Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of chlorhexidine on bonding durability of different adhesive systems using a novel thermocycling method.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of chlorhexidine on the bonding durability of etch-and-rinse and self-etch adhesive systems using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) thermocycling method. METHODS Twenty freshly extracted intact human third molars were ground and bonded with either an etch-and-rinse adhesive (Single-Bond) or a self-etch adhesive (G-Bond). Specimens were either left untouched or placed in PCR tubes filled with three thermocycling mediums: water, chlorhexidine or silicone oil. Thermocycling (5000 cycles) was done using the PCR programme at temperatures of 5 °C and 55 °C. The microtensile bond strength (μTBS) was evaluated and interfacial nanoleakage was assessed by scanning electron microscopy before and after thermocycling. RESULTS Significant differences were detected among groups kept in different media after thermocycling. For Single-Bond, both the chlorhexidine and silicone oil groups could preserve the μTBS (p < 0.001). For G-Bond, μTBS of the chlorhexidine and water groups were significantly decreased (p < 0.05). No obvious increase in silver deposition was observed in specimens incubated in water after thermocycling, less silver penetration was found in specimens incubated in chlorhexidine. CONCLUSIONS In this experimental model, chlorhexidine was found to preserve bonding durability in Single-Bond but have no significant effects on G-Bond.
Soliton-like Waves on dissipative Toda Lattices

Dissipative soliton-like waves in 1D Toda lattices generated by suitable energy supply from external sources have been studied. Using the general theory of canonical-dissipative systems we have constructed a special canonical-dissipative system whose solution starting from an arbitrarily initial condition decays to a solution of the standard, conservative Toda system. The energy of the final state may be prescribed beforehand. We have also studied the influence of noise and have calculated the distribution of probability density in phase space and the energy distribution. Other noncanonical models of energy input, including nonlinear nearest neighbor coupling and "Rayleigh" friction, have been analyzed. We have shown under what conditions the lattices can sustain the propagation of stable solitary waves and wave trains.
Locally Restricted Compositions IV. Nearly Free Large Parts and Gap-Freeness

We define the notion of $t$-free for locally restricted compositions, which means roughly that if such a composition contains a part $c_i$ and nearby parts are at least $t$ smaller, then $c_i$ can be replaced by any larger part. Two well-known examples are Carlitz and alternating compositions. We show that large parts have asymptotically geometric distributions. This leads to asymptotically independent Poisson variables for numbers of various large parts. Based on this we obtain asymptotic formulas for the probability of being gap free and for the expected values of the largest part and number distinct parts, all accurate to $o(1)$.
The role of the kidney in hypertension.

DESPITE unequivocal evidence that renal function is altered in hypertension, certain important issues are unresolved. The most controversial area is whether the observed changes in renal function are a consequence of hypertension or the primary basis of the disease. Although there is little doubt that the kidney is progressively damaged as a longterm consequence of hypertension, 6 lines of evidence indicate that renal function is altered before the development of the disease and that some form of renal dysfunction is essential for the development and maintenance of hypertension. These studies demonstrate that (1) the kidney plays a dominant role in the long-term control of blood pressure; (2) the induction of every experimental model of hypertension involves some maneuver that reduces renal excretory function, and certain changes, such as reduction of renal medullary blood flow, can be observed before the development of hypertension and in the absence of more global changes
Risk factors for lower extremity fatigue among assembly plant workers.

BACKGROUND Work-related fatigue of the lower extremities is a known cause of lost productivity and significant employer costs. Common workplace solutions to reduce fatigue levels include anti-fatigue matting, shoe orthoses, or sit/stand work stations. However, assessment of these anti-fatigue measures within the workplace has been limited. METHODS This was a cross sectional study in an automotive assembly plant on employees with at least 6 months tenure. Subject data were collected via questionnaires including Likert-scale questions to define fatigue severity. Jobs were evaluated for lower extremity ergonomic exposures via videotaping, pedometers, interviews, and industrial engineering records. RESULTS Lower extremity fatigue at the end of the work day was associated with a higher prevalence of smoking, rheumatoid arthritis, job dissatisfaction, use of shoes with firmer outsoles, and increased time on the job spent standing or walking. Supervisor support and increased time spent on carpet were protective. Lower extremity fatigue that interfered with activities outside of work had additional risk factors including higher BMI, prior diagnosis of osteoarthritis, and increased hours per week spent working. CONCLUSIONS While these results identify carpet as being protective against lower extremity fatigue, no similar relationship was identified for anti-fatigue mats. No adverse relationship was found between hard surfaces such as concrete and lower extremity fatigue. Given the high costs associated with work-related fatigue, future areas for potential intervention include smoking cessation, specific shoe recommendations, and enhancing psychosocial aspects of work such as supervisor support.
Thermal diffusivity and electrical conductivity of electropolymerized polypyrrole films

This article presents measurement of thermal diffusivity and electrical conductivity of polypyrrole films prepared by electropolymerization. Thermal diffusivity was measured by laser radiometry (former flash radiometry). Electrical conductivity was determined by a conventional four-probe method. Increase of thermal diffusivity is observed when increasing the supporting electrolyte concentration, which is also shared with the increase of electrical conductivity. Both thermal diffusivity and electrical conductivity significantly depended on the types of counter anion incorporating into polymer bulk. Thermal diffusivity of polypyrrole film is larger than that for common nonelectrical conductive polymers. Temperature profile of thermal diffusivity for as-grown polypyrrole films shows that thermal diffusivity increases with increasing temperature (first running profile), whereas remeasured temperature profile of thermal diffusivity (second or third running profiles) shows the decrease of thermal diffusivity with increasing temperature. Electrical conductivity monotonically increases until the significant decrease of it occurs at the temperature above 130°C. Investigation of these temperature profiles of thermal diffusivity and electrical conductivity has been made by corresponding to thermal analysis data. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
SOLVING THE JOB SHOP SCHEDULING PROBLEM WITH A PARALLEL AND AGENT-BASED LOCAL SEARCH GENETIC ALGORITHM

Job shop scheduling problems play an important role in both manufacturing systems and industrial process for improving the utilization of resources, and therefore it is crucial to develop efficient scheduling technologies. The Job shop scheduling problem, one of the best known production scheduling problems, has been proved to be NP-hard. In this paper, we present a parallel and agent-based local search genetic algorithm for solving the job shop scheduling problem. A multi agent system containing various agents each with special behaviors is developed to implement the parallel local search genetic algorithm. Benchmark instances are used to investigate the performance of the proposed approach. The results show that the proposed agent-based parallel local search genetic algorithm improves the efficiency.
Effect of adhesive application on the shear bond strength of flowable composite resins and APC plus to orthodontic molar tubes

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of adhesive application on the shear bond strength (SBS) of orthodontic tubes to acid-etched human enamel when using different flowable composite resins and the APC Plus system (APC). Study design: One hundred metal tubes were bonded to human third molars, which were randomly divided into five groups: Tetric EvoFlow (TF); Wave mv Flow (W); Transbond Supreme LV (S); Transbond XT (XT); and APC. For each experimental group, half of the specimens were bonded in combination with Transbond XT adhesive. After 72 h, an SBS test was performed using a universal testing machine. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was run for multiple comparison tests and for comparing the mean SBS among the 10 subgroups to evaluate the effect of both the composite and the adhesive factors. Then, a Student-Newman-Keuls test was used for pairwise comparisons using the highest mean SBS group as reference. Adhesive Remnant Index scores were determined for the teeth after failure and compared by χ 2-test. Two representative molar surfaces from the 10 subgroups were assessed under scanning electron microscope. Results: The application of adhesive did not have a significant effect, but there was a marked tendency toward the influence of the factor composite on SBS. The mean SBS of tubes bonded with XT with adhesive was significantly higher than that of those bonded with APC with adhesive, TF with and without adhesive, and S with adhesive. Conclusion: Flowable composites and the APC system without intermediate bonding resin could be conveniently applied for orthodontic tube bonding.
The methane cycle in ferruginous Lake Matano

In Lake Matano, Indonesia, the world’s largest known ferruginous basin, more than 50% of authigenic organic matter is degraded through methanogenesis, despite high abundances of Fe (hydr)oxides in the lake sediments. Biogenic CH4 accumulates to high concentrations (up to 1.4 mmol L−1) in the anoxic bottom waters, which contain a total of 7.4 × 105 tons of CH4. Profiles of dissolved inorganic carbon (ΣCO2) and carbon isotopes (δ13C) show that CH4 is oxidized in the vicinity of the persistent pycnocline and that some of this CH4 is likely oxidized anaerobically. The dearth of NO3− and SO42− in Lake Matano waters suggests that anaerobic methane oxidation may be coupled to the reduction of Fe (and/or Mn) (hydr)oxides. Thermodynamic considerations reveal that CH4 oxidation coupled to Fe(III) or Mn(III/IV) reduction would yield sufficient free energy to support microbial growth at the substrate levels present in Lake Matano. Flux calculations imply that Fe and Mn must be recycled several times directly within the water column to balance the upward flux of CH4. 16S gene cloning identified methanogens in the anoxic water column, and these methanogens belong to groups capable of both acetoclastic and hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. We find that methane is important in C cycling, even in this very Fe‐rich environment. Such Fe‐rich environments are rare on Earth today, but they are analogous to conditions in the ferruginous oceans thought to prevail during much of the Archean Eon. By analogy, methanogens and methanotrophs could have formed an important part of the Archean Ocean ecosystem.
Optimal Financial Structures and Development : The evolving importance of banks and markets

This paper examines (1) the evolving importance of banks and financial markets during the process of economic development and (2) the association between financial structure—the mixture of banks and markets operating in an economy—and economic development. We find that as economies develop, the services provided by financial markets become comparatively more important than those provided by banks. Moreover, deviations of a country’s actual financial structure from the estimated optimal structure are associated with lower levels of economic activity. Financial structure matters. * Demirguc-Kunt: World Bank; Feyen: World Bank; Levine: Brown University and the NBER. We thank Yona Rubinstein for very helpful comments and Mauricio Pinzon Latorre for outstanding research assistance.
Nonsmooth Analysis, Convex Analysis, and their Applications to Motion Planning

Nonsmooth analysis of a broad class of functions taking the form F(x)=minifi(x), where each fi is a convex function. One element of this class of functions is the distance function, which measures the distance between a point and the nearest point on the nearest obstacle. Many motion planning algorithms are based on the distance function, and thus rigorous analysis of the distance function can provide a better understanding of how to implement traditional motion planning algorithms. Finally, this paper enumerates some useful results in convex analysis.
Floating shoulders: Clinical and radiographic analysis at a mean follow-up of 11 years

Context: The floating shoulder (FS) is an uncommon injury, which can be managed conservatively or surgically. The therapeutic option remains controversial. Aims: The goal of our study was to evaluate the long-term results and to identify predictive factors of functional outcomes. Settings and Design: Retrospective monocentric study. Materials and Methods: Forty consecutive FS were included (24 nonoperated and 16 operated) from 1984 to 2009. Clinical results were assessed with Simple Shoulder Test (SST), Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS), Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE), Short Form-12 (SF12), Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand score (DASH), and Constant score (CST). Plain radiographs were reviewed to evaluate secondary displacement, fracture healing, and modification of the lateral offset of the gleno-humeral joint (chest X-rays). New radiographs were made to evaluate osteoarthritis during follow-up. Statistical Analysis Used: T-test, Mann-Whitney test, and the Pearson's correlation coefficient were used. The significance level was set at 0.05. Results: At mean follow-up of 135 months (range 12-312), clinical results were satisfactory regarding different mean scores: SST 10.5 points, OSS 14 points, SANE 81%, SF12 (50 points and 60 points), DASH 14.5 points and CST 84 points. There were no significant differences between operative and non-operative groups. However, the loss of lateral offset influenced the results negatively. Osteoarthritis was diagnosed in five patients (12.5%) without correlation to fracture patterns and type of treatment. Conclusions: This study advocates that floating shoulder may be treated conservatively and surgically with satisfactory clinical long-term outcomes. However, the loss of gleno-humeral lateral offset should be evaluated carefully before taking a therapeutic option.
Sound Absorption Coefficients Natural Fibre Reinforced Composites

In this Investigation, the influence of two kind of polymers (Urea-formaldehyde and Polypropylene) mixed with natural fibre (Kenaf) were studied for their sound absorption coefficients. Four samples were made; Samples A1 and A2 are made of Kenaf core fibre with adhesive of high emission Urea-formaldehyde resin (HN 100) with 51.6 % solid content. The fabrication of the particle board was done using a hot press for 6 minutes under the pressure of 40 Ton at 180°C for different fibre lengths 1 mm (Sample A1) and 0.6 mm (Sample A2) with weight fraction of 80%. Sample B1 and B2 are made of Kenaf core fibre with polypropylene matrix materials with coupling agent of polyvinyl alcohol. The fabrication of the sample was done using hot press for 30 minutes under the pressure of 1000 Psi at 180°C for different lengths of 1 mm (Sample B1) and 0.6 mm (Sample B2) with weight fraction of 20%. The sound absorption coefficients of samples were measured according to American society for Testing Materials (ASTM E1050 10) two microphone method. It is evident that type of polymer influences the sound absorption coefficients.
Prevention of Infection in Critically Ill Patients by Selective Decontamination of the Digestive Tract

OBJECTIVE To determine whether selective decontamination of the digestive tract using oral and nonabsorbable antimicrobial agents and parenteral cefotaxime prevents infection in critically ill patients. DESIGN Randomized, controlled trial without blinding. SETTING Surgical trauma and medical intensive care units in a tertiary referral hospital. PATIENTS One hundred fifty patients admitted to surgical trauma and medical intensive care units during a 3-year interval, whose condition suggested a prolonged stay (greater than 3 days). INTERVENTION Patients were randomly allocated to an experimental group (n = 75) that received cefotaxime, 1 g intravenously every 8 hours for the first 3 days only, and oral, nonabsorbable antibiotics (gentamicin, polymyxin, and nystatin by oral paste and oral liquid) for the entire stay in the intensive care unit. Control patients (n = 75) received usual care. MEASUREMENTS The number of infections, total hospital days, and deaths, as well as the number of days in intensive care unit, were recorded. RESULTS Control patients experienced more infections (36 compared with 12, P = 0.04), including bacteremias (14 compared with 4, P = 0.05) and pulmonary infections (14 compared with 4, P = 0.03). Although total hospital days, days in intensive care, and the overall death rate all were lower in the treatment group, these differences were not statistically significant. Clinically important complications of selective decontamination of the digestive tract were not encountered. CONCLUSIONS Selective decontamination of the digestive tract decreases subsequent infection rates, especially by gram-negative bacilli, in selected patients during long-term stays in the intensive care unit.
“Spinal Irritation” and Fibromyalgia: A Surgeon General and the Three Graces

hammer the vertebrae, as he before pressed them. In this way it very rarely happens but that he at last succeeds in ﬁnding some sensitive spot, which he can assume to be the seat of the disease. He now feels it a clear duty to apply leeches to the culprit vertebra, or mercurial inunction, or a blister, or an issue or seton [a few silk threads inserted into a surgical incision in the skin, to excite pus], and strictly enjoins perfect quiet and the recumbent position (26).
Learning styles favoured by professional, amateur, and recreational athletes in different sports

Abstract The aim of this study was to characterize the learning styles of different groups of athletes grouped according to level of performance and sport. Seventy-one male athletes completed a questionnaire on learning styles at the beginning of the 2008–2009 training season. Learning styles were assessed using the Honey-Alonso Learning Styles Questionnaire, and were also converted into learning styles described by Kolb. The Honey-Alonso learning styles were compared among the various groups using one-way analysis of variance, and the Kolb learning styles that were most favoured using a chi-square test. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to verify the relationships between variables. No significant differences were observed in learning styles between different sports and physical activities. Years of experience did not correlate strongly with learning styles. With respect to level of performance, the pragmatic component was significantly lower in professional athletes than amateur and recreational athletes. These characteristics of learning styles preferred by the athletes should help coaches and physical trainers to reflect on their role as educators in the context of planning sports training.
My robotic doppelgänger - a critical look at the Uncanny Valley

The Uncanny Valley hypothesis has been widely used in the areas of computer graphics and Human-Robot Interaction to motivate research and to explain the negative impressions that participants report after exposure to highly realistic characters or robots. Despite its frequent use, empirical proof for the hypothesis remains scarce. This study empirically tested two predictions of the hypothesis: a) highly realistic robots are liked less than real humans and b) the highly realistic robot's movement decreases its likeability. The results do not support these hypotheses and hence expose a considerable weakness in the Uncanny Valley hypothesis. Anthropomorphism and likeability may be multi-dimensional constructs that cannot be projected into a two-dimensional space. We speculate that the hypothesis' popularity may stem from the explanatory escape route it offers to the developers of characters and robots. In any case, the Uncanny Valley hypothesis should no longer be used to hold back the development of highly realistic androids.
Arabidopsis Gene and cDNA Encoding Cell-Wall Invertase

Suc is the final product of photosynthesis, but before it can be utilized it must be cleaved into hexoses either by invertase (0-fructofuranosidase, EC 3.2.1.26) or by SUC synthase (EC 2.4.1.13). There are three recognized types of invertase present in plant cells: soluble neutra1 invertase, soluble acid invertase, and insoluble cell-wall acid invertase. Invertase genes encoding cell-wall and vacuolar (soluble) acid invertases have been characterized from Daucus carota (Ramloch-Lorenz et al., 1993) and from Lycopersicon (either esculentum or pimpinellifollium, Elliott et al., 1993), respectively. So far, no invertase gene from Arabidopsis thaliana has been isolated. We report here the characterization of a cell-wall invertase gene from A. thaliana and its cognate cDNA. A genomic fragment containing Atbfructl was identified by screening a genomic library (EMBL3, Clontech, Palo Alto, CA) with a 1kb fragment from a cDNA encoding a cell-wall invertase in D. carota (Sturm and Chrispeels, 1990). The Atbfructl cDNA clone was identified by screening an A. thaliana cDNA library with exon 3 of the Atbfructl gene. The genomic clone Atbfructl is 4237 bp in size (Table I). Alignment of the Atbfructl gene sequence with that from its cognate cDNA showed the presence of seven exons. The organization of the gene is similar to that of invertase genes in D. carota (Ramloch-Lorenz et al., 1993) andL. esculentum (Elliott et al., 1993), but the size of the introns is significantly smaller in A. thaliana. In Atbfructl and both tomato genes, exon 2 is only 9 bp long and encodes part of a highly conserved region found in a11 known invertase proteins (NDPNG). By way of contrast, in the D. carota gene this short nucleotide sequence is included in exon 1. There is one conflict between the gene sequence and the cDNA sequence: the third base in the codon coding for ArgS1' is a T in the gene and a C in the cDNA. The cDNA clone Atbfructl is 1947 bp in size with an open reading frame of 1755 bp coding for a protein of 584 residues.
Symmetry breaking of the flow in a cylinder driven by a rotating end wall

The flow driven by a rotating end wall in a cylindrical container with aspect ratio H/R52.5 is time dependent for Reynolds numbers Re 5VR/n.2700. For Reynolds numbers up to 4000 three solution branches have been identified, and we examine a solution on each one. At Re 53000, the flow is axisymmetric and time periodic. At Re 53500, the flow is quasiperiodic with a low-frequency modulation and supports a modulated rotating wave with azimuthal wave number k55. At Re54000, the flow is time periodic with a qualitatively different mode of oscillation to that at Re53500. It also supports a modulated rotating wave, with k56. The peak kinetic energy of the nonaxisymmetric modes is associated with the jet-like azimuthal flow in the interior. © 2000 American Institute of Physics. @S1070-6631 ~00! 00311-1#