Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of surface preparation on fracture load of resin composite-based repairs

The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the fracture load of composite-based repairs to fractured zirconium oxide (Z) crowns and to ceramic-fused-to-metal (CM) crowns, comparing different mechanical surface preparation methods. A total of 75 crowns were repaired; samples then underwent dynamic loading and thermocycling. Final fracture load values for failure of the repaired crowns were measured and the type of fracture registered. Group I: CM: Surface preparation with a diamond bur + 9.5% Hydrofluoric Acid (HF) etching; Group II): CM: air-particle (Al2O3) + 9.5% HF; Group III: CM: Silica coating (SiO2); Group IV): Z: air-particle (Al2O3) + HF 9.5%; Group V) Z: Silica coating (SiO2). Of the three CM groups, Group I (CM-diamond bur) showed the highest mean failure value, with significant difference in comparison with Group III (CM-silica coating). For the zirconia groups, the highest value was obtained by Group V (silica coating). Key words:Crown, ceramic-fused-to-metal, zirconia, resin-composite, ceramic covering.
Design of a personalized r-learning system for children

This paper introduces the r-learning (robot-learning) system that utilizes robotic interactions to personalize instructions for individual children. A child who is not familiar with using an educational tool to study could learn readily from educational contents through various interactions with a robot which is based on the behavior control. The contents which are chosen according to a child's learning data extracted by analysis from human-robot interaction data could lift the educational effectiveness. An r-learning scenario is designed by using Petri net to handle exception occurred in a learning process. The robot contents maker and the Open API for operating a robot are described as management utilities for a personalized r-learning system.
Association of HDL-Related Loci with Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Plasma Lutein and Zeaxanthin: the Alienor Study

Background Several genes implicated in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) metabolism have been reported to be associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Furthermore, HDL transport the two carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin, which are highly suspected to play a key-role in the protection against AMD. The objective is to confirm the associations of HDL-related loci with AMD and to assess their associations with plasma lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations. Methods Alienor study is a prospective population-based study on nutrition and age-related eye diseases performed in 963 elderly residents of Bordeaux, France. AMD was graded according to the international classification, from non-mydriatic colour retinal photographs. Plasma lutein and zeaxanthin were determined by normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The following polymorphisms were studied: rs493258 and rs10468017 (LIPC), rs3764261 (CETP), rs12678919 (LPL) and rs1883025 (ABCA1). Results After multivariate adjustment, the TT genotype of the LIPC rs493258 variant was significantly associated with a reduced risk for early and late AMD (OR=0.64, 95%CI: 0.41-0.99; p=0.049 and OR=0.26, 95%CI: 0.08-0.85; p=0.03, respectively), and with higher plasma zeaxanthin concentrations (p=0.03), while plasma lipids were not significantly different according to this SNP. Besides, the LPL variant was associated with early AMD (OR=0.67, 95%CI: 0.45-1.00; p=0.05) and both with plasma lipids and plasma lutein (p=0.047). Associations of LIPC rs10468017, CETP and ABCA1 polymorphisms with AMD did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion These findings suggest that LIPC and LPL genes could both modify the risk for AMD and the metabolism of lutein and zeaxanthin.
Implementing a Theory of Attachment : A Simulation of the Strange Situation with Autonomous Agents

This paper presents a number of autonomous agent simulations as theories of infant attachment. In particular, the simulations model the behaviour of one year old human infants observed in Strange Situation studies. A key question this study is attempting to answer is, for a normal population of infants, why do responses tend to cluster into three groups of similar response? In addition this work explores what architectural mechanisms underlie the ability to switch goals, learn different predispositions to hold goals and learn about the effectiveness of different actions. Simulations are described that provide explanations of these phenomena. Computational experiments were carried out to investigate the relative effects of two learning mechanisms. Firstly, infants learned about their attachment relationships solely from carer responses in episodes when they experience anxiety. Secondly, infants learned solely from episodes where they experience warmth or rejection in a non-anxious environment. Results show that learning from episodes where anxiety was experienced causes greater clustering of responses. This result explains the clustering phenomena at a high level of explanation that is independent of any low level physiological implementation.
B Cell Response to Surface IgM Cross-Linking Identifies Different Prognostic Groups of B-Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Patients 1

On the basis of responses to surface IgM (sIgM) cross-linking, B cells from 41 patients with B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia were categorized as 15 nonresponders (group I) and 26 responders (group II). The latter cases were subclassified as those seven where proliferation was induced (subgroup IIa) and the remaining 19 in whom apoptosis occurred (subgroup IIa). Signal disruption in group I was confirmed by the absence of Ca2+ mobilization. Activation of PI3K was constitutive in subgroup IIa, but not in subgroup IIb, and that of Akt induced by anti-μ in subgroup IIa, but not in subgroup IIb. Among the MAPK, ERK was more highly activated relative to p38 in subgroup IIa, whereas activation of p38 predominated over that of ERK in subgroup IIb. For subgroup IIb cells, based on tyrosine phosphorylation and translocation into lipid rafts, sIgM signaling was shown to be enhanced by Zap70. The different consequences of signaling through sIgM were associated with biological prognosis indicators. These included high levels of CD38, lack of mutations in the IgVH chain genes, preferential usage of full-length CD79b, and severe clinical stage. Thus, modification of sIgM-induced signaling could be a therapeutic approach.
Integrated crustal–geological cross-section of Ellesmere Island

Abstract The crustal seismic velocity model (based on receiver functions) of Ellesmere Island and the structural geological cross-section of Ellesmere Island, both documented and discussed elsewhere in this volume, are here integrated into a crustal-scale transect crossing all the main tectonic domains. The velocity model satisfies much of the observed gravity field, but implies minor modifications with potentially important implications for characterizing the lower crust over the transect. The crust of the Pearya Terrane includes a high-velocity and high-density lower crustal body, suggested to represent a mafic underplate linked to the emplacement of the High Arctic Large Igneous Province. A similar body also lies directly beneath the Hazen Plateau, but this is more likely to be inherited from earlier tectonic stages than to be linked to the High Arctic Large Igneous Province. A large-scale basement-involving thrust, possibly linked to a deep detachment of Ellesmerian age, lies immediately south of the Pearya Terrane and forms the northern backdrop to a crustal-scale pop-up structure that accommodates Eurekan-aged shortening in northern Ellesmere Island. The thickest crust and deepest Moho along the transect are below the Central Ellesmerian fold belt, where the Moho is flexured downwards to the north to a depth of about 48 km beneath the load of the structurally thickened supracrustal strata of the fold belt.
Preliminary study on mosquito repellent and mosquitocidal activities of Ocimum gratissimum (L.) grown in eastern Nigeria.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES The study examined the mosquito-repellent and mosquitocidal activities of the volatile oil of Ocimum gratissimum at three different locations (World Bank Estate, Ihitte and Umuekunne) in Imo State, eastern Nigeria, with the purpose of sourcing for mosquito repellent that is cheap, abundant, environment and user-friendly. METHODS Four different lotions; 20% (v/v) and 30% (v/v) concentrations each of the extracted volatile oil in two natural oil bases (olive and palm kernel) were made and six volunteered human baits were used to evaluate the mosquito repellent and mosquitocidal activities of the stock materials at the three different centres from September to November 2008. RESULTS Topical application of each of the four different lotions significantly (p <0.05) reduced the biting rate of mosquitoes in all the three locations tested. The 30% (v/v) concentration in olive oil base exhibiting highest average percentage repellencies of 97.2, 95.7 and 96.3% at World Bank Estate, Ihitte and Umuekunne centres respectively while the 20% (v/v) concentration in palm kernel oil base had the least repellency of 36.3, 41.6 and 36.3%, respectively. The other two formulations had values ranging from 67.8 to 80% in the three locations. The 30% (v/v) concentration in both olive and palm kernel oil bases afforded all night protection against mosquito bites in all the centres, and demonstrated fast knockdown and paralyzing effect on few mosquitoes at the urban centre (World Bank Estate). INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION The study confirms that O. gratissimum grown in eastern Nigeria has mosquito-repellent and mosquitocidal potentials and the formulations could be used to reduce human-mosquito contacts and hence mosquito-borne diseases and irritations caused by their bites.
RECVid 2011 Experiments at Dublin City University

This year the iAd-DCU team participated in three of the assigned TRECVid 2011 tasks; Semantic Indexing (SIN), Interactive Known-Item Search (KIS) and Multimedia Event Detection (MED). For the SIN task we presented three full runs using global features, local features and fusion of global, local features and relationships between concepts respectively. The evaluation results show that local features achieve better performance, with marginal gains found when introducing global features and relationships between concepts. With regard to our KIS submission, similar to our 2010 KIS experiments, we have implemented an iPad interface to a KIS video search tool. The aim of this year’s experimentation was to evaluate different display methodologies for KIS interaction. For this work, we integrate a clustering element for keyframes, which operates over MPEG-7 features using k-means clustering. In addition, we employ concept detection, not simply for search, but as a means of choosing most representative keyframes for ranked items. For our experiments we compare the baseline non-clustering system to a clustering system on a topic by topic basis. Finally, for the first time this year the iAd group at DCU has been involved in the MED Task. Two techniques are compared, employing low-level features directly and using concepts as intermediate representations. Evaluation results show promising initial results when performing event detection using concepts as intermediate representations.
The Perceptual Maze Test Revisited: Evaluating the Difficulty of Automatically Generated Mazes

The Elithorn perceptual maze test is widely used in clinical research and practice. However, there is little evidence of its psychometric properties, and its application is limited by the technical difficulty of developing more mazes. The current research aims to adopt a rigorous approach to evaluate 18 mazes that were automatically generated by a novel R software package. Various item response theory models were employed to examine the difficulty parameters. The findings suggested that the data best fitted the Rasch model. The linear logistic test model revealed meaningful contribution to the sources of maze difficulty. Additionally, the linear logistic test model plus error was considered the most parsimonious model. The Automatic Perceptual Maze Test was moderately correlated with a nonverbal intelligence test. By introducing more mazes to provide adequate information on participants’ ability at all levels, the Automatic Perceptual Maze Test promises future clinical and research utility for the study of cognitive performance.
Quality of life of children with attention-deficit/hyper activity disorder.

OBJECTIVE Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has an impact on children and families. The purpose of this study was to assess the health-related quality of life between school-age children with ADHD compared with those without physical or mental disorders. MATERIAL AND METHOD Self- and parent-reports describing the quality of life, covering 4 domains: physical, emotional, social, and school functioning, were obtained from 46 children with ADHD and 94 control children. At the time of the study, 17 of 46 children reported receiving medication for ADHD. RESULTS After controlling for age and demographic background, both children with ADHD and their parents reported having a significantly lower quality of life score than controls and their parents. Children with ADHD also reported themselves to have a significantly low physical score, despite their physically healthy status. CONCLUSION Children with ADHD had impairment of their quality of life in the physical and psychosocial domains. Improvement of health-related quality of life should be integrated in the overall planning of the treatment goals.
Experimental results and discussion of imaging with a wire medium for MRI imaging applications

This paper presents an analysis and experimental results for a channeling wire medium. In order to validate the behavior of wire media lens, an experiment has been driven in medical context. A straight wires lens designed to work at magnetic resonance imaging frequency (123 MHZ for 3T magnetic field) is designed and tested. Results are very positive, since the lens allows to transmit images without deformation. The influence of the geometry of the lens, and on the image canalization, is studied. For various geometries, the lens is able to transmit images and concentrate fields.
Decline of suitable habitats andconservation of the endangeredlion-tailed macaque: land-cover changeat a proposed protected area in Sirsi–Honnavara, Western Ghats, India

Habitat fragmentation, loss of habitat and other anthropogenic activities have caused a population decline in many species, caused restriction in their distribution or even led to their local extinction. We attempted to understand the impact of such pressures on the newly identified and possibly the largest population of the endangered lion-tailed macaque, Macaca silenus in the Reserve Forests of Sirsi and Honnavara, Karnataka, using a temporal series of satellite images. Classified images showed a major increase in open area with a rapid decline in vegetation cover of about 11.5% in the wet evergreen forests over the last decade, amounting to a loss at the rate of 1.9% per year. We thus consider habitat protection and restoration of evergreen forest as the top priority along with the enforcement of conservation steps, including legal action against encroachment, extraction of timber and further fragmentation, to protect this critically important habitat of the lion-tailed macaque.
The Naturally Processed CD95L Elicits a c-Yes/Calcium/PI3K-Driven Cell Migration Pathway

Patients affected by chronic inflammatory disorders display high amounts of soluble CD95L. This homotrimeric ligand arises from the cleavage by metalloproteases of its membrane-bound counterpart, a strong apoptotic inducer. In contrast, the naturally processed CD95L is viewed as an apoptotic antagonist competing with its membrane counterpart for binding to CD95. Recent reports pinpointed that activation of CD95 may attract myeloid and tumoral cells, which display resistance to the CD95-mediated apoptotic signal. However, all these studies were performed using chimeric CD95Ls (oligomerized forms), which behave as the membrane-bound ligand and not as the naturally processed CD95L. Herein, we examine the biological effects of the metalloprotease-cleaved CD95L on CD95-sensitive activated T-lymphocytes. We demonstrate that cleaved CD95L (cl-CD95L), found increased in sera of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients as compared to that of healthy individuals, promotes the formation of migrating pseudopods at the leading edge of which the death receptor CD95 is capped (confocal microscopy). Using different migration assays (wound healing/Boyden Chamber/endothelial transmigration), we uncover that cl-CD95L promotes cell migration through a c-yes/Ca2+/PI3K-driven signaling pathway, which relies on the formation of a CD95-containing complex designated the MISC for Motility-Inducing Signaling Complex. These findings revisit the role of the metalloprotease-cleaved CD95L and emphasize that the increase in cl-CD95L observed in patients affected by chronic inflammatory disorders may fuel the local or systemic tissue damage by promoting tissue-filtration of immune cells.
Regulation of epidermal differentiation by a Distal-less homeodomain gene

The Distal-less-related homeodomain gene Dlx3 is expressed in terminally differentiated murine epidermal cells. Ectopic expression of this gene in the basal cell layer of transgenic skin results in a severely abnormal epidermal phenotype and leads to perinatal lethality. The basal cells of affected mice ceased to proliferate, and expressed the profilaggrin and loricrin genes which are normally transcribed only in the latest stages of epidermal differentiation. All suprabasal cell types were diminished and the stratum corneum was reduced to a single layer. These data indicate that Dlx3 misexpression results in transformation of basal cells into more differentiated keratinocytes, suggesting that this homeoprotein is an important regulator of epidermal differentiation.
Succeeding with Building Information Modeling: A Case Study of BIM Diffusion in a Healthcare Construction Project

Technological innovations such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) offer opportunities to improve collaborative work and integration in the architecture, engineering and construction industry. However, research to date has documented how many organizations struggle with how to work based on this new technology, and many implementations fail. In this paper we present a case study of a major healthcare construction project in which the use of BIM was paramount, and where designers claim to have succeeded in integrated design. The designers organized their digital collaboration by establishing 1) change agents; 2) a cloud computing infrastructure; 3) new roles and responsibilities; 4) BIM contracts; 5) an IS learning environment; and 6) by involving software developers. These factors have been identified as influential for the successful diffusion of BIM in this project, and may serve as an example for implementation of BIM in other projects for supporting integrated design.
Blind speech dereverberation with multi-channel linear prediction based on short time fourier transform representation

It has recently been shown that the use of the time-varying nature of speech signals allows us to achieve high quality speech dereverberation based on multi-channel linear prediction (MCLP). However, this approach requires a huge computing cost for calculating large covariance matrices in the time domain. In addition, we face the important problem of how to combine the speech dereverberation efficiently with many other useful speech enhancement techniques in the short time Fourier transform (STFT) domain. As the first step to overcoming these problems, this paper presents methods for implementing MCLP based speech dereverberation that allow it to work in the STFT domain with much less computing cost. The effectiveness of the present methods is confirmed by experiments in terms of the recovered signal quality and the computing time.
Pleural fluid pH as a predictor of pleurodesis failure: analysis of primary data.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To determine the predictive accuracy of pH for identifying patients with malignant pleural effusions who will fail pleurodesis. DESIGN Analysis of published and unpublished individual patient-level data retrieved from a MEDLINE search and correspondence with primary investigators. STUDY SELECTION Studies that reported pleural fluid pH values and outcomes of pleurodesis for patients with malignant pleural effusions. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Primary investigators supplied data for 433 patients. Receiver operating characteristic analysis and logistic regression estimated the predictive accuracy, decision thresholds, and value of pleural fluid pH compared with other clinical factors. The primary investigations were graded for study design. RESULTS Pleural fluid pH was the only independent predictor of pleurodesis failure (odds ratio, 4.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.69 to 7.45; p < 0.0001) and had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (decision threshold, < or = 7.28) of 0.671 (95% CI, 0.624 to 0.715). The pH model fit the data well (p = 0.48) with the probability of pleurodesis failure increasing as pH decreased; specificity and negative predictive values for pleurodesis failure exceeded 90% and 80%, respectively, with a positive predictive value of 45.7% at pH values < or = 7.15. The primary studies had several important design limitations. CONCLUSIONS Using patient-level data, this study showed that pleural fluid pH has only modest predictive value for predicting symptomatic failure and should be used with caution, if at all, in selecting patients for pleurodesis. The limitations of the primary studies and low predictive accuracy should be considered when using pleural fluid pH for patient care.
Neural Correlates of Visual Aesthetics – Beauty as the Coalescence of Stimulus and Internal State

How do external stimuli and our internal state coalesce to create the distinctive aesthetic pleasures that give vibrance to human experience? Neuroaesthetics has so far focused on the neural correlates of observing beautiful stimuli compared to neutral or ugly stimuli, or on neural correlates of judging for beauty as opposed to other judgments. Our group questioned whether this approach is sufficient. In our view, a brain region that assesses beauty should show beauty-level-dependent activation during the beauty judgment task, but not during other, unrelated tasks. We therefore performed an fMRI experiment in which subjects judged visual textures for beauty, naturalness and roughness. Our focus was on finding brain activation related to the rated beauty level of the stimuli, which would take place exclusively during the beauty judgment. An initial whole-brain analysis did not reveal such interactions, yet a number of the regions showing main effects of the judgment task or the beauty level of stimuli were selectively sensitive to beauty level during the beauty task. Of the regions that were more active during beauty judgments than roughness judgments, the frontomedian cortex and the amygdala demonstrated the hypothesized interaction effect, while the posterior cingulate cortex did not. The latter region, which only showed a task effect, may play a supporting role in beauty assessments, such as attending to one's internal state rather than the external world. Most of the regions showing interaction effects of judgment and beauty level correspond to regions that have previously been implicated in aesthetics using different stimulus classes, but based on either task or beauty effects alone. The fact that we have now shown that task-stimulus interactions are also present during the aesthetic judgment of visual textures implies that these areas form a network that is specifically devoted to aesthetic assessment, irrespective of the stimulus type.