The Ames dwarf (df/df) mice have extended longevity and can preserve the ovarian reserve longer than Normal (N) mice. Based on this, the aim of our study was to evaluate the ovarian microRNA (miRNA) profile in young and aged df/df and N mice. Ovarian tissue was collected at 5-6 months and at 21-22 months of age for miRNA sequencing. We detected a total of 404 miRNAs in the ovarian samples, from...

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic accuracy of a new chair-side test, determination of lactic-acid production on the tongue, for caries-risk assessment according to caries increment within two years. METHODS 35 children (6-8 years old) participated in the study. The past caries experience (df-t1, DF-T1), caries at second deciduous molars (df-2.mol), approximal plaqu...

Probiotic strains have been reported to have the ability to control allergic and inflammatory diseases. In this study, we studied the inhibitory effect of Bacillus subtilis (natto) (BS) on atopic dermatitis. The effects of continuous oral administration of BS for 4 weeks on the development of atopic dermatitis induced by Dermatophagoides farinae body antigen (DF) in NC/Nga (NC) mice were evalua...

Ames dwarf (df) is an autosomal recessive mutation characterized by severe dwarfism and infertility. This mutation provides a mouse model for panhypopituitarism. The dwarf phenotype results from failure in the differentiation of the cells which produce growth hormone, prolactin, and thyroid stimulating hormone. Using the backcross (DF/B-df/df X CASA/Rk) X DF/B-df/df, we confirmed the assignment...

Mobile receivers can benefit from an increased spatial diversity through cooperation. Two relaying techniques are typically used : either Amplify and Forward (AF) or Decode and Forward (DF). This contribution presents a new technique which combines the main advantages of both AF and DF. This technique amounts to a DF scheme where all operations are performed in a soft-input soft-output fashion....

Background: Diabetic foot (DF) disease causes severe suffering around the world, and appropriate self-care activities are needed to prevent and treat this condition. However, all too often, self-care activities are less than optimal and clinicians find themselves unable to influence them in a positive direction. Clinicians' and researchers' mental models of the DF tend to be dichotomous: either...

BACKGROUND Altered somatotrophic signaling is among the most important potential mechanisms of extended longevity. Ames dwarf (df/df) mice are homozygous for mutation at the Prop-1 gene, leading to a lack of growth hormone (GH), prolactin and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Mice homozygous for targeted disruption of the growth hormone receptor/growth hormone binding protein gene are known as...

Objectives To examine depression and suicidal behaviour and associated factors in a sample of medical students in Portugal. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study design of 456 native Portuguese medical students from the 4th and 5th year at the University of Lisbon. Participants answered a self-report survey including questions on demographic and clinical variables. Statistical analyses...

n this work we examine blind adaptive and iterative decision feedback (DF) receivers for direct sequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) systems in frequency selective channels. Code-constrained minimum variance (CMV) and constant modulus (CCM) design criteria for DF receivers based on constrained optimization techniques are investigated for scenarios subject to multipath. Computational...

CONTEXT In clinical practice, the range of motion (ROM) of the non involved side often serves as the reference for comparison with the injured side. Previous investigations of non-weight-bearing (NWB) ankle dorsiflexion (DF) ROM measurements have indicated bilateral symmetry for the most part. Less is known about ankle DF measured under weight-bearing (WB) conditions. Because WB and NWB ankle D...