bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Testing the therapeutic effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in semantic dementia: A double blind, sham controlled, randomized clinical trial
Authors: Sanches Clara , Levy Richard , Benisty Sarah , Volpe-Gillot Lisette , Habert Marie-Odile , Kas Aurélie , Ströer Sébastian , Pyatigorskaya Nadya , Kaglik Anna , Bourbon Angélina , Dubois Bruno , Migliaccio Raffaella , Valero-Cabré Antoni , Teichmann Marc 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
Background

Semantic dementia is a neurodegenerative disease that primarily affects the left anterior temporal lobe, resulting in a gradual loss of conceptual knowledge. There is currently no validated treatment. Transcranial stimulation has provided evidence for long-lasting language effects presumably linked to stimulation-induced neuroplasticity in post-stroke aphasia. However, studies evaluating its effects in neurodegenerative diseases as semantic dementia are still rare and evidence from double blind prospective therapeutic trials is required.

Objective

The primary objective of the present clinical trial (STIM-SD) is to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of a multiday transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) regime on language impairment in patients with semantic dementia. The study also explores the time course of potential tDCS-driven improvements and uses imaging biomarkers which could reflect stimulation-induced neuroplasticity.

Methods

Double-blind sham-controlled randomized study using tDCS applied daily during 10 days, and language/semantic and imaging assessments at 4 time-points: baseline, 3 days, 2 weeks and 4 months after the 10 stimulation sessions. Language/semantic assessments will be applied at the 4 time-points. Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission tomography (FDG-PET), resting-state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (rs-fMRI), T1-weighted images and white matter diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) will be applied at baseline and the two-weeks’ time-point. According to the principle of inter-hemispheric inhibition between left (language-related) and right homotopic regions we will use two stimulation modalities: left-anodal and right-cathodal tDCS over the anterior temporal lobes. Accordingly, the patient population (n=60) will be subdivided into 3 subgroups: left-anodal tDCS (n=20), right-cathodal tDCS (n=20) and sham tDCS (n=20). The stimulation duration will be sustained for 20 minutes at an intensity of 1.59 mA. It will be delivered through 25cm2 round stimulation electrodes (current density of 0.06 mA/cm2) placed over the left and right anterior temporal lobes for anodal and cathodal stimulation, respectively. A group of age, gender and education-matched healthy participants (n=20) will also be recruited and tested to provide normative values for the language/semantic tasks and imaging measures.

Discussion

The study aims at assessing the efficacy of tDCS for language/semantic disorders in semantic dementia. A potential treatment would be easily applicable, inexpensive, and renewable when therapeutic effects disappear due to disease progression.
Translation and validation of the Revised Dental Beliefs Questionnaire (DBS-R) in China
Authors: Wu Lei , Buchanan Heather 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
Background

Patient perceptions of behaviours and attitudes of dentists are associated with dental fear and poor dental attendance in Western countries. However, there is a paucity of research exploring patients' perceptions of the dentist in China. One reason for this may be the lack of a valid and reliable scale in Chinese (Standard Mandarin) to measure this. This study aimed to translate the Revised Dental Beliefs Survey (DBS-R) into Chinese and then explore the reliability and validity of this measure (both the short and longer versions) in a Chinese population.   Methods: We translated the DBS-R using the forwards-backwards method and pilot tested it on a small sample of adults in China. Following this, 480 Chinese adults completed the newly translated scale, as well as well as a standardised dental anxiety questionnaire (the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale Chinese version) to test convergent validity. 109 participants completed the DBS-R again 2 weeks later for test-retest reliability.  Results: Both versions of the Chinese DBS-R were internally consistent, demonstrated convergent validity and test-retest reliability was good.

Conclusion

Although both versions of the scale performed similarly, it is suggested the 28-item version may be the scale of choice as this version has items relating to the technical competence of the dentist which appear important to Chinese adults. Future research in China should test this measure in the clinical context.
Towards standardized clinical training: Developing an integrated clinical curriculum for dental trainees in a hospital of stomatology
Authors: ZHANG Chang-yuan , Chen Fa , Wang Shan-Zhi , Yu Hao , Cheng Hui , Chen Jiang 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
Objective

In order to standardize the teaching criterion and improve the quality of clinical training between different dental trainees, an integrated clinical curriculum was developed since September 2014 in the Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Medical University of China. This article aimed to introduce the development of this curriculum and evaluate the dental trainees’ view on the curriculum.

Methods and analysis

A six-step approach was used to develop the curriculum. Dental trainees (n=142) rated the curriculum with satisfaction scores on a Likert-type scale and answered several open-ended questions. One-way ANOVA and Fisher's exact probabilities were utilized to analyzed satisfaction scores among four types of dental trainees.

Results

The mean satisfaction scores was 7.96 (out of 10). There was no significant difference in satisfaction scores among four types of dental trainees (P=0.209) and between the two genders (P=0.233). 91.55% of the dental trainees reckoned that the curriculum was valuable to their clinical training. There was no significant differences among the four types of dental trainees in terms of helpfulness to promote and standardize their clinical skills training (P=0.828).

Conclusions

The present findings suggest that the dental trainees appreciated the integrated clinical curriculum. This integrated curriculum is considered suitable for current condition of dental clinical training in China.
Effectiveness of flipped classroom combined with team-, case-, lecture- and evidence-based learning on ophthalmology teaching for eight-year program students
Authors: Ding Chun , Li Shengguo , Chen Baihua 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
Background

This study aimed to investigate the benefits and challenges of the flipped classroom combined with team-, case-, lecture- and evidence-based learning (FC-TCLEBL) for ophthalmology teaching for eight-year program students.

Methods

FC-TCLEBL and the traditional lecture-based classroom (LBC) were compared based on student and teacher feedback questionnaires, student learning burden, and scores on standardized tests as well as their effects on the abilities of clinical thinking, scientific research, active-learning, practical application, humanistic care and communication with patients.

Results

Both the students and teachers were more satisfied with the FC-TCLEBL model. More students in the FC-TCLEBL group agreed that the course helped them to develop skills in creative thinking, problem solving, and teamwork. Students in the FC-TCLEBL group spent significantly more time preparing for class than those in the LBC group, but the time spent on review was significantly lower in the FC-TCLEBL group. The students from the FC-TCLEBL group performed better in a post-test on diabetic retinopathy (DR) as compared to the LBC group.

Conclusions

The addition of team-, case-, lecture- and evidence-based learning (TCLEBL) is helpful for improving the flipped classroom (FC) and reducing the student learning burden.
Examination of the Extreme Response Style of Students using IRTree: The Case of TIMSS 2015
Authors: İLGÜN DİBEK Münevver 
Published: June 2019

In the literature, response style is one of the factors causing an achievement-attitude paradox and threatens the validity of the results obtained from studies. In this regard, the aim of this study is two-fold. Firstly, it attempts to determine which item response tree (IRTree) models based on the generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) approach (random intercept, random intercept with the fixed effect of extreme response and random intercept-slope model) best fit the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2015 data. Secondly, it purports to explore how the extreme response style affects students’ attitudes toward mathematics of students. This study is both basic research and descriptive research in terms of seeking for answers for two different research questions. For the sample of this research, 15 countries were randomly selected among countries participated in TIMSS 2015. The students’ responses to items measuring attitude in the student questionnaire were analyzed with the packages “lme4” and “irtrees” in R software. When the model fit indices were evaluated, the random intercept-slope model was found to be the best fit to the data. According to this model, the extreme response style explains a significant amount of variances in the students’ attitude toward mathematics. Additionally, students with a negative attitude toward mathematics were found to have an extreme response style. It was concluded that an extreme response style had an effect on students’ attitude.
Upper echelon characteristics and the use of management control systems: an integrative review
Authors: Teles João , Mendes Alcindo Cipriano Argolo , Lunkes Rogério João 
Published: June 2019

Top management teams use Management Control Systems (MCS) to guide the performances of their subordinates and also the decisions made by them, promoting and implementing strategies based on the organizational behavior. The choices made by upper echelon members can determine how the organizational goals will be achieved by using MCS. This integrative review aims to examine the literature addressing the ways in which upper level executives use Management Control Systems in organizations, highlighting and categorizing the expected linkage between the use of MCS and upper echelons characteristics. The results allowed a synthesis of the theme based on the identification of a taxonomy for top managers’ characteristics that have influenced on MCS usages, as well as some provocative questions as a way of reflection for future researches.
Design and Implementation of SCADA System for Sugar Production Line
Authors: Abdulsattar Noor N. N. , Mustafa Faiz F. , Hadi Suha M. 
Published: June 2019

SCADA is the technology that allows the operator to gather data from one or more various facilities and to send control instructions to those facilities. This paper represents an adaptable and low cost SCADA system for a particular sugar manufacturing process, by using Programmable Logic Controls (Siemens s7-1200, 1214Dc/ Dc/ Rly). The system will control and monitor the laboratory production line chose from sugar industry. The project comprises of two sections the first one is the hardware section that has been designed, and built using components suitable for making it for laboratory purposes, and the second section was the software as the PLC programming, designing the HMI, creating alarms and trending system. The system will have two HMI screens according to the two operating states of system (Automatic and Manual), the operator can choose between them by a selector switch, this method helps the operators when fixing a failure and wanting to check it without operating all the process. The result has accomplished the goals of controlling, the parameters (temperature, flow, humidity) were monitored, failure was detected by an alarm.
Effect of Quenching Media Variations on the Mechanical Behavior of Martensitic Stainless Steel
Authors: Hussein Abbas Kh. , Abbas Laith K. , Hasan Wisam N. 
Published: June 2019

The purpose of this study is designate quenching and tempering heat treatment by using Taguchi technique to determine optimal factors of heat treatment (austenitizing temperature, percentage of nanoparticles, type of base media, nanoparticles type and soaking time) for increasing hardness, wear rate and impact energy properties of 420 martensitic stainless steel. An (L18) orthogonal array was chosen for the design of experiment. The optimum process parameters were determined by using signal-to-noise ratio (larger is better) criterion for hardness and impact energy while (Smaller is better) criterion was for the wear rate. The importance levels of process parameters that effect on hardness, wear rate and impact energy properties were obtained by using analysis of variance which applied with the help of (Minitab18) software. The variables of quenching heat treatment were austenitizing temperature (985 C˚,1060 C˚),a soaking times (50,70 and 90 minutes) respectively, Percentage of volumetric fractions of nanoparticles with three different levels(0.01, 0.03 and 0.08 %) were prepared by dispersing nanoparticles that are (α-Al2O3,TiO2 and CuO) with base fluids (De-ionized water, salt solution and engine oil).The specimens were tempered at 700°C after quenching of nanofluids for (2 hours).The results for ( S/N) ratios showed the order of the factors in terms of the proportion of their effect on hardness, and wear rate properties as follow: Austenitizing temperature ( 1060 C˚),Type of base media (salt solution), Nanoparticles type (CuO), Percentage of nanoparticles (0.08%) and Soaking time(90min) was the least influence while for the impact energy were as follows: Type of base media (oil), Austenitizing temperature (985C˚), Percentage of nanoparticles (0.01%), Nanoparticles type (α-Al2O3) and last soaking time (50min).
Clinical, Hormonal, and Ultrasound Characteristics of Patients with Newly Diagnosed Graves’ Disease And Different Thyroid Antibody Profiles
Authors: Mekova R. , Boyanov M. 
Published: June 2019

Abstract

Objective: Graves’ disease (GD) is characterized by elevated TSH-receptor antibodies (TRAb) and less often – thyroid peroxidase (TPOAb) and thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb). Our aim was to examine the hormonal and ultrasound characteristics of patients with newly diagnosed GD with differing positive thyroid antibodies.

Materials and Methods: This study included 249 patients with newly diagnosed GD (191 women, 58 men). 40.2% of them had Graves’ ophtalmopathy. The serum levels of TSH, free T4, free T3, TRAb, TPOAb, and TgAb were measured with third generation ECLIA assays (Roche Diagnostics, Switzerland). Thyroid ultrasound was performed with a Fukuda-Denshi 550 device (Fukuda Corp., Japan) and an Ultrasonix device (Ultrasonix Medical Corp., Canada). Statistical analyses were done using the SPSS 23.0 statistical package (Chicago, IL).

Results: 64% of the patients were TPOAb+ and 36% − TgAb+. One third were only TRAb+, 1/3 had two positive antibodies (TRAb + second antibody) and 1/3 – all three positive antibodies. Patients with more positive antibodies tended to be younger, had higher fT4, TRAb levels, thyroid volume but rarely had nodules on US and accompanying GO. Positive TPOAb antibodies were found in younger patients, with higher fT4 and TRAb levels, higher thyroid volume and lower prevalence of nodules and GO. The same trends were found in patients with positive TgAb.

Conclusion: The different characteristics of GD patients with varying thyroid antibody profiles may be due to a variation in the pathogenesis of the disease. An individualized clinical approach may be suitable in those cases.
Altered Gabab Receptor Thermoregulatory Function in Rats with Diet-Induced Obesity
Authors: Hristov M. , Yakimova Kr. 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
GABAB receptors are G-protein-coupled receptors, playing a very important role in the regulation of many physiological processes. The GABAB signaling pathway could modulate neurotransmission processes at the level of the preoptic area in the anterior hypothalamus, which is thought to function as the thermoregulatory center. The present study was performed to investigate the effects of GABAB agonists and antagonists on core body temperature of rats with normal weight and diet-induced obesity. The results showed that systemic administration of the GABAB antagonist CGP35348 induced significant hyper-thermia in rats with normal weight, whereas the GABAB agonist baclofen led to a decrease in body temperature. The effects of baclofen and CGP35348 on body temperature were less pronounced in rats with diet-induced obesity compared with those with normal weight. Presently it remains unclear how obesity affects the GABAB receptor function at the level of the central thermoregulatory system.
Early Postoperative Masticatory Efficiency After Surgical Extraction of a Partially Impacted Mandibular Third Molar
Authors: Konstantinova D. , Nenova-Nogalcheva A. , Pechalova P. 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
The extraction of mandibular third molars is a traumatic procedure accompanied by marked clinical symptoms in the postoperative period. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of the removal of a partially impacted mandibular third molar on the masticatory efficiency in patients in the early postoperative period.

Material and methods. A total of 47 participants, divided into two groups, took part in this pilot study. The first group included 33 patients with a mean age of 18.3 years (SD = 0.9 years), defined as the Control group; the second group involved patients with a mean age of 33.3 years (SD = 1.86), referred to as the Clinical group. The masticatory efficiency of the Clinical group patients was objectively double-checked using a Protab® test bite: once during the preliminary examination (prior to extraction of the wisdom tooth) and again 7 days after the surgical removal of the wisdom tooth. A sieve analysis was applied to determine the artificial test bite particle size and size distribution following mastication. Feedback on the Clinical group patients’ assessment of any subjective complaints was obtained through a questionnaire containing two questions considered relevant to patients’ masticatory efficiency. The data from the sieve analysis of each fraction were analyzed using the Statistics Software Package for Epidemiological and Clinical Research (IBM SPSS V.20.00).

Results. The data processing of all parameters tested prior to and after extraction of the wisdom tooth revealed statistically significant differences. Only the duration of chewing after the third molar extraction matched the chewing duration in the healthy control subjects (p = 0.198). The analysis of the feedback on the self-assessment of patients from the Clinical group demonstrated that prior to extraction all subjects (100%) experienced pain to a varying degree, whereas in half of the patients (50%) the pain disappeared following extraction. The Spearman’s test for correlation between mean particle sizes as well as the questionnaire feedback indicated a strong positive relationship with food trapping. Accordingly, the larger mean particle size was linked to the self-assessment of food trapping around the wisdom tooth prior to extraction (Spear-man’s Rho = 0.57, p = 0.032). There was also a correlation between the chewing time and the sensation of pain in the teeth adjacent to the extraction wound. The results suggested that the shorter duration of chewing was associated with a greater sensation of pain (Spear-man’s Rho = -0.61, p = 0.026).

Conclusion. The eruption of mandibular third molars causes difficulties in the masticatory process. A positive trend was observed towards normalizing of the chewing duration following extraction (t = -1.356, p = 0.198).
Shoulder Instability – Results of Different Methods of Treatment
Authors: Matev B. 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
The aim of this study is to present results after different procedures of surgical treatment of the unstable shoulder joint: arthroscopic stabilization; arthroscopic stabilization followed by the operative technique by Matev; the Latarjet procedure in cases with the presence of bone defects. From 2004 to 2017 291 patients aged between 15 and 35 years were operated at the University Hospital “Prof. B. Boychev”, Medical University − Sofia. 247 patients had anterior and 44 − combined shoulder instability. 173 of the patients were active athletes practicing different disciplines. The average age at the time of the first dislocation was 17 years. In 172 patients, the first dislocation occurred without significant trauma, 124 of them had anterior shoulder instability and 48 – combined shoulder instability. In 120 patients with anterior dislocations, there was history of a serious injury during the first accident. The number of dislocations varied between ten and fifteen in all patients. For the same period, 45 patients with significant bone defects requiring open surgery (Latarjet procedure) were operated. Among the patients with bone defects, the dislocations were between 8 and 30 before the first examination. There were 11 patients, who had undergone previous surgery in different hospitals and different number of relaxations after surgery were found. The data were evaluated radiographically and clinically. Functionally, the patients recovered according to a well-established protocol of physiotherapy and the external rotation regained the full range of motion. The patients were able to return to their sports activity. The successful results in all patients show that these combined operative techniques can be the method of choice in the treatment of a greater number of dislocations of the shoulder, especially in people who seek to quickly return to active sport activities.
The Heparanase Inhibitor (Sulodexide) Decreases Urine Glycosaminoglycan Excretion and Mitigates Functional and Histological Renal Damages in Diabetic Rats
Authors: Roshan-Milani S. , Khalilpour J. , Fard A. Abdollahzade 
Published: June 2019

Abstract

Background/objectives: Recent data suggest a role for heparanase in several proteinuric conditions. An increased glomerular heparanase expression is associated with loss of heparan sulfate in the glomerular basement membrane (GBM). The aim of the present study was to investigate the renal effects of heparanase inhibition in a diabetic experimental model.

Methods: Fifteen male Wistar rats (230 ± 20 g) were divided into three groups: 1) controls, 2) diabetics (STZ, 50 mg/kg, dissolved in saline, ip), 3) diabetics + heparanase inhibitor (Sulodexide 1/5 mg/kg per day, gavage). The treatment started on the 21st day, for 21 consecutive days. The rats were kept individually in a metabolic cage (8 AM-2 PM) and urine samples were collected on the 21st and 42nd day. At study end blood, urine and tissue samples were collected for biochemical (blood BUN and Cr, urine GAG and Protein) and histological analyses.

Results: The results of this study showed that the heparanase inhibitor (sulodexide) significantly decreased urine GAG and protein excretion, urine protein/creatinine ratio and serum BUN and Cr in streptozotocin-induced DN in the rats. Pathological changes were significantly alleviated in the DN rats having received the heparanase inhibitor (sulodexide).

Conclusion: Our data suggest that the heparanase inhibitor (sulodexide) is able to protect against functional and histopathological injury in DN.