Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of a triclosan dentifrice on mucositis in subjects with dental implants: a six-month clinical study.

OBJECTIVE The objective of the present clinical study was to assess the effect of the use of a dentifrice containing triclosan on peri-implant mucositis in subjects that had been restored with dental implants. METHODS The trial was designed as a double-blind, randomized, two-treatment, parallel-group clinical study. Sixty male and female subjects, aged 30-70 years, were recruited. All subjects had lost teeth due to periodontal disease, and had been restored with a minimum of two implants at least one year prior to the start of the trial. Subjects were randomly assigned to two treatment groups. The subjects in the test group (Test) brushed their teeth and implant-supported restorations with a dentifrice containing triclosan, while the control subjects brushed with a sodium fluoride dentifrice. Only subjects with a minimum of one implant site showing clinical signs of peri-implant mucositis, i.e., bleeding after probing, were enrolled in the study. Clinical examinations were performed at baseline, and after three and six months. The following parameters were scored: Probing pocket depth (PPD), bleeding on probing (BoP), and plaque. The change from baseline within each treatment group at three months and six months was evaluated for all parameters using ANOVA and ANCOVA. RESULTS Subjects with peri-implant mucositis who used a dentifrice containing 0.3% triclosan, as an adjunct to mechanical tooth brushing, exhibited significantly fewer clinical signs of inflammation than subjects who used a regular fluoride dentifrice at six months. The BoP scores were reduced from 53.8% to 29.1% in the Test group, whereas in the same interval there was an increase from 52.3% to 58.8% in the Control group. Furthermore, the individual mean PPD, as well as the frequency of sites with 5 mm and > or = 6 mm deep pockets, were reduced significantly more in the Test than in the Control group. CONCLUSION The regular use of a dentifrice containing triclosan may reduce the clinical signs of inflammation in the mucosa adjacent to dental implants.
Diffusion of Corporate Governance from Influential Adopters

Based on diffusion theory, I conjecture that governance mechanisms, in particular performance-contingent equity (PCE), exhibit behavior characteristic of influential adopter diffusion. That is, firms tend to emulate an influential industry peer in adopting PCE in their executive compensation contracts. Using a large sample constructed from textual analysis of proxy statements, I find evidence of influential adopter diffusion through robust positive relations between PCE adoption and that of influential industry adopters. The results apply when examining the design of PCE provisions as well. Additional analyses suggest that the diffusion relation between influential adopters and their peers varies inversely with industry heterogeneity and differences in CEO compensation structure. In sum, my findings shed light on the spread of PCE over time by way of influential adopter diffusion.
Noninvasive MRI Measures of Microstructural and Cerebrovascular Changes During Normal Swine Brain Development

The swine brain is emerging as a potentially valuable translational animal model of neurodevelopment and offers the ability to assess the impact of experimentally induced neurological disorders. The goal for this study was to characterize swine brain development using noninvasive MRI measures of microstructural and cerebrovascular changes. Thirteen pigs at various postnatal ages (2.3–43.5 kg) were imaged on a 1.5-Tesla MRI system. Microstructural changes were assessed using diffusion tensor imaging measures of mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy. Cerebrovascular changes were assessed using arterial spin labeling measures of baseline cerebral blood flow (CBF) and the cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) of the blood-oxygen level dependent (BOLD) MRI signal to CO2. We found a positive logarithmic relationship for regional tissue volumes and fractional anisotropy with body weight, which is similar to the pattern reported in the developing human brain. Unlike in the maturing human brain, no consistent changes in mean diffusivity or baseline CBF with development were observed. Changes in BOLD CVR exhibited a positive logarithmic relationship with body weight, which may impact the interpretation of functional MRI results at different stages of development. This animal model can be validated by applying the same noninvasive measures in humans.
NERVE STIMULATION IN THYROID SURGERY: IS IT REALLY USEFUL?

Background: Monitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) has been claimed in some studies to reduce rates of nerve injury during thyroid surgery compared with anatomical dissection and visual identification of the RLN alone, whereas other studies have found no benefit. Continuous monitoring with endotracheal electrodes is expensive whereas discontinuous monitoring by laryngeal palpation with nerve stimulation is a simple and inexpensive technique. This study aimed to assess the value of nerve stimulation with laryngeal palpation as a means of identifying and assessing the function of the RLN and external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN) during thyroid surgery.
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF AGRICULTURAL TRADE LIBERALIZATION AND DOMESTIC AGRICULTURAL POLICY REFORMS

The paper reviews existing studies on linkages between agricultural policies, trade liberalization and the environment. Since the price and production changes induced by the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture seem likely to be quite modest for most countries, this partial trade liberalization may not cause major changes, positive or negative, in the environmental impacts of agricultural production. Instead, the environmental impacts of domestic agricultural policy reforms will probably be more significant than impacts induced by the Uruguay Round Agreement on Agriculture. This is largely due to the fact that agricultural trade liberalization, partial or complete, can alleviate some policy failures which have adverse environmental impacts, but does not correct environmental market failures. By contrast, domestic agricultural policy reforms, while alleviating policy failures, could also tackle environmental market failures through, for example, agroenvironmental programmes.
Gain-scheduled control synthesis by using filtered scheduling parameters

This paper is concerned with design of gain-scheduled (GS) controllers that depend on filtered scheduling parameters. One of the most sophisticated design method, which is based on parameter-dependent Lyapunov matrices, ends up with GS controllers involving differentiation of the scheduling parameter. On the other hand, proposed GS controllers with filtered parameters avoid derivative terms of the scheduling parameter. We show that our synthesis method has guaranteed performance level less than that of GS controllers designed via constant Lyapunov matrix. Moreover, if the filter has time-constant short enough, the performance level via the filtered scheduling parameter is close to that of conventional GS controller that needs differentiation of the parameter.
Information Sales and Insider Trading

Fundamental information resembles in many respects a durable good. Hence, the effects of its incorporation into stock prices depend on who is the agent controlling its flow. Similarly to a durable goods monopolist, a monopolistic analyst selling information intertemporally competes against themself. This forces them to partially relinquish control over the information flow to traders. Conversely, an insider solves the intertemporal competition problem through vertical integration, thus exerting a tighter control over the flow of information. Comparing market patterns I show that a dynamic market where information is provided by an analyst is thicker and more informative than one where an insider trades.
An improved ant colony algorithm for the job shop scheduling problem

Instances of static scheduling problems can be easily represented as graphs where each node represents a particular operation. This property makes the Ant Colony Algorithms well suited for different kinds of scheduling problems. In this paper we present an improved Ant System for solving the Job Shop Scheduling (JSS) Problem. After each cycle the Ant System applies a scheduler builder to each solution. The schedule builder is able to generate under a controlled manner different types of schedules (from non-delay to active). Any improvement achieved for a solution will affect the performance of the algorithm in the next cycles by changing accordingly the amount of pheromone on certain paths. Since the pheromone is the building block of an ant algorithm, it is expected that these changes guide the search towards more promising areas of the search space. The computational study involves a set of instances of different size and difficulty. The results are compared against the best solutions known so far and results reported from earlier studies of ant algorithms applied to the JSSP.
Impact of respiratory disorders in young bulls during their fattening period on performance and profitability.

Renc. Rech. Ruminants, 2008, 15 Impact technique et économique des troubles respiratoires des jeunes bovins lors de l’engraissement BAREILLE N. (1), SEEGERS H. (1), DENIS G. (2), QUILLET J-M. (3), ASSIE S. (1) (1) UMR Bioagression Epidémiologie et Analyse de Risques ENVN-INRA Atlanpole-Chantrerie BP 40706 44307 Nantes (2) CAVAC 12 bd Réaumur BP 27 85001 La Roche sur Yon (3) URGTV de Vendée 6 rue Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny 85430 Nieul Le Dolent
New forms of work organisation and industrial relations in southern Europe

The aim of interconnecting work organisation, innovation and employment provides a defining approach of the European Union to competitiveness. Although there is evidence of the social and economic benefits deriving from processes of organisational innovation and participation there seems to be a lack of dissemination of new forms of work organisation in Southern Europe. Internationally well-known scholars from France, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Italy try to explain what are the specific obstacles with regard to a broader dissemination of new forms of work organisation in these countries. By doing so they also try to respond to the following more specific questions: What is the role of public policies with regard to the dissemination of new forms of work organisation? How can industrial relations foster processes of organisational innovation? What is the relationship between restructuring processes and new forms of work organisation?
Amplitude and chirp characterization of high-power laser pulses in the 5-fs regime.

Frequency-resolved optical gating (FROG) based on second-harmonic generation has been demonstrated to be capable of high-fidelity measurement of the electric-field envelope and of the temporal evolution of the instantaneous carrier frequency of 0.1-TW 5-fs pulses without the need for any correction for systematic experimental errors. At a 1-kHz repetition rate, pulse energies of a few microjoules are sufficient for reliable FROG characterization of pulses with durations down to the single-cycle regime. The results obtained reveal that carefully designed hollow-fiber chirped-mirror compressors are able to deliver high-power sub-10-fs pulses with a smooth Gaussianlike leading edge that has an intensity contrast of approximately 10(-2) .
Glucosylglycerol, a Compatible Solute, Sustains Cell Division under Salt Stress1

The cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 accumulates the compatible solute glucosylglycerol (GG) and sucrose under salt stress. Although the molecular mechanisms for GG synthesis including regulation of the GG-phosphate synthase (ggpS) gene, which encodes GgpS, has been intensively investigated, the role of GG in protection against salt stress remains poorly understood. In our study of the role of GG in the tolerance to salt stress, we found that salt stress due to 450 mm NaCl inhibited cell division and significantly increased cell size in ΔggpS mutant cells, whereas the inhibition of cell division and increase in cell size were observed in wild-type cells at high concentrations of NaCl, such as 800 mm. Electron microscopy revealed that, in ΔggpS cells, separation of daughter cells was incomplete, and aborted division could be recognized by the presence of a structure that resembled a division ring. The addition of GG to the culture medium protected ΔggpS cells against salt stress and reversed the adverse effects of NaCl on cell division and cell size. These observations suggest that GG is important for salt tolerance and thus for the proper division of cells under salt stress conditions.
Sleep-Wake Circadian Activity Rhythm Parameters and Fatigue in Oncology Patients Before the Initiation of Radiation Therapy

Background: Little is known about the relationships between sleep parameters and fatigue in patients at the initiation of radiation therapy (RT). Objectives: The objectives of this study were to describe values for nocturnal sleep/rest, daytime wake/activity, and circadian activity rhythm parameters measured using actigraphy and to evaluate the relationships between these objective parameters and subjective ratings of sleep disturbance and fatigue severity, in a sample of patients at the initiation of RT. Methods: Patients (n = 185) with breast, prostate, lung, or brain cancer completed self-report measures for sleep disturbance (ie, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, General Sleep Disturbance Scale) and fatigue (Lee Fatigue Scale) and wore wrist actigraphs for a total of 48 hours prior to beginning RT. Actigraphy data were analyzed using the Cole-Kripke algorithm. Spearman rank correlations were calculated between variables. Results: Approximately 30% to 50% of patients experienced sleep disturbance, depending on whether clinically significant cutoffs for the subjective or objective measures were used to calculate occurrence rates. In addition, these patients reported moderate levels of fatigue. Only a limited number of significant correlations were found between the subjective and objective measures of sleep disturbance. Significant positive correlations were found between the subjective, but not the objective measures of sleep disturbance and fatigue. Conclusions: A significant percentage of oncology patients experience significant disturbances in sleep-wake circadian activity rhythms at the initiation of RT. The disturbances occur in both sleep initiation and sleep maintenance. Implications for Practice: Patients need to be assessed at the initiation of RT for sleep disturbance, so appropriate treatment is initiated.
Does Unstable Employment Have an Association with Suicide Rates among the Young?

Although a growing body of literature has indicated that unemployment has a positive association with suicide, the dynamic aspects of unstable employment have not yet been considered in suicidology. This study explored the association between employment stability and completed suicide among people aged 25–34 years in 20 OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries with time-series data (1994–2010). In order to consider the different aspects of unstable employment, we tested the impacts of employment protection legislation indicators as another proxy of job insecurity (employed, but unstable) apart from unemployment rates. Covariates, including economic growth rates, GDP per capita, fertility rates, and divorce rate, were controlled for. The analysis was designed to be gender- and age-specific, where observations with ages of 25–29 were separated from those with ages of 30–34. Random effect models were applied to examine changes over time in suicide rates, and other models were presented to check robustness. The results showed that it is a low level of employment protection, rather than unemployment itself, that was associated with increased suicide rates among all of the studied populations. The magnitude of the effect differed by gender.
HDAC‐6 interacts with and deacetylates tubulin and microtubules in vivo

Microtubules are cylindrical cytoskeletal structures found in almost all eukaryotic cell types which are involved in a great variety of cellular processes. Reversible acetylation on the ϵ‐amino group of α‐tubulin Lys40 marks stabilized microtubule structures and may contribute to regulating microtubule dynamics. Yet, the enzymes catalysing this acetylation/deacetylation have remained unidentified until recently. Here we report that β‐tubulin interacts with histone deacetylase‐6 (HDAC‐6) in a yeast two‐hybrid assay and in vitro. We find that HDAC‐6 is a micro tubule‐associated protein capable of deacetylating α‐tubulin in vivo and in vitro. HDAC‐6's microtubule binding and deacetylation functions both depend on the hdac domains. Overexpression of HDAC‐6 in mammalian cells leads to tubulin hypoacetylation. In contrast, inhibition of HDAC‐6 function by two independent mechanisms—pharmacological (HDAC inhibitors) or genetic (targeted inactivation of HDAC‐6 in embryonic stem cells)—leads to hyperacetylation of tubulin and microtubules. Taken together, our data provide evidence that HDAC‐6 might act as a dual deacetylase for tubulin and histones, and suggest the possibility that acetylated non‐histone proteins might represent novel targets for pharmacological therapy by HDAC inhibitors.
Clinical evaluation of established optimal immobilizing doses of medetomidine-ketamine in captive reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus).

OBJECTIVE To evaluate clinical effects and repeatability of clinical effects for an optimal immobilizing dose of a combination of medetomidine hydrochloride (MED) and ketamine hydrochloride (KET) in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus). ANIMALS 12 healthy 6- to 8-month old reindeer. PROCEDURE Each reindeer was immobilized once with an initial dose (combination of 0.06 mg of MED/kg of body weight and 0.3 mg KET/kg) and twice with an optimal dose of MED-KET. Reversal was achieved with 5 mg of atipamezole/mg of MED injected 45 minutes after MED-KET administration. Observational variables were recorded. Oxygen saturation of arterial hemoglobin measured by pulse oximetry (Spo2), respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR), and rectal temperature (RT) were recorded 10, 25, and 40 minutes after immobilization. RESULTS Mean time to first sign of sedation and time until a recumbent animal lifted its head were significantly reduced for reindeer given the optimal dose, compared with the initial dose. Mean Spo2 remained > 90% during initial immobilization; this value was significantly lower for the optimal dose, but increased during immobilization from 85 to 89%. At all doses, RR increased significantly throughout the recorded period; however, RT and HR were constant. Except for time until reindeer stood, all time variables, Spo2, RR, RT, and HR were repeatable. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE mmobilization of captive reindeer achieved by use of the optimal dose established here is clinically acceptable, although Spo2 should be carefully monitored. Administration of the optimal dose produced the same clinical effect during repeated immobilization of the same reindeer.
Auditee Characteristics and Audit Fees: An Analysis of Nigerian Quoted Companies

This study investigated auditee characteristics and audit fees in Nigerian quoted companies. Data for the study was gotten from the annual reports of 35 companies for a 6 year period (2005-2010). The longitudinal survey research design was employed in the study, while the multivariate regression model was used to analyse the relationship between audit fees and auditee characteristics. The study found that at the 5% significance level, auditee size has a significant positive relationship with audit fees, client profitability has an insignificant negative relationship with audit fees, the auditee’s choice of auditor has a significant negative association with audit fees, industry type has an insignificant positive relationship with audit fees, and client’s business risk has a positive relationship with audit fees. Based on the findings, the study recommends that large companies should set up strong internal control system that may be relied upon by the auditor to reduce audit effort and invariably reduce audit fees and that management should on it part reduce the riskiness of their business by using corporate governance mechanism such as audit committee and an effective internal audit department.
Carotid body tumors: a review of 25 years experience in diagnosis and management of 56 tumors.

OBJECTIVE To report our experience in the management of CBTs and review the literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS 56 CBTs were operated upon over a period of 25 years. Surgical intervention was planned according to the Shamblin classification. Thirty-nine of the tumors were in males (69.64%), and 17 of the tumors were in females (30.36%). The average age was 42 (ages ranging between 32 and 47). Twenty-two tumors were diagnosed and treated with Shamblin type I, twenty-eight with type II and eight tumors with type III. All patients were unilateral except two had bilateral carotid tumors. Thirty-five lumps were de novo (group A), while 21 lumps were treated after a prior trial of removal (group B). RESULTS The incidence of carotid reconstruction was lower among group A (1/35) compared to group B (9/21). Complications were less in group A than group B (23% vs. 30%). There were 4 cases with suspected malignancy and no recurrences during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION There is an increased incidence of major vascular reconstruction in cases not properly investigated or diagnosed and in cases with prior attempts of removal in Primary Hospitals. Proper diagnosis of suspicious lumps is mandatory. Resection of CBTs by surgeons with experience in vascular reconstruction is recommended. Vascular reconstructions have to be performed safely without serious complications. Also today, prior attempts of removal are not so common, with preoperative evaluation using the latest diagnostic tools. Cranial nerves injury (especially the Hypoglossal Nv) continues to be the most common complication.
Promiscuous T-Cell Recognition of a Rubella Capsid Protein Epitope Restricted by DRB 1 * 0403 and DRB 1 * 0901 Molecules Sharing an HLA DR

Two T cell clones derived from different donors with HLA-DRB1*0403 or DRB1*0901 phenotype recognize a rubella capsid peptide, C(265-273) in the context of several different HLA-DR molecules in addition to DRB1*0403 and DRB1*0901. All DR molecules restricting the T-cell clones have in common residues, R or Q at position b70, R at position b71, and E at position b74 in pocket ‘4’ of the DR peptide binding groove, suggesting that a DR subregion structure or supertype, ‘‘Q/RRE’’ underlies the promiscuous T-cell recognition of this peptide. Single amino acid substituted analogs of peptide C(263-275) at anchor position 4 for natural residue R were tested for their ability to induce clonal T-cell cytotoxic responses. The results indicated that a positively charged residue, R or K, was required for T-cell recognition, suggesting a possible mechanism of electrostatic interactions between the negatively charged residue E at position b74 of these DR molecules and the positively charged residue at anchor position 4 of the peptide in T-cell recognition. Human Immunology 59, 149–157 (1998). © American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics, 1998. Published by Elsevier Science Inc. ABBREVIATIONS CTL cytotoxic T lymphocyte EBV-BL Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-cell line HCL HLA homozygous EBV-BL HT Hashimoto’s thyroiditis mAb murine monoclonal antibody PBMNC peripheral blood mononuclear cell rlL2 recombinant interleukin 2 RSP restrictive supertype pattern RV rubella virus TCR T-cell receptor