Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Survival of immediately versus delayed loaded short implants: A prospective case series study

Background To assess and compare survival rates of immediately and delayed loaded short implants (7 mm) in free ends of a partially edentulous jaw with moderate-severe alveolar bone resorption. Material and Methods 24 patients with atrophic edentulous free-ends were included in this prospective study. Four study groups were monitored monthly and their behavior was evaluated: bridges supported only by short implants and mixed short and long implant bridge groups, both with immediate and delayed loading. Failures, bone loss, probing depth and bleeding on probing were evaluated. Results 54 Mk III Shorty TiU and 15 Brånemark System®MK III TiU implants with a length longer than 7mm were included in the study. Twenty-eight implants were inserted following the immediate loading protocol and 26 according a two-stage procedure, depending on the torque value. The cumulative survival rate of short implants was 87% (n=54) after a mean time of 47.72 months (range 33-62 months), showing statistically significant differences related to loading protocol (p=0.047). Short implants immediately loaded had a higher long-term survival rate (96.4%) compared to the other study group (76.9%). Besides, short implants splinted to longer immediately loaded implants presented the highest survival rate (100%). Twenty-five (53.19%) short implants showed a bone loss of less than one millimeter after the follow-up period. Statistically significant differences were found between bleeding on probing, presence of plaque or suppuration and a higher bone loss in both loading protocols (p=0.001). Conclusions Immediate loading of short implants placed on free ends can be considered an option in the treatment protocol of patients with severe bone resorption especially if implants are splinted to others of greater length. Key words: Dental implants, short implants, immediate loading, prospective study, TiUnite surface.
SECURING ORGANIZATIONAL LEGITIMACY: AN EXPERIMENTAL DECISION CASE EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL DISCLOSURES*

This paper explores the role that environmental disclosures might play in producing a legitimating effect on investors within the context of the chemical industry. By way of an experimental decision case it examines effects of negative, and the offsetting effects of positive environmental disclosures surrounding chemical firms’ liabilities for toxic waste site liabilities. The paper outlines the theoretical bases for the process of organizational legitimation, and sets the decision experiment in a detailed historical analysis of the toxic waste problems of the 1970s that led to the enactment of legislation requiring clean up and imposing significant liabilities on chemical firms. How chemical firms and their industry have reacted to the crisis of confidence that has followed their activities is also charted. The results from the decision experiment, which indicate that under some circumstances positive disclosures can restore or repair an organization’s legitimacy, are discussed in the context of the earlier theoretical and historical analysis.
Do Agricultural Market Advisory Services Beat the Market? Evidence from the Corn and Soybean Markets Over 1995-1997

The purpose of this paper is to address two basic performance questions for market advisory services: 1) Do market advisory services, on average, outperform an appropriate market benchmark? and 2) Do market advisory services exhibit persistence in their performance from year-to-year? Data on corn and soybean net price received for advisory services, as reported by the AgMAS Project, are available for the 1995, 1996 and 1997 marketing years. Performance test results suggest that, on average, market advisory services exhibit a small ability to "beat the market" for the 1995 through 1997 corn and soybean crops. This conclusion is somewhat sensitive to the type of performance test and market benchmark considered. The predictability results provide little evidence that future advisory service pricing performance can be predicted from past performance. When services are grouped by performance quantile, some evidence of predictability is found for the poorest performing services, but not for top performing services.
The effect of human resource management practices on firm performance in Russia

Based on 101 foreign firms operating in Russia, the effect of human resource management (HRM) on firm performance in Russia is investigated. This is accomplished by developing and testing a model including HR outcomes (motivation, retention development) as a mediating variable between HRM practices and firm performance. Our study provides some support for the use of HRM outcomes as a mediating variable between HRM practices and firm performance. The results also indicate that non-technical training and high salaries will have a positive impact on HR outcomes managers while job security is the most important predictor of HR outcomes for employees. Thus, our study provides support for the importance of including both managers and non-managers in the same study, but treating them separately. In addition, results indicate a direct positive relationship between managerial promotions based on merit and firm performance for managers and job security and performance non-managers.
An interactive virtual reality simulation system for robot control and operator training

Robotic systems are often very complex and difficult to operate, especially as multiple robots are integrated to accomplish difficult tasks. In addition, training the operators of these complex robotic systems is time-consuming and costly. In this paper a virtual reality based robotic control system is presented. The virtual reality system provides a means by which operators can operate, and be trained to operate, complex robotic systems in an intuitive, cost-effective way. Operator interaction with the robotic system is at a high, task-oriented, level. Continuous state monitoring prevents illegal robot actions and provides interactive feedback to the operator and real-time training for novice users. <<ETX>>
Localization of the Lys, Asp, Glu, Leu tetrapeptide receptor to the Golgi complex and the intermediate compartment in mammalian cells

The carboxyl-terminal Lys-Asp-Glu-Leu (KDEL), or a closely-related sequence, is important for ER localization of both lumenal as well as type II membrane proteins. This sequence functions as a retrieval signal at post-ER compartment(s), but the exact compartment(s) where the retrieval occurs remains unresolved. With an affinity-purified antibody against the carboxyl-terminal sequence of the mammalian KDEL receptor, we have investigated its subcellular localization using immunogold labeling on thawed cryosections of different tissues, such as mouse spermatids and rat pancreas, as well as HeLa, Vero, NRK, and mouse L cells. We show that rab1 is an excellent marker of the intermediate compartment, and we use this marker, as well as budding profiles of the mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) in cells infected with this virus, to identify this compartment. Our results demonstrate that the KDEL receptor is concentrated in the intermediate compartment, as well as in the Golgi stack. Lower but significant labeling was detected in the rough ER. In general, only small amounts of the receptor were detected on the trans side of the Golgi stack, including the trans- Golgi network (TGN) of normal cells and tissues. However, some stress conditions, such as infection with vaccinia virus or vesicular stomatitis virus, as well as 20 degrees C or 43 degrees C treatment, resulted in a significant shift of the distribution towards the trans- TGN side of the Golgi stack. This shift could be quantified in HeLa cells stably expressing a TGN marker. No significant labeling was detected in structures distal to the TGN under all conditions tested. After GTP gamma S treatment of permeabilized cells, the receptor was detected in the beta-COP-containing buds/vesicles that accumulate after this treatment, suggesting that these vesicles may transport the receptor between compartments. We propose that retrieval of KDEL- containing proteins occurs at multiple post-ER compartments up to the TGN along the exocytotic pathway, and that within this pathway, the amounts of the receptor in different compartments varies according to physiological conditions.
Social interactions among paedophiles

The purpose of this study is to explore the range and nature of social interactions among individuals who experience a sustained and compelling attraction towards young adolescents or prepubescent children of either sex. Such an attraction, of course, is prohibited and the target of extensive social controls, legal sanctions and therapeutic efforts. Given the widespread hostility they elicit, paedophiles are generally viewed not only as social outcasts but also as social isolates. This may explain the lack of research on the social networks of paedophiles . Nonetheless, a non-trivial proportion of criminal prosecutions involve multiple codefendants; a number of advocacy groups publicly challenge age of consent laws exist and provide favourable definitions of paedophilia; finally social learning theory typically emphasizes the influence of peer groups in maintaining high recidivism rates and the development of deviant careers. My substantive goal, here, is to analyze the variety of conditions that allow paedophiles to overcome their social isolation, seek each other out and become, as a result, embedded in a deviant quasi-community or social movement.
Online Reconstruction of Structural Information from Datacenter Logs

Well-run datacenter application architectures are heavily instrumented to provide detailed traces of messages and remote invocations. Reconstructing user sessions, call graphs, transaction trees, and other structural information from these messages, a process known as sessionization, is the foundation for a variety of diagnostic, profiling, and monitoring tasks essential to the operation of the datacenter. We present the design and implementation of a system which processes log streams at gigabits per second and reconstructs user sessions comprising millions of transactions per second in real time with modest compute resources, while dealing with clock skew, message loss, and other real-world phenomena that make such a task challenging. Our system is based on the Timely Dataflow framework for low latency, data-parallel computation, and we demonstrate its utility with a number of use-cases and traces from a large, operational, mission-critical enterprise data center.
Does Money Matter? Regression-Discontinuity Estimates from Education Finance Reform in Massachusetts

The paper studies a typical state-level education finance equalization scheme, and considers two questions. First, what fraction of state education aid is spent on schools? And second, does increased educational funding for historically low-spending districts lead to improved student achievement? Estimates based on variation in spending caused by state aid formulas suggest that 50 to 75 cents of each dollar of education aid were spent on schools. Estimates also suggest that increased spending improved 4 th -grade test scores, but show no effect on 8 th -grade test scores. Further analysis shows that increases in 4 th -grade average test scores were associated with improved performance by low-scoring students.
Post Testicular Sperm Maturational Changes in the Bull: Important Role of the Epididymosomes and Prostasomes

After spermatogenesis, testicular spermatozoa are not able to fertilize an oocyte, they must undergo sequential maturational processes. Part of these essential processes occurs during the transit of the spermatozoa through the male reproductive tract. Since the sperm become silent in terms of translation and transcription at the testicular level, all the maturational changes that take place on them are dependent on the interaction of spermatozoa with epididymal and accessory gland fluids. During the last decades, reproductive biotechnologies applied to bovine species have advanced significantly. The knowledge of the bull reproductive physiology is really important for the improvement of these techniques and the development of new ones. This paper focuses on the importance of the sperm interaction with the male reproductive fluids to acquire the fertilizing ability, with special attention to the role of the membranous vesicles present in those fluids and the recent mechanisms of protein acquisition during sperm maturation.
Minimally Invasive Excision of Epidermal Cysts through a Small Hole Made by a CO2 Laser

To improve the cosmetic results of removing epidermal cysts, minimally invasive methods have been proposed. We proposed a new minimally invasive method that completely removes a cyst through a small hole made by a CO2 laser. Twenty-five patients with epidermal cysts, which were 0.5 to 1.5 cm in diameter, non-inflamed, and freely movable, were treated. All of the patients were satisfied with the cosmetic results. This method is simple and results in minimal scarring and low recurrence rates without complications.
Competitividad y acumulación de capacidades tecnológicas en la industria manufacturera mexicana

El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo analizar el comportamiento de las empresas manufactureras mexicanas, a partir de la apertura comercial y la adquisicion de capacidades tecnologicas. En caso de constatarse la adquisicion de tales capacidades, se exploraran sus efectos en las ventajas competitivas de las empresas. Los resultados de un analisis econometrico de datos de panel, nos permiten establecer que con la liberalizacion comercial aumentarian las capacidades tecnologicas de las empresas mexicanas y, por tanto, mejorarian las ventajas competitivas autenticas.
Sensorimotor rhythm-based brain–computer interface training: the impact on motor cortical responsiveness

The main purpose of electroencephalography (EEG)-based brain–computer interface (BCI) technology is to provide an alternative channel to support communication and control when motor pathways are interrupted. Despite the considerable amount of research focused on the improvement of EEG signal detection and translation into output commands, little is known about how learning to operate a BCI device may affect brain plasticity. This study investigated if and how sensorimotor rhythm-based BCI training would induce persistent functional changes in motor cortex, as assessed with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and high-density EEG. Motor imagery (MI)-based BCI training in naïve participants led to a significant increase in motor cortical excitability, as revealed by post-training TMS mapping of the hand muscle's cortical representation; peak amplitude and volume of the motor evoked potentials recorded from the opponens pollicis muscle were significantly higher only in those subjects who develop a MI strategy based on imagination of hand grasping to successfully control a computer cursor. Furthermore, analysis of the functional brain networks constructed using a connectivity matrix between scalp electrodes revealed a significant decrease in the global efficiency index for the higher-beta frequency range (22–29 Hz), indicating that the brain network changes its topology with practice of hand grasping MI. Our findings build the neurophysiological basis for the use of non-invasive BCI technology for monitoring and guidance of motor imagery-dependent brain plasticity and thus may render BCI a viable tool for post-stroke rehabilitation.
The impact of planning delays and other holding costs on housing affordability

Housing affordability is gaining increasing prominence in the Australian socioeconomic landscape, despite strong economic growth and prosperity. It is a major consideration for any new development. However, it is multi-dimensional, has many facets, is complex and interwoven. One factor widely held to impact housing affordability is holding costs. Although it is only one contributor, the nature and extent of its impact requires clarification. It is certainly more multifarious than simple calculation of the interest or opportunity cost of land holding. For example, preliminary analysis suggests that even small shifts in the regulatory assessment period can significantly affect housing affordability. Other costs associated with “holding” also impact housing affordability, however these costs cannot always be easily identified. Nevertheless it can be said that ultimately the real impact is felt by those whom can least afford it - new home buyers whom can be relatively easily pushed into the realms of un-affordability.
A Clustering Approach for Collaborative Filtering Recommendation Using Social Network Analysis

Collaborative Filtering(CF) is a well-known technique in recommender sys- tems. CF exploits relationships between users and recommends items to the active user according to the ratings of his/her neighbors. CF suffers from the data sparsity problem, where users only rate a small set of items. That makes the computation of similarity between users imprecise and consequently reduces the accuracy of CF algorithms. In this article, we propose a clustering approach based on the social information of users to derive the recommendations. We study the application of this approach in two appli- cation scenarios: academic venue recommendation based on collaboration information and trust-based recommendation. Using the data from DBLP digital library and Epin- ion, the evaluation shows that our clustering technique based CF performs better than traditional CF algorithms.
Quality of Life Assessment in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Receiving Interferon Beta-1a: A Comparative Longitudinal Study of Avonex and Its Biosimilar CinnoVex

Background. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease of central nervous system (CNS). MS affects quality of Life (QOL) due to physical disability and other associated problems. Disease-modifying agents like interferon beta (IFNB) have been widely utilized in this patient population; however, their frequency, route of administration, side effects, high cost, and also the question of whether they are truly beneficial for longer-term outcomes and QOL need to be further investigated. Objectives. To assess QOL in patients with multiple sclerosis receiving interferon beta-1a (Avonex or CinnoVex) and in order to compare QOL in groups receiving Avonex and CinnoVex, respectively, also, to evaluate whether the more cost-effective biosimilar form of IFNB (CinnoVex) has the same effect on QOL and can be substituted for Avonex. Methods. We conducted a 30-month, nonrandomized longitudinal study and recruited a total of 92 patients diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS. The patients were distributed in Avonex and CinnoVex groups with 46 patients in each group. Quality of life was assessed by means of MSQOL-54 questionnaire, four times a year, at baseline and at months 4, 8, and 12 of the study. Results. Mean age ± SD was 30.5 ± 8.9 and 32.3 ± 9.0 years in Avonex and CinnoVex groups, respectively, and P value of gender was different (P value : 0.036). The physical health composite scores were 61.8 and 59.8 (P values 0.677 and 0.884) for Avonex and CinnoVex groups, in that order. The results of the study revealed no significant difference between the two groups with regard to physical health, health perception, energy, and role limitations due to physical problems, pain, sexual and social function, and physical health distress scores. Further, interferon therapy did not significantly impact patients' QOL after a year of treatment with either Avonex or CinnoVex. Conclusions. According to the present study, treatment with IFNB (Avonex or CinnoVex) did not affect QOL during a year of therapy. Further studies with longer follow-up periods are required to assess the value of interferons on long-term outcomes and patient's QOL.
Functional Importance of Synaptobrevin and SNAP-25 during Exocytosis of Histamine by Rat Gastric Enterochromaffin-Like Cells

Gastric enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells release histamine upon stimulation with gastrin in a calcium-dependent manner. The intracellular mechanisms and proteins mediating exocytosis of histamine-containing vesicles in ECL cells have not been determined yet. We used immunocytochemistry to show the localization of SNAP-25 (synaptosome-associated protein of 25 kDa) and synaptobrevin VAMP (vesicle-associated membrane protein) in ECL cells of the rat gastric mucosa and in isolated, highly enriched ECL cells, which were identified with an antibody directed against the marker enzyme histidine decarboxylase. Immunoblots of isolated ECL cells demonstrated the presence of SNAP-25, synaptobrevin, synaptophysin, synaptotagmin, and syntaxin. Histamine release from isolated ECL cells permeabilized with 8 microM digitonin (2 min) was stimulated approximately 2.5-fold upon exposure to calcium (30 microM; 10-min incubation). Preincubation with 1 microM tetanus toxin light chain for 15 min attenuated calcium-induced histamine release by 40-50% and almost completely cleaved synaptobrevin. Botulinum neurotoxin A (100 nM) totally blocked calcium-induced histamine release and cleaved SNAP-25. We conclude that synaptobrevin, synaptophysin, synaptotagmin, SNAP-25, and syntaxin are present in gastric ECL cells. Inhibition of histamine secretion by clostridial neurotoxins associated with the cleavage of synaptobrevin and SNAP-25 implicates the functional importance of these proteins in the docking and fusion of histamine vesicles.
Network reconfiguration for loss reduction using Plant Growth Simulation Algorithm

This paper presents Plant Growth Simulation Algorithm (PGSA) for minimum loss configuration of radial distribution network. The algorithm has emerged as a useful optimization tool for handling nonlinear programming problems. The algorithm implements a guiding search direction that changes dynamically as the change of the objective function and does not require any external parameters. The objective in this network reconfiguration problem is to minimize the total real power loss in the distribution system in order to reduce the cost of supplying the electrical power demanded by the loads. The proposed method handles objective function and constraints separately, which averts the trouble to determine the barrier factors. The effectiveness of the proposed method is illustrated through an examples consisting of 16-node radial distribution network for loss minimization.
On Identification and Inference for Direct Effects

Consider the query: Does a binary treatment X have a causal effect on a response Y through a causal pathway that does not involve the intermediate variable M? This query is often rephrased as: Does X have a direct causal effect on Y not through M? Direct effects have been formally defined in three different ways: the controlled direct effects (CDE), the natural direct effects (i.e. pure and total direct effects PDE and TDE), and the principal stratum direct effects (PSDE). In this issue of the journal, Hafeman and VanderWeele (H&V) 7 provide novel minimal or near minimal conditions for identification of the CDE, PDE and TDE but do not consider the PSDE. In this commentary, we review inference for direct effects and the results of H&V. We also review the close relationship between the direct effects literature and the literature on instrumental variables and Mendelian randomization.
What Drives Market Return Predictability?

Market return predictability may be driven by time varying discount rates or changing beliefs of cash flow. We use analyst earnings forecast to separate cash flow and discount rate components of returns and distinguish the source of return predictability by a set of predictive variables commonly used in the literature. The overall evidence is consistent with the idea that the predictive variables capture time varying discount rates. Some variables also predict cash flow component of returns, implying that these predictive variables may capture investors' biases in projecting aggregate future cash flows.