Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Finite element analysis of maxillary central incisors restored with various post-and-core applications

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of rigidity of post core systems on stress distribution by the theoretical technique, finite element stress-analysis method. Three-dimensional finite element models simulating an endodontically treated maxillary central incisor restored with a zirconia ceramic crown were prepared and 1.5 mm ferrule height was provided. Each model contained cortical bone, trabecular bone, periodontal ligament, 4 mm apical root canal filling, and post-and-core. Six combinations of three parallel type post (zirconia ceramic, glass fiber, and stainless steel) and two core (Paracore and Tetric ceram) materials were evaluated, respectively. A 50 N static occlusal load was applied to the palatal surface of the crown with a 60� angle to the long axis of the tooth. The differences in stress transfer characteristics of the models were analyzed. von Mises stresses were chosen for presentation of results and maximum displacement and hydrostatic pressure were also calculated. An increase of the elastic modulus of the post material increased the stress, but shifted the maximum stress location from the dentin surface to the post material. Buccal side of cervical region (junction of core and crown) of the glass fiber post restored tooth was subjected to the highest stress concentration. Maximum von Mises stress in the remaining radicular tooth structure for low elastic modulus resin core (29.21 MPa) was slightly higher than that for high elastic modulus resin core (29.14 MPa) in case of glass fiber post. Maximum displacement of glass fiber post restored tooth was higher than that of zirconia ceramic or stainless steel post restored tooth. [J Kor Acad Cons Dent 34(4):324-332, 2009]
Sox2 modulates motility and enhances progression of colorectal cancer via the Rho-ROCK signaling pathway

Sox2 (Sry-box2) is essential for a variety of stem cells and is also expressed in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the underlying mechanism by which Sox2 enhances CRC progression remains unclear. In the present study, we show that elevated Sox2 expression is significantly correlated with poor clinical prognosis. CRC is phenotypically heterogeneous, and harbors several subtypes of cancer cells. Elevated Sox2 expression was always detected in rounded-shape cells, which co-located to poorly differentiated regions, the invasive frontier and metastatic lesions. Knockdown of Sox2 in CRC cells not only decreased the number of round-shaped cells, but also suppressed cell migration, invasion as well as attenuated colony forming capacity and tumorigenicity. By contrast, overexpression of Sox2 in CRC cells was associated with up-regulation of multidrug resistance genes and accelerated CRC progression. Moreover, Sox2 conferred activation of Rho-ROCK signaling, whereas inhibition of ROCK signaling decreased cell migration, invasion, colony formation and self-renewal of CRC. Our results reveal that CRC is phenotypically and functionally heterogeneous. Elevated Sox2 expression activates the Rho-ROCK pathway, which in turn changes cell morphology and promotes cell migration and progression.
Could IFRS Replace US GAAP? A Comparison of Earnings Attributes and Informativeness in the US Market

We compare various earnings attributes of two accounting standards in one regulatory environment. We consider all firms that file Form 20-F reconciliations from IFRS to USGAAP with the SEC for 2004-2006. We find USGAAP and IFRS share many earnings attributes with two notable exceptions: USGAAP exhibits higher cash persistence and value relevance. Both IFRS and USGAAP accruals are incrementally informative over cash flows. While USGAAP net income has incremental informativeness over IFRS earnings and cash flows, the reverse is not true. USGAAP exhibits higher relative information content. Our results inform US regulators considering whether to permit, or require, IFRS.
Robot Skill Learning: From Reinforcement Learning to Evolution Strategies

Abstract Policy improvement methods seek to optimize the parameters of a policy with respect to a utility function. Owing to current trends involving searching in parameter space (rather than action space) and using reward-weighted averaging (rather than gradient estimation), reinforcement learning algorithms for policy improvement, e.g. PoWER and PI2, are now able to learn sophisticated high-dimensional robot skills. A side-effect of these trends has been that, over the last 15 years, reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms have become more and more similar to evolution strategies such as (μW , λ)-ES and CMA-ES. Evolution strategies treat policy improvement as a black-box optimization problem, and thus do not leverage the problem structure, whereas RL algorithms do. In this paper, we demonstrate how two straightforward simplifications to the state-of-the-art RL algorithm PI2 suffice to convert it into the black-box optimization algorithm (μW, λ)-ES. Furthermore, we show that (μW , λ)-ES empirically outperforms PI2 on the tasks in [36]. It is striking that PI2 and (μW , λ)-ES share a common core, and that the simpler algorithm converges faster and leads to similar or lower final costs. We argue that this difference is due to a third trend in robot skill learning: the predominant use of dynamic movement primitives (DMPs). We show how DMPs dramatically simplify the learning problem, and discuss the implications of this for past and future work on policy improvement for robot skill learning
Binding of soluble fibronectin to integrin α5β1 – link to focal adhesion redistribution and contractile shape

Focal adhesions are randomly distributed across the ventral surface or along the edge of epithelial cells. In fibroblasts they orient centripetally and concentrate at a few peripheral sites connecting long F-actin stress fibers, causing a typical elongated, contractile morphology. Extensive remodeling of adhesions in fibroblasts also takes part in fibronectin fibrillogenesis, a process that depends on Rho-mediated contractility and results in the formation of a fibronectin matrix. Our current study shows that all these fibroblast characteristics are controlled by the ability of integrin α5β1 to bind soluble fibronectin molecules in their compact inactive conformation. The hypervariable region of the ligand-binding I-like domain of integrin α5β1 supports binding of soluble fibronectin. This supports the distribution of centripetally orientated focal adhesions in distinct peripheral sites, Rho activation and fibronectin fibrillogenesis through a mechanism that does not depend on Syndecan-4. Integrin αvβ3, even when locked in high affinity conformations for the RGD recognition motif shows no appreciable binding of soluble fibronectin and, consequently, fails to support the typical fibroblast focal adhesion distribution, Rho activity and fibronectin fibrillogenesis in the absence of integrin α5β1. The ability of α5β1 integrin to interact with soluble fibronectin may thus drive the cell-matrix adhesion and cytoskeletal organization required for a contractile, fibroblast-like morphology, perhaps explaining why α5β1 integrin, similarly to fibronectin, is essential for development.
Booms, Busts and Behavioural Heterogeneity in Stock Prices

We estimate a behavioural heterogeneous agents model with boundedly rational traders who know the fundamental stock price, but disagree about the persistence of deviations from the fundamental. Some agents (fundamentalists) believe in mean-reversion of stock prices, while others (chartists) expect a continuation of the trend. Agents gradually switch between the two rules, based upon their relative performance, leading to self-reinforcing regimes of mean-reversion and trend-following. For the fundamental benchmark price we use two well-known models, the Gordon model with a constant risk premium and the Campbell-Cochrane consumption-habit model with a time-varying risk premium. We estimate a two-type switching model using U.S. stock prices until 2016Q4. The estimations show an improvement over representative agent models that is both statistically and economically significant. Our model suggests that behavioural regime switching strongly amplifies booms and busts, in particular, the dot-com bubble and the financial crisis in 2008.
Responses of solitary retinal horizontal cells from Carassius auratus to L‐glutamate and related amino acids.

Effects of L‐glutamate and its analogues on membrane potentials of solitary horizontal cells were studied by intracellular recording. L‐glutamate depolarized these cells at micromolar concentrations (greater than or equal to 10 microM), while D‐glutamate and L‐alpha‐amino adipic acid produced slight depolarizations only at millimolar concentrations. Neither L‐ nor D‐aspartate, even at millimolar doses, produced any change in solitary horizontal‐cell resting potential. Solitary horizontal‐cell responses to L‐glutamate did not desensitize detectably. Responses to pairs of brief, ionophoretic pulses of L‐glutamate were nearly equal in amplitude at inter‐pulse intervals as short as 50 ms. Responses to maintained applications of low doses of L‐glutamate did not decline for as long as 2 min. Depolarizing responses were produced by ionophoretic applications of L‐glutamate near cell somata as well as dendrites. The mean sensitivity was 1.4 +/‐ 1.5 mV/nC with a maximum of 5.1 mV/nC. Depolarizing responses to L‐glutamate reversed in polarity at membrane potentials between 0 and ‐20 mV, were accompanied by a decrease in membrane slope resistance, and were suppressed by replacement of extracellular sodium ions with choline. These results demonstrate that chemosensitivity of retinal horizontal cells to acidic amino acids persists after dissociation protocols, and in several respects resembles that found in horizontal cells in situ. These findings are consistent with the notion that retinal horizontal cells receive a synaptic input involving L‐glutamate or a similar substance.
Dual-polarized X-band microstrip patch sub-array for Off-the-Grid radar array antenna

The design of a dual-polarized microstrip patch sub-array to be used as the radiating element in an array for the CASA Off-the-Grid radar system is presented. The sub-array consists of four microstrip patches with dual feeds and oppositely fed to reduce the cross-polarization levels. Simulation results in demonstrate a 7% bandwidth at 9.4 GHz, port isolation of 30 dB, and cross-polarization levels of 27 dB at broadside.
Assessing Vertical Jump Developmental Levels in Childhood Using a Low-Cost Motion Capture Approach

Understanding the developmental levels of fundamental movement skills has a critical role in the improvement of motor competence in childhood. In this respect, the use of Microsoft Kinect to assess vertical jumping skill and to predict developmental levels in 9- to 12-yr. -old children was evaluated. 41 boys and girls repeated the countermovement jump test three times. Vertical jumping skill levels were categorized using observational records, while kinematic and temporal parameters were estimated using a biomechanical model based on data acquired by the Kinect. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and discriminant analysis verified that the height of the jump and the flight height predict the primary differences in jumping skill developmental levels, and the Kinect-based assessment discriminates these levels.
Association of interleukin-17F 7488 single nucleotide polymorphism and inflammatory bowel disease in the Chinese population

Objective. The functional polymorphism of interleukin (IL)-17F 7488 A > G was found to be associated with autoimmune inflammatory diseases and also high IL-17F intestinal expression in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was detected. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the polymorphism and IBD in the Chinese population and to elucidate potential interactions between IL-17F genotypes and clinical phenotypes. Material and methods. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood cells of 148 ulcerative colitis (UC), 134 Crohn's disease (CD) patients and 373 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. The IL-17F 7488 A > G polymorphism was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and sequencing. Results. In UC patients, the homozygous GG genotype frequency was significantly lower than that in the controls (0.0% versus 3.8%, p=0.014); Compared to that of wild-type AA patients, the AG heterozygous carriers have a later onset (43.3±11.1 years versus 34.6±14.8 years, p = 0.012) and a significantly higher incidence of mild severity (94.1% versus 61.0%, p = 0.009, OR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.94–0.96), respectively, indicating that subjects with the GG genotype have a slightly decreased risk of 0.96 times for UC compared with that of other genotypes. Further analysis also revealed that G carrier subjects were more likely to present mild severity and had 10.2 times higher incidence of getting mild severity than those with AA genotype (OR = 10.2, 95% CI = 1.3–81.0). Conclusions. This study shows that IL-17F 7488 A > G polymorphism is associated with weak UC protection in the Chinese population. The clinical phenotypes of UC are also affected by this polymorphism.
The neurologic basis of fever.

Fever is a complex, coordinated autonomic, neuroendocrine, and behavioral response that is adaptive and is used by nearly all vertebrates as part of the acute-phase reaction to immune challenge. Although the febrile response can be elicited by a wide variety of infectious organisms and may also occur during noninfectious inflammatory conditions, its manifestations are stereotyped and largely independent of the causative agent. Like other integrated responses, such as the regulation of energy metabolism, blood pressure and volume, and reproduction, fever depends on humoral cues from the body, is orchestrated largely by the hypothalamus, and involves the coordination of a wide .
Antiapoptotic Function of Cdk 9 ( TAK / P-TEFb ) in U 937 Promonocytic Cells

Cdk9 is the catalytic subunit of TAK (cyclinT1/P-TEFb), a cellular protein kinase that mediates human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Tat transcriptional activation function. To examine Cdk9 function in cells relevant to HIV-1 infection, we used a murine leukemia virus retrovirus vector to transduce and overexpress the cDNA of a dominant negative mutant Cdk9 protein (Cdk9-dn) in Jurkat T cells and U937 promonocytic cells. In Jurkat cells, overexpression of Cdk9-dn specifically inhibited Tat transactivation and HIV-1 replication but had no inhibitory effect on induction of CD69, CD25, and interleukin-2 following T-cell activation. In U937 cells, overexpression of Cdk9-dn sensitized cells to apoptosis, especially after phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) treatment to induce differentiation to macrophage-like cells. Because Cdk9 function is induced in PMA-treated U937 cells, Cdk9 may play an antiapoptotic role during monocyte differentiation.
From ‘Trailing Wives’ to the Emergence of a ‘Trailing Husbands’ Phenomenon: Retirement Migration to Rural Areas

Migration and gender studies have focused on economically active heterogeneous couples and traditionally highlight a dominant male role in migration decision-making. The female partner is commonly portrayed as a ‘trailing wife’ or ‘trailing mother’ with the move found to have a negative effect on her employment prospects. Much less is known about if or how the balance of power shifts between husbands and wives when employment or career-motivated moves are removed from the decision-making process. This is analysed with reference to retirement migration to rural areas of the UK and involved interviews with both partners present. For this cohort of retired couples, and in common with the literature, migration during economically active life course stages demonstrates strong ‘trailing wife’ and ‘trailing mother’ tendencies. The male's decision to retire signalled the commencement of a retirement life course stage for the couple. However, in contrast to the earlier male-dominated decision-making, retirement migration saw the emergence of a ‘trailing husband’ phenomenon. Wives appear to adapt most successfully to the new rural environment, while many husbands found it difficult to adjust (at least initially) to the multiple life changes: moving from largely urban areas to a rural setting alongside exiting the workforce. The findings suggest that the role of leader/follower changed during the course of these couples' lives together and in relation to their reasons for moving. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Why Positive Selection?

This essay is one of unabashed advocacy (Dawkins 1982). I want lo argue against ihe notion that T-cell development must include a positive selection step in the thymus in which T cells are selected on the basis of the specificity of their receptor for antigen. The reason for my argument is that I hold that models should be as simple as possible and explain as much as possible with the introduction of as few basic assumptions as necessary. I have found it extremely difficult to build a model that incorporates positive selection in any way that accounts for alloreactivity as well as MHC restriction. It is possible to getierate a functional peripheral T-cell population without incorporating positive selection, and the first part of this essay will be devoted to a modernized version of a model that I proposed 14 years ago (Matzinger 1979, Matzinger 1981). The second part of the essay will deal with the historical reasons that have been postulated to explain the existence of positive selection, why it has been such an appealing concept, and what sorts of problems it leads to in attempts build a coherent, consistent model of T-cell behavior. The third part will be an analysis of the data for and against positive selection, where I will propose alternative interpretations for some of the current data obtained with T-ceil receptor transgenic mice. This essay is written for two kinds of reader: the student who knows basic immunology but has not followed all the developments in the field of positive selection, and the expert (for example the other authors who have contributed to this volume). There are therefore bound to be times when the expert will be bored or irritated by my explanations of very basic ideas as well as other times when the student will find the going rather rough. I apologize in advance for my ineptitude and hope that both types of reader may gain some insights from the process.
Use of Defined Mutants To Assess the Role of theCampylobacter rectus S-Layer in Bacterium-Epithelial Cell Interactions

ABSTRACT Campylobacter rectus is a periodontal pathogen with a 150-kDa protein on its cell surface. This protein forms a paracrystalline lattice, called the S-layer, surrounding the outer membrane of this gram-negative bacterium. To initiate a genetic analysis of the possible role of the S-layer in the initial interaction of C. rectus with host epithelial cells, C. rectus strains lacking the S-layer protein gene (crsA) were constructed by allelic exchange mutagenesis. Surprisingly, the lack of the S-layer had only a minor effect on the interaction of C. rectus with HEp-2 epithelial cells; CrsA+ cells were 30 to 50% more adherent than were CrsA− bacteria. Since the host cell expression of cytokines appears to play an important role in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases, the effect of the S-layer on the epithelial cell cytokine response was also examined by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Although there were no changes in the mRNA levels for the anti-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 receptor agonist (IL-1ra), IL-13, and transforming growth factor β, the expression and secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were significantly induced by both wild-type C. rectus and CrsA− bacteria. Interestingly, the kinetics of cytokine induction differed for the CrsA+ and CrsA−bacteria. At early time points, the HEp-2 cells challenged with CrsA− bacteria produced higher levels of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α mRNA and protein than did cells challenged with CrsA+ bacteria. We conclude that C. rectus may help initiate periodontitis by increasing the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and that the S-layer may temper this response to facilitate the survival of C. rectus at the site of infection.
The Frequency and Magnitude of Cerebrospinal Fluid Pulsations Influence Intrathecal Drug Distribution: Key Factors for Interpatient Variability

BACKGROUND:Intrathecal drug delivery is an efficient method to administer therapeutic molecules to the central nervous system. However, even with identical drug dosage and administration mode, the extent of drug distribution in vivo is highly variable and difficult to control. Different cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pulsatility from patient to patient may lead to different drug distribution. Medical image–based computational fluid dynamics (miCFD) is used to construct a patient-specific model to quantify drug transport as a function of a spectrum of physiological CSF pulsations. METHODS:Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and CINE MRI were performed to capture the patient's central nervous system anatomy and CSF pulsatile flow velocities. An miCFD model was reconstructed from these MRIs and the patient's CSF flow velocities were computed. The effect of CSF pulsatility (frequency and stroke volume) was investigated for a bolus injection of a model drug at the L2 vertebral level. Drug distribution profiles along the entire spine were computed for different heart rates: 43, 60, and 120 bpm, and varied CSF stroke volumes: 1, 2, and 3 mL. To assess toxicity risk for patients with different physiological variables, therapeutic and toxic concentration thresholds for a common anesthetic were derived from experimental studies. Toxicity risk analysis was performed for an injection of a spinal anesthetic for patients with different heart rates and CSF stroke volumes. RESULTS:Both heart rate and CSF stroke volume of the patient strongly influence drug distribution administered intrathecally. Doubling the heart rate (from 60 to 120 bpm) caused a 26.4% decrease in peak concentration in CSF after injection. Doubling the CSF stroke volume diminished the peak concentration after injection by 38.1%. Computations show that potentially toxic peak concentrations due to injection can be avoided by changing the infusion rate. Using slower infusion rates could avoid high peak concentrations in CSF while maintaining drug concentrations above the therapeutic threshold. CONCLUSIONS:Our computations identify key variables for patient to patient variability in drug distribution in the spine observed clinically. The speed of drug transport is strongly affected by the frequency and magnitude of CSF pulsations. Toxicity risks associated with an injection can be reduced for a particular patient by adjusting the infusion variables with our rigorous miCFD model.
Perceptions on Accounting Career: A Study among the Secondary School Students in a Regional Kelantan State

This study analyses the perceptions of secondary school students about the accounting profession in Malaysia. Fifty five form three and form four students who are taking accounting/commerce subjects were met. Individual’s perception data were collected through questionnaires. The results at the secondary school level suggest that the stereotypical negative image of the accountant ends, with students expressing the positive view of the work of an accountant. There were also gender differences in perceiving the accounting profession. Overall, the results of the study suggest that we are now in line in projecting positive and accurate perceptions of the accounting profession to secondary school students. Keywords—Perceptions, secondary school students, accounting profession, Malaysia.