than 80 ms, which means that the interrupted segments are perceptually organized into a coherent stream under this condition. However, why listeners can successfully group the interrupted segments into a coherent stream has been largely unknown. Here, we show that the intelligibility for mosaic speech in which original speech was segmented in frequency and time and noise-vocoded with the average power in each unit was largely reduced by periodical interruption. At the same time, the intelligibility could be recovered by promoting auditory grouping of the interrupted segments by stretching the segments up to 40 ms and reducing the gaps, provided that the number of frequency bands was enough ( ≥4) and the original segment duration was equal to or less than 40 ms. The interruption was devastating for mosaic speech stimuli, very likely because the deprivation of periodicity and temporal fine structure with mosaicking prevented successful auditory grouping for the interrupted segments.
Event-Based Design for Decentralized Fuzzy Finite-Time Control of Interconnected Switched Nonlinear Systems Against Sensor Failure

This article addresses the decentralized adaptive fuzzy finite-time event-triggered (ET) control problem for a class of large-scale switched nonlinear systems against sensor failure. A finite-time control scheme is developed to achieve a rapid convergence rate. Different from existing results, the singularity of the virtual control law is overcome by constructing a continuous switching-type function. Moreover, the lower bound information of the failure factor is relaxed to be unknown. Then, a new decentralized adaptive fuzzy finite-time ET controller is designed, under which all the closed-loop system states converge to a region of the origin within a finite time. Finally, the Zeno behavior is successfully avoided and two examples are presented to validate the feasibility and advantage of the proposed method.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ROLE OF GUIDING BOOK IN LEARNING BASED ON ASSESSMENT AS LEARNING

Abstract. The aim of this research was to describe the Guiding Book which helps implementing assessment as learning. The research subjects were 29 students of Undergraduate Program of Chemistry Education, Universitas Negeri Surabaya. The research methods were questionnaire and documentation method. Questionnaire method was to record student responses to the role of the Guiding Book which helps implementing assessment as learning. The documentation method was to record students’ activity in implementing of learning based on assessment as learning. The document used in this documentation method which was assessment as learning based worksheet. The result showed that the percentage of students response was about 81% for the six items, which means that the Guiding Book played a very helpful role in the implementing of learning based on assessment as learning. The result of observations on assessment as learning based worksheet showed that students implemented of learning based on assessment as learning by utilizing or being inspired the contents of the Guiding Book. Keywords: guiding book, assessment as learning
A Configurable Spiking Convolution Architecture Supporting Multiple Coding Schemes on FPGA

In this brief, an event-driven spiking convolution architecture with multi-kernel and multi-layer capability is designed. The proposed architecture can be configured in multiple-spike (MS) mode or single-spike (SS) mode to adapt to different spiking convolution neural network (SCNN) models with either rate coding scheme or temporal coding scheme. A skipped zero kernel step is designed to reduce access neuron membrane potentials in memories. In addition, the proposed design supports two pooling methods for increasing flexibility. The proposed architecture is implemented in a Xilinx Kintex-7 FPGA development board, and two SCNN models with different coding schemes are applied to verify the efficiency of the architecture. For the first SCNN model with rate coding scheme, the proposed architecture achieves a 99% classification accuracy with 0.46 mJ/classification. For the second SCNN model with temporal coding scheme, the proposed architecture obtains a classification accuracy over 95.4% with 7.4 uJ/classification. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed design is adaptable and has a low power consumption overhead.
Econometric Analysis of Monthly Peak-Hour and Total Usage Patterns of Hong Kong’s Cross-Harbor Tunnels

As one of the most densely populated metropolises in the world, Hong Kong daily sees severe traffic delays at the Cross-Harbour Tunnel (CHT), though not at the Eastern Harbour Crossing (EHC) or the Western Harbour Crossing (WHC). In 2013, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government proposed raising the tolls of the publicly owned CHT and lowering those of the publicly owned EHC for nine vehicle types: private cars, motorcycles, taxis, three kinds of buses, and three kinds of goods vehicles. The privately owned WHC’s already high tolls, however, would remain unchanged. Using monthly usage and peak-hour usage data for January 2003 through June 2015, a Generalized Leontief demand system was estimated and found that private cars, motorcycles, and goods vehicles have price-sensitive tunnel usage patterns that are also time-dependent. The usage patterns of taxis and buses, which are public transportation vehicles, are totally price-insensitive. These findings suggest that the HKSAR Government’s proposed toll changes would reduce the CHT’s monthly usage by 7.4%–12.2%, and peak-hour usage by 5.0–16.8%. These usage reduction estimates suggest that a time-of-use (TOU) toll design can better manage CHT congestion than the current non-TOU design.
Determining the Required Frequency Control Reserve and Capacity and Location of Synchronous and Virtual Inertial Resources

Replacing conventional generating units with inverter-based generation has lowered the natural inertia of power grids and the primary frequency control reserve provided by synchronous generators. Some of the most important consequences include large frequency deviations and large rates of change of frequency (RoCoF) during sudden load and generation loss. Increasing the inertia of the grid through virtual inertia and synchronous machines, and fast primary frequency response are possible solutions for these problems. This paper proposes an optimization problem to determine the capacity of ultracapacitors and synchronous condensers installed at each bus for inertial response and also the optimal amount of fast primary frequency response while considering technical and economic metrics. A combinational model is proposed to calculate the values of these technical metrics, which results in acceptable accuracy and computational cost. Finally, a modified low-inertia version of the IEEE 39-bus test system is used to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. The results show that the method is successful in keeping the RoCoF and frequency deviations within acceptable limits while reaching a compromise between technical and economic aspects.
Research on the Reliability of Bridge Structure Construction Process System Based on Copula Theory

Various random factors in the bridge construction process directly affect the safety of the bridge life cycle. The existing theories on the reliability of bridge structure mainly focus on the reliability of components and the reliability of the bridge structure system in the completion and operation stages, while the research on the reliability of the structure system in the construction stage is relatively lacking. Therefore, this paper proposed using the Copula function to calculate the reliability index of the bridge structure construction process system. The basic theory of the Copula function was introduced in detail, and the formula was improved according to the actual situation of bridge construction. Finally, the sensitivity analysis of bridge system reliability was carried out. The research results showed that the method proposed in this paper based on Copula theory to calculate the reliability index of the bridge structure construction process system has strong applicability, simple calculation, and can be used in conjunction with the “interval estimation method”, which is suitable for large and complex bridge structural engineering. At the same time, the conclusion that the influence of failure mode correlation on structural reliability should not be ignored in the actual engineering construction process is confirmed.
Co-Graft of Acellular Dermal Matrix and Split Thickness Skin Graft—A New Reconstructive Surgical Method in the Treatment of Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic disease that significantly reduces patients’ quality of life. Patients are chronically treated with systemic therapies, which are often ineffective. Surgical treatment for severe cases of hidradenitis suppurativa is one option for affected patients. Surgical treatment has its limitations, and wound closure may be particularly problematic. This requires the use of reconstructive techniques. The methods of choice for wound closure are split-thickness skin grafts or local flaps reconstructions. However, each method has its limitations. This is a presentation of a new reconstructive surgical method in hidradenitis suppurativa surgery: the use of a co-graft of Acellular dermal matrix and split thickness skin graft as a novel method in wound closure after wide excisions, based on two cases. The results of this method are very promising: we achieved very fast wound closure with good aesthetic results regarding scar formation. In this paper, we used several examinations: laser speckle analysis, cutometer tests, and health-related quality of life (QoL) questionnaire to check the clinical impact of this method. Our initial results are very encouraging. ADM with STSG as a co-graft could be widely used in reconstructive surgery. This is a preliminary study, which should be continued in further, extended research.
Assessment of Rod Bending Accuracy for Sagittal Spinal Deformity Correction on 3D Printed Moulage

Background: One of the most important objectives in the deformity correction surgery of spine is to achieve appropriate sagittal alignment, to improve patient outcome and reduce the risk of junctional failure. Intra-operative rod bending is crucial to achieve desired alignment. Objectives: Assessment of accuracy of rod bending by spine surgeons with or with-out template and/or correction. Methods: Spine surgeons were asked to bend two rods; one in-situ on three-dimensional (3D) printed moulage, designed based on schematic representation of a patient with Kyphoscoliosis, the other rod was asked to bend with correction angles. The differences were measured and correlated with experience and specialty. Results: 21 fellowship trained spine surgeons participated in this study, for in-situ rod, mean thoracic and lumbar bend were 65.2 (P = 0.033) and 49.3 (P = 0.077) degrees, respectively and for the correction rod, mean bend in thoracic and lumbar were 53.8 (P = 0.001) and 51.8 (P = 0.004) degrees, respectively, with significant difference from cut-off point. Each curve was over-bend and it was more pronounce in thoracic, both on in-situ and correction rods, 61.9 and 71.1 %, respectively. Level of experience showed positive correlation with degree of rod bending more than five years in thoracic in-situ bend (P = 0.003) and thoracic bend with correction (P = 0.004). Field of specialty showed positive correlation as well; with orthopedic in-situ bend (P = 0.002) and with correction (P = 0.003). Conclusions: Spine surgeons tend to over-bend rods, when given target angles and when correction is needed. However, when provided with template, a 3D printed moulage in our study, accuracy of rod bending improved significantly.
Transcriptome Sequencing and Analysis of Male Fourfinger Threadfin, Eleutheronema tetradactylum (Shaw, 1804)

Fourfinger threadfin, Eleutheronema tetradactylum (Shaw, 1804), is one of the country’s most popular table fish species. This is a priority species for mariculture in India. Reproductive biology, life cycle, culture, and management are some budding research areas, while there is a lacuna in the species' genetic information. Using Illumina next-generation sequencing technique, 82,072 mRNA transcripts in the mature testis of fourfinger threadfin were obtained. The present study attempted to understand the expression of genes that facilitate sex determination, sex differentiation and gonadal maturation. From 82,072 transcripts, 50,943 were predicted by comparing them to proteins in UniProt using BLASTX. A total of 41 genes involved in sex determination and sex differentiation, spermatogenesis, steroid receptors in testis, steroidogenesis and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) regulation are reported for the first time in E. tetradactylum. The entire raw sequencing reads of transcripts were made available in NCBI under BioProject PRJNA770837.
Soil Moisture Control of NO Turnover and N2O Release in Nitrogen-Saturated Subtropical Forest Soils

Acid forest soils in South China experience a chronically elevated input of atmospheric nitrogen (N), turning them into hot spots for gaseous N emissions. Soil moisture is known to be a major controller for the partitioning of gaseous N loss to nitric (NO) and nitrous oxide (N2O), which may be of particular relevance in the monsoonal climate of South China. To study this partitioning in more detail, we determined gas phase kinetics of NO and N2O release during laboratory dry-out of acidic surface soils from the headwater catchment TieShanPing (TSP), situated close to Chongqing, SW China. Soils were sampled from two hydrologically distinct environments, a well-drained hill slope (HS), and a periodically flooded groundwater discharge zone (GDZ). Production and consumption of NO were studied in an automated flow-through system purged with NO-free or NO-spiked air. Production rates peaked at 21% and 18% water filled pore space (WFPS) in HS and GDZ soils, respectively, suggesting nitrification as the dominant process of NO formation in both landscape units. In HS soils, maximum production and consumption occurred at the same WFPS, whereas GDZ soils displayed maximum NO consumption at higher WFPS than maximum production, suggesting that denitrification is an important NO sink in GDZ soils. Net N2O release was largest at 100% WFPS and declined steadily during drying. Integrated over the entire range of soil moisture, potential NO-N loss outweighed potential N2O-N loss, suggesting that N-saturated, acid forest soil is an important NO source.