Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of Two Different Toothbrushes on Plaque Control: A Randomized Clinical Study

Objective: This parallel, randomized, examiner-blind clinical trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy of two different toothbrushes (manual and sonic) on plaque control in adolescents. Material and Methods: This study enrolled 56 volunteers, randomly allocated to two different groups: group A (n = 28) for the manual toothbrush (Curaprox 5460 Ultra Soft ® ) and group B (n = 28) for the sonic toothbrush (Edel White ® ). Mean age was 17.2 ± 1.1 years. A calibrated periodontist performed a periodontal evaluation to assess the presence of plaque with the Turesky Modification of the Quigley Hein Plaque Index (PI) and the gingival inflammation with the Silness & Loe Gingival Index (GI). Adolescents received instructions about the mechanical control of plaque at baseline (T0), with a reexamination after 3 months (T1) and 6 months (T2). Non-parametric Mann Whitney test was used to compare the differences between the two toothbrush groups and the Friedman test was used for the comparisons between times. Results: There has been PI reduction concerning the study times (T0, T1 and T2, p 0.05). As for GI there has been no significant difference between the groups and between the study times (p>0.05). Conclusion: Both toothbrushes were efficient in the control of supragingival plaque (visible biofilm).
Dreaming and consciousness: Testing the threat simulation theory of the function of dreaming.

We tested the new threat simulation theory of the biological function of dreaming by analysing 592 dreams from 52 subjects with a rating scale developed for quantifying threatening events in dreams. The main predictions were that dreams contain more frequent and more severe threats than waking life does; that dream threats are realistic; and that they primarily threaten the Dream Self who tends to behave in a relevant defensive manner in response to them. These predictions were confirmed and the theory empirically supported. We suggest that the threat simulation theory of dreaming may have wider implications for theories about the function of consciousness.
Dial 'A' for Agriculture: A Review of Information and Communication Technologies for Agricultural Extension in Developing Countries

Agriculture can serve as an important engine for economic growth in developing countries, yet yields in these countries have lagged far behind those in developed countries for decades. One potential mechanism for increasing yields is the use of improved agricultural technologies, such as fertilizers, seeds and cropping techniques. Public-sector programs have attempted to overcome information-related barriers to technological adoption by providing agricultural extension services. While such programs have been widely criticized for their limited scale, sustainability and impact, the rapid spread of mobile phone coverage in developing countries provides a unique opportunity to facilitate technological adoption via information and communication technology (ICT)-based extension programs. This article outlines the potential mechanisms through which ICT could facilitate agricultural adoption and the provision of extension services in developing countries. It then reviews existing programs using ICT for agriculture, categorized by the mechanism (voice, text, internet and mobile money transfers) and the type of services provided. Finally, we identify potential constraints to such programs in terms of design and implementation, and conclude with some recommendations for implementing field-based research on the impact of these programs on farmers’ knowledge, technological adoption and welfare.
Power-Efficient Dual-Supply 64kB L1 Caches in a 65nm CMOS Technology

The 64 kB LI caches on the PA6T-1682M SoC CPU are composed of common data and tag structures fabricated in a 65 nm CMOS process and deliver a 1.5 cycle read latency with 32 GB/s bandwidth at 2 GHz. Several features optimize cache performance and power including power-down safe level shifters, streamlined dual-supply bitslices, fine-grain clock gating, and a centralized tag floorplan.
Towards improving the land-surface-atmosphere coupling in the Dutch Atmospheric Large-Eddy Simulation model (DALES)

This report proposes improvements of the land surface model (LSM) used in the turbulence-resolving Dutch Atmospheric Large-Eddy Simulation model (DALES). Important changes include the inﬁltration of precipitation, the parametrization of the soil hydraulic functions and the formulation of the soil water extraction by vegetation roots. The performance of the improved LSM version is validated using ofﬂine simulations and observations from the CESAR meteorological observatory in Cabauw (Netherlands), during the year of 2015. An optimal parameter set for this location set is obtained from both satellite retrievals and in-situ observations. In particular, the seasonal dependence of both the Leaf Area Index (LAI) and the roughness lengths for heat and momentum is prescribed to the model. The ofﬂine simulations determined that the improved version of the LSM is able to model the surface ﬂuxes during the year of 2015 with an accuracy of 10 W/m2. This accuracy was found to be strongly dependent on the chosen land surface parameters such as the LAI, the roughness lengths, the soil textures and the vegetation root proﬁles. Furthermore, the lower boundary for soil water transfer, set to free drainage, was found to cause too much vegetation stress after an extended simulation time. Finally, the LSM is tested in a fully-coupled mode during three different meteorological events observed at the CESAR observatory. Firstly, stratocumulus simulations conﬁrm the importance of the surface evaporation on the development of the stratocumulus layer, which is considerably reduced compared to simulations that assume the surface to be saturated with water. Secondly, the growth of the clear convective boundary layer was found to be greatly affected by the partitioning of the surface ﬂuxes, as the sensible heat ﬂux plays a key role in entrainment. Although the modelled sensible heat ﬂux was found to be in agreement with the observations, the growth of the boundary layer was still substantially underestimated. Lastly, it was found that it is possible to model the main development stages of radiation fog in DALES, despite the fact that the modelled fog layer appears to be too persistent.
Organizational change: insights from Buddhism and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy(ACT)

ABSTRACT Adaptation to change takes longer because of emotions employees experience such as discomfort, anxiety, or grief. Research suggests experiencing rather than avoiding discomfort and experiencing it within the psychological safety of nonjudgment help individuals adapt to change. However, the large literature on resistance to change suggests that avoidance is more common. This paper describes two practices that are effective at allowing for discomfort with nonjudgment, Buddhism and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and proposes that insights from these practices be used to help organizations implement change. Specifically, it is important to view suffering as inherent and accept this suffering as well as to pursue values in the midst of this discomfort using the transcendent self. Implications for the practice and study of organizational change are discussed.
LIMITED ARBITRAGE AND PROFITABLE TRADING : EVIDENCE FROM INSIDER AND FIRM TRANSACTIONS

We examine how insiders and firms trade when arbitrage is limited. When arbitrage is costly (proxied by high idiosyncratic risk), insiders and firms earn higher absolute returns on their trades (insider trading, share repurchases, and seasoned equity offerings) in the following year. Furthermore, they initiate their trades following greater past price movements in the preceding year. These results are not driven by information asymmetry or firm size. Overall, our results are consistent with the idea that insiders and firms compete with outside arbitrageurs in exploiting mispricings and benefit when outside arbitrage is limited. JEL Classification: G11, G12, G14, G32, G35
A Supernova Brane Scan

We consider a "brane world scenario" recently introduced by Dvali, Gabadadze, and Porrati and subsequently proposed as an alternative to a cosmological constant in explaining the current acceleration of the universe. We show that, contrary to these claims, this particular proposal is already strongly disfavored by the available Type Ia supernovae, cosmic microwave background, and cluster data.
Evaluation of Official Western U.S. Seasonal Water Supply Outlooks, 1922–2002

Abstract An analysis was conducted of almost 5000 operational seasonal streamflow forecast errors across the western United States. These forecasts are for 29 unregulated rivers with diversity in geography and climate. Deterministic evaluations revealed strong correspondence between observations and forecasts issued 1 April. Forecasts issued earlier in the season were more uncertain yet remained skillful. The average change in forecast performance between January and April was primarily linked to the climatological seasonal cycle of precipitation: regions with climatologically wet winters and dry springs (e.g., California) showed much more forecast improvement between January and April than did regions with dry winters and wet springs (e.g., western Great Plains, Colorado Front Range). Other climatological factors played a secondary role; for example, mixed rain–snow basins in the Pacific Northwest did not show as significant an improvement in skill versus lead time as might otherwise be expected. Mixed t.
Health Care Transition in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE To examine characteristics of the transition from pediatric to adult care in emerging adults with type 1 diabetes and evaluate associations between transition characteristics and glycemic control. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We developed and mailed a survey to evaluate the transition process in emerging adults with type 1 diabetes, aged 22 to 30 years, receiving adult diabetes care at a single center. Current A1C data were obtained from the medical record. RESULTS The response rate was 53% (258 of 484 eligible). The mean transition age was 19.5 ± 2.9 years, and 34% reported a gap >6 months in establishing adult care. Common reasons for transition included feeling too old (44%), pediatric provider suggestion (41%), and college (33%). Less than half received an adult provider recommendation and <15% reported having a transition preparation visit or receiving written transition materials. The most recent A1C was 8.1 ± 1.3%. Respondents who felt mostly/completely prepared for transition had lower likelihood of a gap >6 months between pediatric and adult care (adjusted odds ratio 0.47 [95% CI 0.25–0.88]). In multivariate analysis, pretransition A1C (β = 0.49, P < 0.0001), current age (β = −0.07, P = 0.03), and education (β = −0.55, P = 0.01) significantly influenced current posttransition A1C. There was no independent association of transition preparation with posttransition A1C (β = −0.17, P = 0.28). CONCLUSIONS Contemporary transition practices may help prevent gaps between pediatric and adult care but do not appear to promote improvements in A1C. More robust preparation strategies and handoffs between pediatric and adult care should be evaluated.
Biologic Roles of Estrogen Receptor-β and Insulin-Like Growth Factor-2 in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) occurs in 10–15% of patients yet accounts for almost half of all breast cancer deaths. TNBCs lack expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors and HER-2 overexpression and cannot be treated with current targeted therapies. TNBCs often occur in African American and younger women. Although initially responsive to some chemotherapies, TNBCs tend to relapse and metastasize. Thus, it is critical to find new therapeutic targets. A second ER gene product, termed ERβ, in the absence of ERα may be such a target. Using human TNBC specimens with known clinical outcomes to assess ERβ expression, we find that ERβ1 associates with significantly worse 5-year overall survival. Further, a panel of TNBC cell lines exhibit significant levels of ERβ protein. To assess ERβ effects on proliferation, ERβ expression in TNBC cells was silenced using shRNA, resulting in a significant reduction in TNBC proliferation. ERβ-specific antagonists similarly suppressed TNBC growth. Growth-stimulating effects of ERβ may be due in part to downstream actions that promote VEGF, amphiregulin, and Wnt-10b secretion, other factors associated with tumor promotion. In vivo, insulin-like growth factor-2 (IGF-2), along with ERβ1, is significantly expressed in TNBC and stimulates high ERβ mRNA in TNBC cells. This work may help elucidate the interplay of metabolic and growth factors in TNBC.
BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF A y INTERFERON-INDUCIBLE CYTOKINE (IP-10)

The cellular immune response is characterized by the complex interaction of many different cells responding to multiple extracellular signals. Activation, proliferation, and directed migration of both local and blood-borne cells is partly regulated by soluble mediators released by cells, referred to collectively as cytokines. IFN-y, a glycoprotein secreted from activated T cells, has potent immunomodulatory activities and is an important activator of the cellular immune response (reviewed in reference 1) . In fact, local intradermal injections of IFN-y have been shown to elicit certain features of the delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction, such as induration, T cell and monocyte infiltration, keratinocyte proliferation, and dermal and epidermal HLA-DR antigen expression (2). To begin to address the molecular mechanisms that underly the biological activity of IFN-y in the immune response, we have isolated and characterized several genes that are induced in human cells by IFN-y (3). The deduced amino acid sequence of one such gene, referred to as IP-10, is predicted to specify a secreted polypeptide of 10 kD (4) . The expression of the IP-10 gene is an early, primary, transient response to IFN-y stimulation of responsive cells. Transcription is induced as early as 30 min after IFN-y treatment of cells and mRNA accumulation peaks by 5 h. IP-10 mRNA is induced >30-fold in a variety of cells, including mononuclear cells and fibroblasts. The primary amino acid sequence of the predicted IP-10 protein demonstrates significant homology to a newly emerging family of chemotactic and mitogenic proteins associated with inflammation and cell proliferation . This family of proteins includes : platelet factor 4 (PF4)' (5); the platelet basic proteins (0thromboglobulin [6] and connective tissue-activating peptide III [7]) ; 9E3, a protein induced by Rous sarcoma virus transformation and associated with proliferating fibroblast monolayers (8); and 310c, a protein induced in leukocytes by the mitogen staphylococcal enterotoxin A (9) . The genomic organization of the IP-10 gene, when compared with the organization of the rat PF4 gene, indicates that these genes evolved from a common ancestor (10). In fact, the
The Influence of Subjects on the Researcher: A Problem in Observing Social Interaction

The literature on the methodology of field research, interviewing, and participant observation has traditionally recognized that the researcher himself is part of the social systerin he studies, and that his own behavior may influence the social behavior he wants to study. Most of this literature deals with the often complex problems of accounting for and minimizing this influence. It includes ways of establishing a role for the researcher that will permit optimal access, gaining cooperation of the subjects, maintaining neutrality and confidences, and minimizing biases from the effects the researcher has on the subjects or social system being studied. Circourel (1964: Ch. II and III) presents a good summary of this literature. We believe that this view overlooks an important methodological concern: the influence of the subjects on the researcher himself and the implications that this has for his research. Since all observational behavior is "social," arousing reactions in those participating, we need to observe not only our subjects but also ourselves as observers to, determine how we react, before we can account for or control the influence of interaction between subject and observer. We want to discuss some of the conditions which occur when the subjects and setting affect he observer, recorder, or experimenter despite his avowed intent not to become emotionally involved.
Increasing adolescent interest in computing through the use of social cognitive career theory

INCREASING ADOLESCENT INTEREST IN COMPUTING THROUGH THE USE OF SOCIAL COGNITIVE CAREER THEORY by Osama Eljabiri While empirical research efforts are sufficient to provide evidence of the role of most constructs in the Social Cognitive Career Theory (S CCT), this dissertation shifts the research focus and finds serious shortcomings in de fining the construct of computer technology learning experiences design. The purpose of this dissertation is to in vestigate whether, and to what extent, the proposed SCCT-enhanced framework can increase selfefficacy and interest of precollege and college students in computer-based tech nology through the newly proposed “Learning Experiences” construct; in particular, wh et er it can reduce the gender gaps. As a result of a comprehensive literature review, the dissertation connects learning, instructional design and career development theorie s in a holistic fashion identifying and synthesizing gaps with corresponding interventions concerning learning experiences. Subsequently, the study carries out an evolutionary re-design of SCCT in multiple iterations with the incorporation of theoretical fi ndings until a revised SCCT framework is proposed utilizing interventions used in best pract ices. Accordingly, eight hypotheses are formulated to answer all research questions. A multi-phase experiment of four rounds is designed to study the impact of the revised “learning experiences” on self-efficacy, ou tc me expectations and technology interest. The data collection process is cumulative in nature with numerous refinements that leads to a scale which is confidently replicat ed for future research and theory evolution with few refinements. Next, an extensive statistical analysis i s conducted to test all hypotheses. All hypothesized relationships between SCCT constructs and technology interest are substantiated, proving the effectiveness of the ref ined learning model. It is concluded that the redefined “learning experiences” construct has three key dimensions with social integration as the most powerful predictor. It is a l o inferred that, while the new combined interventions appear to be more powerful p redictors of pre-college and college student interest in computer technology than variab les derived from SCCT traditional sources, using the new model has a limited impact o n reducing the gender gap; it can be attributed to a time-factor in experimental design. INCREASING ADOLESCENT INTEREST IN COMPUTING THROUGH THE USE OF SOCIAL COGNITIVE CAREER THEORY
Novel Cardioprotective Role of a Small Heat-Shock Protein, Hsp20, Against Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

Background—Heat-shock proteins (Hsps) have been shown to render cardioprotection from stress-induced injury; however, little is known about the role of another small heat-shock protein, Hsp20, which regulates activities of vasodilation and platelet aggregation, in cardioprotection against ischemia injury. We recently reported that increased expression of Hsp20 in cardiomyocytes was associated with improved contraction and protection against &bgr;-agonist–induced apoptosis. Methods and Results—To investigate whether overexpression of Hsp20 exerts protective effects in both ex vivo and in vivo ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, we generated a transgenic (TG) mouse model with cardiac-specific overexpression of Hsp20 (10-fold). TG and wild-type (WT) hearts were then subjected to global no-flow I/R (45 minutes/120 minutes) using the Langendorff preparation. TG hearts exhibited improved recovery of contractile performance over the whole reperfusion period. This improvement was accompanied by a 2-fold decrease in lactate dehydrogenase released from the TG hearts. The extent of infarction and apoptotic cell death was also significantly decreased, which was associated with increased protein ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and reduced caspase-3 activity in TG hearts. Furthermore, in vivo experiments of 30-minute myocardial ischemia, via coronary artery occlusion, followed by 24-hour reperfusion, showed that the infarct region–to–risk region ratio was 8.1±1.1% in TG hearts (n=7), compared with 19.5±2.1% in WT hearts (n=11, P<0.001). Conclusions—Our data demonstrate that increased Hsp20 expression in the heart protects against I/R injury, resulting in improved recovery of cardiac function and reduced infarction. Thus, Hsp20 may constitute a new therapeutic target for ischemic heart diseases.
Clinical Significance

Statement of the Problem: Rapid resolution of active herpes labialis lesions is of great benefit to the patient not only in terms of controlling pain and disfigurement, but in disruption of needed dental treatment. Purpose of the Study: Using three groups, this retrospective study investigated the time required to complete healing and the loss of discomfort. of untreated lesions. All three groups were asked about past experiences with lesions treated using Abreva and/or Viroxyn, and lesions which were left untreated. In addition, 58 participants who had used Viroxyn only responded. Participants were provided standardized responses from which to choose. Results: For both the time to healing and time to loss of discomfort, participants in both the Abreva and Viroxyn groups experienced significant improvements. Relative to the Abreva, Viroxyn provided significant improvement in both outcomes (all t-tests; all p < 0.001). Relative to the Control group, Viroxyn and Abreva offered an 8.0 and 4.0 day reduction in time to healing, respectively. Loss of discomfort occurred within 3.0 days and 1 hour for Abreva and Viroxyn, respectively. Conclusion: Relative to the untreated controls, both Abreva and Viroxyn offered a significant reduction in both the time to healing and time to loss of discomfort. Furthermore, Viroxyn offered a significant reduction relative to Abreva. Providing care to patients with active lesions greatly increases the risk of spread of infection from one site to another and to members of the dental team. Precautions include the use of special personal protective equipment and limiting treatment during active outbreaks to urgent care only. Accordingly, any treatment that shortens healing time for active lesions would contribute significantly to the health and well-being of the patient and the dental team.
Is Ursa Major II the Progenitor of the Orphan Stream

Prominent in the ''Field of Streams''--the Sloan Digital Sky Survey map of substructure in the Galactic halo--is an ''Orphan Stream'' without obvious progenitor. In this numerical study, we show a possible connection between the newly found dwarf satellite Ursa Major II (UMa II) and the Orphan Stream. We provide numerical simulations of the disruption of UMa II that match the observational data on the position, distance and morphology of the Orphan Stream. We predict the radial velocity of UMa II as -100kms{sup -1}, as well as the existence of strong velocity gradients along the Orphan Stream. The velocity dispersion of UMa II is expected to be high, though this can be caused both by a high dark matter content or by the presence of unbound stars in a disrupted remnant. However, the existence of a gradient in the mean radial velocity across UMa II provides a clear-cut distinction between these possibilities. The simulations support the idea that some of the anomalous, young halo globular clusters like Palomar 1 or Arp 2 or Ruprecht 106 may be physically associated with the Orphan Stream.