Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Correlation between Salivary Mutans Streptococcus Count and Dental Caries Experience among Preschool Children and their Parents

Introduction: Streptococcus mutans plays a significant role in causation of caries. Transmission of S. mutans can be vertical or horizontal from mother to child and mainly occur during the first 2.5 years of age. In this article, we have emphasized on the transmission of S. mutans from parents to their 18 months and 3-year-old children. The aim of this study was to find out correlation between salivary mutans Streptococcus count and dental caries experience among preschool children and their parents. Materials and Methods: The study comprised randomly selected 50 father-mother-child pairs who were residing at Gandhi Nagar, a village in Indore district. Of 50 children, 25 were of 18 months and the other 25 were of 36 months of age. At early morning, the saliva samples of each pair were obtained before their brushing. The parents were interviewed in accordance with a structured questionnaire. The vital statistics of children and their parents were recorded. The clinical examination of children and their parents was performed to record the caries (DEFS or DMFS scores) and plaque score (Silness and Loe plaque index). The number of salivary S. mutans was evaluated in all parents and children. Results: The overall caries experience among the children was 40%. Positive correlation between the high maternal S. mutans level and its colonization in children was observed in 91.3%. The association of caries experience in 18-month-old 1,3,5Reader, 2Professor, 4Associate Professor, 6Senior Lecturer 1Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Maitri College of Dentistry and Research Centre, Anjora, Chhattisgarh, India, 2Department of Preventive Dental Science, Faculty of Dentistry, IBN Sina National College for Medical Studies, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 3Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Modern Dental College and Research Centre, Indore, India, 4Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Government Dental College and Hospital, Nagpur, India, 5Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Index Institute of Dental Science, Indore, India, 6Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Maharana Pratap Dental College and Hospital, Kanpur, India Corresponding Author: Alpana Katiyar, Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Maitri College of Dentistry and Research Centre, Anjora, Durg (C.G), India. Pin Code-491001. e-mail: alpanakatiyar@gmail.com children did not show statistical significance with the salivary S. mutans levels and caries experience in parents. The salivary S. mutans levels in 36-month-old children significantly correlated with the salivary S. mutans levels in parents. However, its correlation was statistically not significant with the caries experience in both parents. Conclusion: The association between dental caries and salivary S. mutans in mother-child and father-child was evaluated in the present study. Both mother and father can transmit the disease to their children.
Motivation and Emotions among Top Players in the Western Balkan Basketball Teams

This study was conducted on the sample of 127 top level basketball players from 11 different teams in three countries from the Western Balkans. Two significant findings were found in this paper. The first one is consisted of six motivational variables (controlled motivation, autonomous motivation, external regulation, introjected regulation, identified regulation, and intrinsic motivation) out of which four predictor variables were singled out. The multiple regression was used to establish that the variable of identified regulation significantly predetermined the variable of handling relationships. Combined with external regulation, it led to a decrease in efficiency of cooperative and interactive performance of basketball players. The other significant finding was the fact that top basketball players from the Western Balkans differed among themselves in the level of reading and managing emotions. This finding may prove to be useful to managers and coaches as they can apply it through education and interactive workshops in order to establish positive mutual influencing among team members, i.e. to facilitate those with lower levels of managing emotions to be able to learn from the players who possess higher levels of managing emotions and reading emotions as well. Index Terms managing emotions, reading emotions, identified regulation, handling relationships, regulation
A Path Algorithm for Constrained Estimation

Many least-square problems involve affine equality and inequality constraints. Although there are a variety of methods for solving such problems, most statisticians find constrained estimation challenging. The current article proposes a new path-following algorithm for quadratic programming that replaces hard constraints by what are called exact penalties. Similar penalties arise in l 1 regularization in model selection. In the regularization setting, penalties encapsulate prior knowledge, and penalized parameter estimates represent a trade-off between the observed data and the prior knowledge. Classical penalty methods of optimization, such as the quadratic penalty method, solve a sequence of unconstrained problems that put greater and greater stress on meeting the constraints. In the limit as the penalty constant tends to ∞, one recovers the constrained solution. In the exact penalty method, squared penalties are replaced by absolute value penalties, and the solution is recovered for a finite value of the penalty constant. The exact path-following method starts at the unconstrained solution and follows the solution path as the penalty constant increases. In the process, the solution path hits, slides along, and exits from the various constraints. Path following in Lasso penalized regression, in contrast, starts with a large value of the penalty constant and works its way downward. In both settings, inspection of the entire solution path is revealing. Just as with the Lasso and generalized Lasso, it is possible to plot the effective degrees of freedom along the solution path. For a strictly convex quadratic program, the exact penalty algorithm can be framed entirely in terms of the sweep operator of regression analysis. A few well-chosen examples illustrate the mechanics and potential of path following. This article has supplementary materials available online.
The Proteinase-Activated Receptor 2 Is Involved in Nociception

The proteinase-activated receptor 2 is expressed on a subset of primary afferent neurons and may participate in the neurogenic component of inflammation. We hypothesized that this receptor may also play a role in neuronal sensitization and contribute to the pathogenesis of pain in inflammatory conditions such as pancreatitis. Using a specific proteinase-activated receptor 2 activating peptide, we found evidence of such sensitization in vitro in the form of enhanced capsaicin- and KCl-evoked release of calcitonin gene-related peptide, a marker for nociceptive signaling. We then demonstrated that injection of the proteinase-activated receptor 2 activating peptide into the pancreatic duct can activate and sensitize pancreas-specific afferent neurons in vivo, as measured by Fos expression in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. These observations suggest that proteinase-activated receptor 2 contributes to nociceptive signaling and may provide a novel link between inflammation and pain.
Exchange Rate Dynamics and US Dollar-Denominated Sovereign Bond Prices in Emerging Markets

Using data on Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, the Philippines, Russia and Turkey, our empirical results show that the exchange rates of their currencies have adequate explanatory power in explaining their US dollar-denominated sovereign bonds, particularly in the post-global financial crisis period. We develop a two-factor pricing model with closed-form solutions for the sovereign bonds in which the correlated factors are foreign exchange rates and US risk-free interest rates that follow a double square-root process relevant in the low interest rate environment. The numerical results and associated error analysis show that the model credit spreads can broadly track the market credit spreads.
The molecular origin and evolution of dim‐light vision in mammals

The nocturnal origin of mammals is a longstanding hypothesis that is considered instrumental for the evolution of endothermy, a potential key innovation in this successful clade. This hypothesis is primarily based on indirect anatomical inference from fossils. Here, we reconstruct the evolutionary history of rhodopsin—the vertebrate visual pigment mediating the first step in phototransduction at low‐light levels—via codon‐based model tests for selection, combined with gene resurrection methods that allow for the study of ancient proteins. Rhodopsin coding sequences were reconstructed for three key nodes: Amniota, Mammalia, and Theria. When expressed in vitro, all sequences generated stable visual pigments with λMAX values similar to the well‐studied bovine rhodopsin. Retinal release rates of mammalian and therian ancestral rhodopsins, measured via fluorescence spectroscopy, were significantly slower than those of the amniote ancestor, indicating altered molecular function possibly related to nocturnality. Positive selection along the therian branch suggests adaptive evolution in rhodopsin concurrent with therian ecological diversification events during the Mesozoic that allowed for an exploration of the environment at varying light levels.
Designing Iranian Model to Assess the Level of Health System Responsiveness

Background: Given the rapid pace of changes in community health needs and the mission of healthcare organizations to provide and promote the community’s health, the growing need to increase health system responsiveness to people as a key element of observance and fulfillment of justice is felt more than ever. Objectives: This study was aimed at designing the native model of responsiveness for Iran and to validate the aspects of the proposed model. Materials and Methods: Our study had a cross-sectional design and was a validation study performed in 2014. In order to define and identify responsiveness model aspects, the first phase recorded the views of 200 key informants from 19 provinces of Iran. Snowball sampling was used to select experts (based on WHO guideline). Then, the opinions of 18 comments were received from service recipients in the form of three focus group discussions and were analyzed by the frame framework analysis (interviewed recipients were selected using the purposive sampling method). Finally, in order to confirm the model’s efficacy, a responsiveness questionnaire with 7 aspects (domains) and 52 indicators (items) obtained from the initial proposed model was answered by 600 members of the selected families in the two provinces of Fars and Yazd. A multi-stage cluster sampling approach was used for the household survey. The results were analyzed by the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) test and through the use of Lisrel software. Results: Confirmatory Factor Analysis, based on the results of the key informant survey and group discussions, showed that according to quantities of GFI = 0.91, CFI = 0.93, NFI = 0.91, RMSEA = 0.074, SRMR = 0.061 and Hoelter (CN) = 178.54 in outpatient services and where GFI = 0.89, CFI = 0.91, NFI = 0.86, RMSEA = 0.064, SRMR = 0.053 and Hoelter (CN) = 158.93 for inpatient services, seven factors (F) (dignity, informed choice, confidentiality, patient training and informing, access to services, quality of basic amenities, and access to social support) are the main determinants of the responsiveness model and proposed model validity. Conclusions: Given the comprehensiveness of presented aspects and indicators in this proposed model and its validity test, the aforementioned responsiveness model can be considered a suitable model to use when assessing the levels of health system responsiveness in Iran.
The causality between financial development and economic growth: case of Asian economies

This paper investigates the long run relationship between financial development and economic growth for 16 Asian economies with different levels of income using of the system method, which is considered the most efficient manner. In addition, I employ Park's CCR test to estimate cointegrating vectors and run ordinary ECM as well as SURECM. Based on the results of Granger causality test in system method, I found strong evidence that causality exists between the financial development and economic growth, evidence that China has a huge impact on Asian economy, and a system method is superior to traditional regression methods. The question might give further guidance as to whether a well-developed financial sector is a necessary condition for a higher growth rates for developing countries and provide an important policy implication for countries that have financial sectors that are comparatively underdeveloped.
Classical and emergent paradigms of academic entrepreneurship

The academic entrepreneur’s choices and behaviours have been identified by Brennan et al. (2005) as the core field of interest of the research stream on academic entrepreneurship. The present work focuses on this core. The main goal of the paper is to present some classical and emergent models of academic entrepreneurship through exploring and focusing on the motivations of the entrepreneurial decision. Risk aversion, desire of independence, economic and financial reward and “academic return” are the key drivers of the critical decision to start-up a new venture within an academic context. This explorative study is based on two polar case studies, which analyze two different models of hybrid entrepreneurship.
Induction of Bone-Type Alkaline Phosphatase in Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells: Roles of Tumor Necrosis Factor-&agr; and Oncostatin M Derived From Macrophages

Inflammatory cells such as macrophages and T lymphocytes play an important role in vascular calcification associated with atherosclerosis and cardiac valvular disease. In particular, macrophages activated with cytokines derived from T lymphocytes such as interferon-&ggr; (IFN-&ggr;) may contribute to the development of vascular calcification. Moreover, we have shown the stimulatory effect of 1&agr;,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) on in vitro calcification through increasing the expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), an ectoenzyme indispensable for bone mineralization, in vascular smooth muscle cells. Therefore, we hypothesized that macrophages may induce calcifying phenotype, especially the expression of ALP in human vascular smooth muscle cells (HVSMCs) in the presence of IFN-&ggr; and 1,25(OH)2D3. To test this hypothesis, we used cocultures of HVSMCs with human monocytic cell line (THP-1) or peripheral blood monocytes (PBMCs) in the presence of IFN-&ggr; and 1,25(OH)2D3. THP-1 cells or PBMCs induced ALP activity and its gene expression in HVSMCs and the cells with high expression of ALP calcified their extracellular matrix by the addition of &bgr;-glycerophosphate. Thermostability and immunoassay showed that ALP induced in HVSMCs was bone-specific enzyme. We further identified tumor necrosis factor-&agr; (TNF-&agr;) and oncostatin M (OSM) as major factors inducing ALP in HVSMCs in the culture supernatants of THP-1 cells. TNF-&agr; and OSM, only when applied together, increased ALP activities and in vitro calcification in HVSMCs in the presence of IFN-&ggr; and 1,25(OH)2D3. These results suggest that macrophages may contribute to the development of vascular calcification through producing various inflammatory mediators, especially TNF-&agr; and OSM.
Distinct immunological mechanisms of CTLA-4 and PD-1 blockade revealed by analyzing TCR usage in blood lymphocytes

Targeting immune inhibitory receptors has brought excitement, innovation and hope to cancer patients. Our recent work revealed the immunological effects of blocking the CTLA4 and PD-1 immune checkpoints on T cell receptor usage among peripheral blood cells, and further uncovers how the expansion of the T cell repertoire matches the immunotoxicity profile of the therapy.
Legislative Staff and Representation in Congress

Legislative staff link Members of Congress and their constituents, theoretically facilitating democratic representation. Yet, little research has examined whether Congressional staff actually recognize the preferences of their Members’ constituents. Using an original survey of senior US Congressional staffers, we show that staff systematically mis-estimate constituent opinions. We then evaluate the sources of these misperceptions, using observational analyses and two survey experiments. Staffers who rely more heavily on conservative and business interest groups for policy information have more skewed perceptions of constituent opinion. Egocentric biases also shape staff perceptions. Our findings complicate assumptions that Congress represents constituent opinion, and help to explain why Congress often appears so unresponsive to ordinary citizens. We conclude that scholars should focus more closely on legislative aides as key actors in the policymaking process, both in the United States and across other advanced democracies.
Ranking and tradeoffs in sponsored search auctions

In a sponsored search auction, decisions about how to rank ads impose tradeoffs between objectives such as revenue and welfare. In this paper, we examine how these tradeoffs should be made. We begin by arguing that the most natural solution concept to evaluate these tradeoffs is the lowest symmetric Nash equilibrium (SNE). As part of this argument, we generalise the well known connection between the lowest SNE and the VCG outcome. We then propose a new ranking algorithm, loosely based on the revenue-optimal auction, that uses a reserve price to order the ads (not just to filter them) and give conditions under which it raises more revenue than simply applying that reserve price. Finally, we conduct extensive simulations examining the tradeoffs enabled by different ranking algorithms and show that our proposed algorithm enables superior operating points by a variety of metrics.
This also affects the context - Errors in extraction based summaries

Although previous studies have shown that errors occur in texts summarized by extraction based summarizers, no study has investigated how common different types of errors are and how that changes with degree of summarization. We have conducted studies of errors in extraction based single document summaries using 30 texts, summarized to 5 different degrees and tagged for errors by human judges. The results show that the most common errors are absent cohesion or context and various types of broken or missing anaphoric references. The amount of errors is dependent on the degree of summarization where some error types have a linear relation to the degree of summarization and others have U-shaped or cut-off linear relations. These results show that the degree of summarization has to be taken into account to minimize the amount of errors by extraction based summarizers.
Knowledge asymmetry and brokerage: Linking network perception to position in structural holes

Although brokers who span structural holes have been shown to occupy a valuable position in organizations, emerging research suggests that the returns to these brokers can vary depending on whether alters can credibly threaten to disintermediate the broker and close the structural hole. Yet, the factors that shape the likelihood of disintermediation have not been extensively explored. In this article, we build from the premise that an alter’s knowledge about the structural hole is a necessary condition for disintermediation. Without this knowledge, the alter will not know with whom to disintermediate. Drawing on research about cognitive social structures, we argue that individuals are most likely to be in a structural hole under the condition of knowledge asymmetry—that is, when brokers know about the structural hole, but alters do not—which reduces the likelihood of disintermediation by alters and increases the benefits for brokers. Using advice network data from a high-tech organization, we find evidence of knowledge asymmetry in existing structural holes, and moderation of this relationship by two factors also related to disintermediation: (1) broker’s reputation and (2) alter’s position as a provider (vs. acquirer) of resources. We also show that knowledge asymmetry is related to higher returns for brokers. The broader theoretical contribution is a better understanding of how network perceptions are related to positions across structural holes, an important structure from which power is derived in organizations and markets.
Four Practical and Conceptual Assessment Issues That Evaluators Should Address in Capital Case Mental Retardation Evaluations

What unique assessment issues do evaluators face when conducting mental retardation evaluations in capital cases? This article describes 4 assessment issues and reports how 20 evaluators in 1 state have approached them: (a) What methods are appropriate for evaluating adaptive functioning in this context? (b) Should information about criminal behavior be used as evidence of adaptive functioning? (c) Should correctional officers serve as informants regarding adaptive behavior? and (d) How should the Flynn effect influence the interpretation of intelligence test scores? Implications for practice are that practitioners should expect to be asked about the relation between criminal behavior and adaptive functioning, must think carefully about the validity of tests of adaptive functioning for inmates, and must be knowledgeable about the current state of Flynn effect research.
Bond Yields, Sovereign Risk and Maturity Structure

The aim of this paper is to analyze the relation between maturity structure, sovereign bond yields and sovereign risk in the Economic and Monetary Union for the period of 1990–2013. The results confirm the existence of an inverse relationship between sovereign bond yields, sovereign risk and the maturity structure of sovereign debt, regardless of the proxy that is used to measure sovereign risk and the time variance of the variables employed. The results indicate that risk shortens the maturity structure of sovereign debt because it reduces the stock of long-term debt. The relationship between maturity structure and sovereign bond yields differs depending on the risk of the countries analyzed (non-monotonic relationship) and the differences between peripheral and core countries are greater for higher levels of the yields. If we control for the indebtedness level of these countries, the results show that the relationship between the sovereign bond yields and maturity strengthens as the debt level increases.
Affirmative Inaction: Education, Language Proficiency, and Socioeconomic Attainment Among China's Uyghur Minority

Abstract: This study finds that the Mandarin proficiency is partially responsible for the gap in socioeconomic inequality between the Han majority and the Uyghur Muslim minority. Multiple sources of evidence show that Uyghur Muslims share equal educational attainment as the Han majority, but are noticeably less fluent in Mandarin than the Han majority. Using data from the 2012 China Labor-Force Dynamics Survey (CLDS), we find that Mandarin proficiency can significantly improve occupational attainment and income. In other words, holding other factors equal, if ethnic minorities speak better Mandarin, they would have better chances to improve their socioeconomic status.