Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of large instrument use on shaping ability and debris extrusion of rotary and reciprocating systems

AIM The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of large instrument use on the shaping ability and apical debris extrusion of rotary and reciprocating systems in oval-shaped root canals. METHODS Forty-five mandibular premolars, with an 18-mm long, oval-shaped single canal, and apical diameter ranging from 300 to 350 μm, were separated into three groups (n=15), according to the system used: ProTaper Universal group, F5 (0.50/0.05); ProTaper Next (PTN group), X5 (0.50/0.06); and Reciproc (RC group), R50 (0.50/0.05). Cone-beam computed tomography was performed before and after preparation to analyze apical transportation (AT), centering ability (CA), and change in root canal diameter (CRCD). For evaluating apical debris extrusion, the roots were coupled to pre-weighed glass receptacles to collect the extruded debris during preparation. RESULTS All systems promoted AT and apical debris extrusion; the latter was higher for the PTN group (P<.05). No system presented perfect CA. The RC group demonstrated the largest CRCD (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS As consequences of their use, the large instruments promoted undesirable AT and debris extrusion, irrespective of the system used to perform root canal preparation. Moreover, no system was able to remain perfectly centralized within the root canal.
The experiences of counselling for persons with ME

A number of studies have evaluated counselling interventions for people with myalgic encephalitis, but few report client perceptions in any detail. This study seeks to explore client perceptions using a qualitative methodology. A sample of 25 individuals with myalgic encephalitis were interviewed about their experiences in counselling. The interviews were transcribed and subjected to thematic analysis using grounded theory principles. The analysis showed that people with myalgic encephalitis endure significant changes to their lives, often involving great loss and trauma. After seeking help through counselling, participants had experienced a wide variety of approaches and there were positive and negative perceptions of each. Other perceptions related to therapist characteristics and the way in which interventions were carried out. Recommendations for practitioners are given.
Multiplicative updates in coordination games and the theory of evolution

In this paper we point out a new and unexpected connection between three fields: Evolution Theory, Game Theory, and Algorithms. In particular, we study the standard equations of population genetics for Evolution, in the presence of recombination (sex), focusing on the important special case of weak selection [1,2] in which all fitness values are assumed to be close to one another. Weak selection is the mathematical regime capturing the widely accepted Neutral Theory proposed by Kimura in the 1970s [3], hypothesizing that evolution proceeds for the most part not by substantial increases in fitness but by essentially random drift. We show that in this regime evolution through natural selection and sex is tantamount to a game played through the multiplicative weight updates game dynamics [4]. The players of the game are the genes (genetic loci), the strategies available to each player are the alleles of the gene, and the probabilities whereby a player plays a strategy is the strategy's frequency in the population. The utility to each player/gene of each strategy profile is the fitness of the corresponding genotype (organism). That is, the game is a coordination game between genes, in which the players' interests are perfectly aligned. Importantly, the utility maximized in this game, as well as the amount by which each allele is boosted, is precisely the allele's mixability, or average fitness, a quantity recently proposed in [5] as a novel concept that is crucial in understanding natural selection under sex, thus providing a rigorous demonstration of that insight. We also establish a result regarding the maintenance of genetic diversity (multiplicity of alleles per gene). We prove that the equilibria in two-person coordination games are likely to have large supports, and thus genetic diversity need not suffer much at equilibrium. Establishing large supports involves answering through a novel technique the following question: what is the probability that for a random square matrix $A$ (with entries drawn independently from smooth distributions that are symmetric around zero) both systems Ax=1 and ATy=1 have positive solutions? The proof is through a simple potential function argument. Both the question and the technique may be of broader interest. It has often seemed astonishing --- even to experienced students of Evolution, Darwin included --- that the crude mechanism of natural selection is responsible for producing the dazzling variety of Life around us. The present mathematical connection of Evolution with the multiplicative weight updates algorithm --- a technique that has surprised our field time and again with its fantastic effectiveness and versatility --- may carry some explanatory force in this regard.
School Leadership: Beyond Education Management. An Essay in Policy Scholarship.

School Leadership Studies: Beyond Education Management Leadership and Management: Locating the Concepts Critical Perspectives on School Leadership Fieldwork and Analytical Approaches The Power of Relations of School Leadership: Change or Continuity? Headteachers: Curriculum and Educational Leadership Management, Markets and Schoool Headship Moral, Ethical and Professional Dilemmas The Dilemmas of Catholic Headteachers Women and Educational Leadership The Past and the Future of Educational Leadership Politics, Markets and Democratic Schools.
Characteristics of a Danish population of adults with acquired deafblindness receiving rehabilitation services

The aim of this study is to report on the characteristics of a population of 916 individuals with acquired deafblindness receiving national Danish counselling and rehabilitation services. Age, gender, prevalence, social status, and communication mode are some of the data included in this study. Results show that 70% of the population was older than 79 years, 15% was between 65 and 79 years, and 15% of the population was younger than 65 years. Oral speech was used by 86%, sign language by 10%, and tactile sign language by 4%. Among individuals younger than 65 years, less than 50% was employed or in education. Results are discussed with respect to the organization of the Danish counselling and rehabilitation service system.
High-dose dexamethasone regulates interleukin-18 and interleukin-18 binding protein in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura is no longer seen as a simple antibody mediated disorder and the role of T cells and T-regulatory cytokines such as IFN-Á and IL-18 are now known to play an important role. This information should help better understanding of why some treatments are effective and in this study a down regulation of IL18 is reported in response to high dose dexamethasone. To evaluate the effects of high-dose dexamethasone (HD-DXM) on the balance of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and its endogenous antagonist IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP) in ITP patients, IL-18, IL-18BP as well as IFN-γ, IL-4 plasma levels and platelet counts were determined in 17 ITP patients receiving DXM 40 mg/day for four consecutive days and in 24 healthy subjects. Using RT-PCR, the mRNA expression of IL-18, IL-18BP, IFN-γ, IL-4, T-box (T-bet) and GATA-binding protein 3(GATA-3) were studied in all subjects. The in vitro effects of DXM on IL-18BP and IL-18 of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were studied by ELISA. HD-DXM administration increased IL-18BP and reduced IL-18 expression significantly (p<0.05), which resulted in a downregulation of IL-18/IL-18BP ratio p<0.05). In vitro, DXM had a significant effect on secretion of IL-18BP while diminishing IL-18 release from cultures of PBMCs. These results suggest that downregulation of IL-18/IL-18BP might account for its clinical efficacy of HD-DXM in active ITP.
An early category-specific neural response for the perception of both places and faces

Rapid and accurate recognition of faces and places is crucial in everyday life. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) studies have demonstrated that the human visual system can categorize an incoming visual stimulus as a face within 100 ms, as reflected by the M100. No similar, early, place-specific MEG component has been described, somewhat surprisingly, as there is behavioral evidence for rapid visual categorization of places. The current study aimed to explore the existence, as well as the spatio-temporal dynamics, of a place-selective MEG component. MEG activity was recorded while 10 participants were presented with pairs of face and place stimuli. Our results show that the perception of places generates a category-specific MEG component (M100p), which occurs just as early as that seen for faces. Our findings suggest that early visual categorization within cortical areas does not occur exclusively for faces, but instead may be a more general phenomenon.
Front and Back Flipping for Neurobiology! Developing a Hybrid Upper-Division Lab Course.

Flipped instruction using online enrichment is a popular way to enhance active learning in the laboratory setting. Graduate student teaching assistants at University of California, Irvine flipped an upper division undergraduate neurobiology and behavior lab using the new online software platform "Rocketmix. " The following research study compares the impact of pre-lab online instruction (front flipping) and post-lab online instruction (back flipping) on student exam performance. We describe a novel method for unbiased categorization of exam questions by degree of difficulty. Multi-choice instruction encourages students to consider all distractors and discourages verbal cues and process of elimination techniques. Eighteen identical questions were evenly distributed across exam versions with multiple choice instruction (single answer) or a more challenging multi-choice instruction (more than one answer). Student performance on multiple choice questions were used to categorize the degree of difficulty of questions that were presented in multi-choice format. Our findings reveal that pre-lab instruction resulted in better student performance compared with post-lab instruction on questions of moderate difficulty. This effect was significant for both male and female students. Student survey data on the flipped lab format is provided, indicating that students appreciated the online instructional modules, finding them both informative and useful during lab exercises and exams.
Self-perception and motivational characteristics of tennis participants: The influence of age and skill

Abstract An integrated approach to the study of psychosocial factors related to participation behavior was adopted by incorporating developmental, skill acquisition, and psychosocial variables. Specifically, the relationship of age and skill with self-perceptions and motivational characteristics of tennis participants was examined. Males and females (N = 240) ranged in age from 10 to 67 years. Professional tennis coaches verified the skill rating of each player using the National Tennis Rating Program introduced by the United States Tennis Association. Individuals completed self-report scales measuring perceived tennis competence, tennis salience, global self-worth, challenge motivational orientation, task and ego orientations, and competitive trait anxiety. Canonical correlation analyses revealed that age and skill were significantly related to psychosocial variables for both males and females. These findings suggest that an integrated research approach can extend our understanding of social-psychologica.
A sharp look at the gravitationally lensed quasar SDSS J0806+2006 with laser guide star adaptive optics at the VLT

We present the first VLT near-IR observations of a gravitationally lensed quasar, using adaptive optics and laser guide star. These observations can be considered as a test bench for future systematic observations of lensed quasars with adaptive optics, even when bright natural guide stars are not available in the nearby field. With only 14 min of observing time, we derived very accurate astrometry of the quasar images and of the lensing galaxy, with 0.05 '' spatial resolution, comparable to the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). In combination with deep VLT optical spectra of the quasar images, we use our adaptive optics images to constrain simple models for the mass distribution of the lensing galaxy. The latter is almost circular and does not need any strong external shear to fit the data. The time delay predicted for SDSS J0806+2006, assuming a singular isothermal ellipsoid model and the concordance cosmology, is Delta t similar or equal to 50 days. Our optical spectra indicate a flux ratio between the quasar images of A/B = 1.3 in the continuum and A/B = 2.2 in both the Mg II and in the C III] broad emission lines. This suggests that microlensing affects the continuum emission. However, the constant ratio between the two emission lines indicates that the broad emission line region is not microlensed. Finally, we see no evidence of reddening by dust in the lensing galaxy.
Surgical Shunting versus Transjugular Intrahepatic Portasystemic Shunting for Bleeding Varices Resulting from Portal Hypertension and Cirrhosis: A Meta-Analysis

Surgical shunting was the mainstay in treating portal hypertension for years. Recently, trans-jugular intrahepatic portasystemic shunting (TIPS) has replaced surgical shunting, first as a “bridge” to transplantation and ultimately as first-line therapy for bleeding varices. This study was undertaken to examine evidence from trials comparing TIPS with surgical shunting to reassess the role of surgery in treating portal hypertension. The National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health were searched for clinical trials comparing surgical shunting with TIPS. Meta-analysis using the fixed effects model was undertaken with end points of 30-day and 1- and 2-year survival and shunt failure (inability to complete shunt, irreversible shunt occlusion, major rehemorrhage, unanticipated liver transplantation, death). Three prospective randomized trials and one retrospective case-controlled study were identified. Analysis was limited to patients of Child Classes A or B. Significantly better 2-year survival (OR 2.5 [1.2-5.2]) and significantly less frequent shunt failure (OR 0.3 [0.1-0.9]) were seen in patients undergoing surgical shunting compared with TIPS. Meta-analysis promotes surgical shunting relative to TIPS because of improved survival and less frequent shunt failure. Surgical shunting should be accepted as first-line therapy for bleeding varices resulting from portal hypertension.
Random Sequencing of Paramecium Somatic DNA

ABSTRACT We report a random survey of 1 to 2% of the somatic genome of the free-living ciliate Paramecium tetraurelia by single-run sequencing of the ends of plasmid inserts. As in all ciliates, the germ line genome of Paramecium (100 to 200 Mb) is reproducibly rearranged at each sexual cycle to produce a somatic genome of expressed or potentially expressed genes, stripped of repeated sequences, transposons, and AT-rich unique sequence elements limited to the germ line. We found the somatic genome to be compact (>68% coding, estimated from the sequence of several complete library inserts) and to feature uniformly small introns (18 to 35 nucleotides). This facilitated gene discovery: 722 open reading frames (ORFs) were identified by similarity with known proteins, and 119 novel ORFs were tentatively identified by internal comparison of the data set. We determined the phylogenetic position of Paramecium with respect to eukaryotes whose genomes have been sequenced by the distance matrix neighbor-joining method by using random combined protein data from the project. The unrooted tree obtained is very robust and in excellent agreement with accepted topology, providing strong support for the quality and consistency of the data set. Our study demonstrates that a random survey of the somatic genome of Paramecium is a good strategy for gene discovery in this organism.
Loss of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B increases IGF-I receptor tyrosine phosphorylation but does not rescue retinal defects in IRS2-deficient mice.

PURPOSE Mice with deletion of insulin receptor substrate (IRS) 2 develop type 2 diabetes and photoreceptor degeneration. Loss of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) in diabetic IRS2(-/-) mice restores insulin sensitivity and normalizes glucose homeostasis. Since insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-IR promotes survival of photoreceptors and is a substrate of PTP1B, we investigated IGF-IR-mediated survival signaling and visual function in PTP1B(-/-) and double mutant IRS2(-/-)/PTP1B(-/-) mice. METHODS IGF-IR-mediated Akt signaling was evaluated in IGF-I-stimulated retinal explants. Histologic and electroretinogram analysis was performed in wild-type (WT), IRS2(-/-), PTP1B(-/-), and the double mutant IRS2(-/-)/PTP1B(-/-) mice. RESULTS IGF-I stimulated the tyrosine phosphorylation of its receptor and Akt activation in retinal explants of WT mice. In PTP1B(-/-) retinal explants, these responses were enhanced. Conversely, in retinas from IRS2(-/-) mice, expression of PTP1B was increased, coincident with decreased IGF-I-mediated Akt serine 473 phosphorylation. PTP1B deletion in IRS2(-/-) mice also enhanced IGF-IR tyrosine phosphorylation but, unexpectedly, did not rescue Akt activation in response to IGF-I. One potential explanation is that PTEN was increased in retinas of IRS2(-/-) and IRS2(-/-)/PTP1B(-/-) mice. Histologic evaluation revealed alterations in various structures of the retina in IRS2(-/-) and IRS2(-/-)/PTP1B(-/-) mice, specifically in the outer nuclear layer (ONL) and retinal outer segments (ROS). Electroretinogram (ERG) analysis confirmed that PTP1B deficiency did not restore visual function in IRS2(-/-) mice. CONCLUSIONS Although loss of PTP1B enhances tyrosine phosphorylation of the IGF-IR in retinal explants of IRS2(-/-) mice, Akt activation remains defective owing to elevated PTEN levels and, thus, structural and functional visual defects persist in this model.
Effect of centchroman coadministration on the pharmacokinetics of metformin in rats

Objectives: To study the effect of centchroman, a non-steroidal oral contraceptive, coadministration on the pharmacokinetics of metformin in rats. Materials and Methods: The pharmacokinetic interaction of metformin was studied in normal Sprague-Dawley female rats with and without centchroman coadministration. Blood samples were analyzed using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography method to generate the pharmacokinetic profile of metformin. The Cmax and tmax were directly read from the concentration–time data. Other pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated using non-compartmental analyses. Results: Metformin was monitored up to 10 h, and it exhibited a double-peak phenomenon. The Cmax 1, 2.62 ± 0.32 μg/ml, and Cmax 2, 2.96 ± 0.65 μg/ml, occurred after 0.75 and 3 h post-dose, respectively. The mean residence time (MRT), AUC0-4 h and volume of distribution (Vd/F) were 4.20 ± 0.30 h, 8.53 ± 1.89 μg. h/ml and 14.24 ± 5.42 L/kg, respectively. Following centchroman coadministration, metformin showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher Cmax (Cmax 1, 3.96 ± 0.55 μg/ml and Cmax 2, 5.21 ± 0.59 μg/ml), AUC0-4 h (12.28 ± 0.73 μg.h/ml) and Vd/F (18.29 ± 1.19 L/kg), but lower MRT (3.19 ± 0.36 h) than the values obtained after metformin dosing alone. However, AUC0-t (17.74 ± 5.58 μg.h/ml) and clearance (3.76 ± 0.80 L/h/kg) remained unchanged. Conclusions: The results indicate that centchroman coadministration increases the rate but not the extent of absorption of metformin in rats. However, it does not seem to alter the pharmacokinetics of metformin to clinically significant levels.
Need for Cognition and External Information Search: Responses to Time Pressure during Decision-Making

Abstract The relationship between need for cognition (a motivation to engage in thinking and cognitive endeavors), time pressure, and predecisional external information search was experimentally investigated, using an information display board paradigm. Under time pressure, subjects accelerated processing, and reported less confidence in their decision. Low-need-for-cognition (NC) subjects expended less cognitive effort to the task than did high-NC subjects, as was indicated by cognitive responses and self-reports. Differences in search strategy in response to time pressure were found only among subjects low in need for cognition and not among high-NC subjects. Under time pressure low-NC subjects, compared to unpressured low-NC subjects, exhibited search strategies that are more variable in amount of information assessed across alternatives, indicating the use of more heuristic strategies.
The power of competition: Effects of social motivation on attention, sustained physical effort, and learning

Competition has often been implicated as a means to improve effort-based learning and attention. Two experiments examined the effects of competition on effort and memory. In Experiment 1, participants completed a physical effort task in which they were rewarded for winning an overall percentage, or for winning a competition they believed was against another player. In Experiment 2, participants completed a memory task in which they were rewarded for remembering an overall percentage of shapes, or more shapes than a “competitor. ” We found that, in the physical effort task, participants demonstrated faster reaction times (RTs)—a previous indicator of increased attention—in the competitive environment. Moreover, individual differences predicted the salience of competition’s effect. Furthermore, male participants showed faster RTs and greater sustained effort as a result of a competitive environment, suggesting that males may be more affected by competition in physical effort tasks. However, in Experiment 2, participants remembered fewer shapes when competing, and later recalled less of these shapes during a post-test, suggesting that competition was harmful in our memory task. The different results from these two experiments suggest that competition can improve attention in a physical effort task, yet caution the use of competition in memory tasks.
Psychometric Properties of a Pictorial Self-Concept Scale among Young Learning Disabled Pupils.

The aim of this study is to assess the psychometric properties of the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Young Children (PSPCSA) (Harter & Pike, 1983) among young learning disabled pupils. The sample consisted of 105 French Canadian learning disabled pupils in Grades 1–3. All subjects completed a French translation of the PSPCSA, while 58 were retested 2–4 weeks later. The reliability analysis indicates results similar to those found in Harter and Pike's (1983) study. However, the factor analysis reveals three separate factors. These results are discussed in terms of domains of self-concept that were assessed, procedures and subjects characteristics. The main conclusion reached is that the PSPCSA should be used with caution in assessing French speaking pupils with learning disabilities. More research is needed until the instrument as reached acceptable levels of technical adequacy. 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.