Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Microleakage of adhesively bonded cervical amalgam restorations.

PURPOSE To evaluate dye penetration in adhesively bonded cervical amalgam restorations. MATERIALS AND METHODS The specimens were randomly divided into four groups and the adhesives Prime & Bond 2.1, Prime & Bond 2.1 Dual Cure, Scotchbond Multi Purpose Plus and Amalgambond Plus were tested. After being restored and polished, the teeth were thermocycled 1,000 times at temperatures varying between 5 degrees C +/- 2 degrees C and 55 degrees C +/- 2 degrees C. Statistical analysis was carried out using the Kruskal-Wallis test and multiple comparisons. RESULTS Scotchbond Multi-Purpose Plus demonstrated lower levels of microleakage in enamel and dentin. The dual adhesives were more effective than the "one bottle" adhesive.
[Treatment of lithiasis in horseshoe kidney with extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy].

UNLABELLED The horseshoe kidney is the most frequent renal anomaly. As a consequence of impaired urinary drainage, urolithiasis is present in 20% of the cases. Indications for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) in the treatment of patients with anomalous kidneys is still the subject of controversy. OBJECTIVE To evaluate ESWL efficacy in the treatment for lithiasis in horseshoe kidney. MATERIAL AND METHODS Between april 1988 and december 1999 a total of 32 symptomatic lithiasis in 30 patients with horseshoe kidneys were managed by 65 sessions with ESWL. Until march 1999 a Dornier HM-4 electrohydraulic lithotripter was used. Posteriorly, two treatments was performed with an electromagnetic Dornier Lithotripter S. These procedures have been performed without anaesthesia or sedation for the Dornier HM-4 equipment. Analgesia with Meperidine was used for the Dornier Lithotripter S. Diuresis was not forced during or after treatment with diuretics or serotherapy. Treatments was conducted in an outpatient clinic in all cases. RESULTS Treatment/lithiasis rate was 2.03. Following treatment 16 patients (54%) were stone-free by X-ray, 9 patients (30%) had residual fragments and in 5 patients (16%) no sign of stone disintegration was observed. Open surgery was performed in three of this patients. Better results was achieved in stones located in the renal pelvis and stone size is 10 mm or less. Clinical evolution: free of symptoms in 20 patients; chronic vague flank pain in 5 patients and acute renal colic with or without hematuria in 5 patients. No major complication was observed in our compilation. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that ESWL is the method of primary choice in the treatment for small lithiasis (10 mm or less) in horseshoe kidney.
The marketing audit and business performance: an empirical study of large Australian companies

The conceptual framework of the marketing audit has been well developed by different contributors since the late 1950s. At the present time, the popular marketing textbooks and the published academic and general literature deal primarily with the theoretical and practical aspects of the marketing audit without offering any rigorous empirical justification of the practice. The teaching of the marketing audit appears to be based on the logical expectation of its usefulness, isolated case studies, and anecdotal evidence. There is little indication of how the marketing audit is actually being used, the procedure in conducting it, and how the industry perceives and evaluates its benefits. This paper attempts to explore and profile the current practice of the marketing audit in larger Australian firms. The results of this industry-based survey of 216 large Australian businesses indicated that about 48 per cent of the respondents have used the marketing audit, with 75 per cent using the self-audit method in conducting it. The respondents’ perception was that the implementation of the recommendations of the marketing audit had contributed mostly between one per cent and 10 per cent to their organisational performance.
Corpus domain effects on distributional semantic modeling of medical terms

MOTIVATION Automatically quantifying semantic similarity and relatedness between clinical terms is an important aspect of text mining from electronic health records, which are increasingly recognized as valuable sources of phenotypic information for clinical genomics and bioinformatics research. A key obstacle to development of semantic relatedness measures is the limited availability of large quantities of clinical text to researchers and developers outside of major medical centers. Text from general English and biomedical literature are freely available; however, their validity as a substitute for clinical domain to represent semantics of clinical terms remains to be demonstrated. RESULTS We constructed neural network representations of clinical terms found in a publicly available benchmark dataset manually labeled for semantic similarity and relatedness. Similarity and relatedness measures computed from text corpora in three domains (Clinical Notes, PubMed Central articles and Wikipedia) were compared using the benchmark as reference. We found that measures computed from full text of biomedical articles in PubMed Central repository (rho = 0.62 for similarity and 0.58 for relatedness) are on par with measures computed from clinical reports (rho = 0.60 for similarity and 0.57 for relatedness). We also evaluated the use of neural network based relatedness measures for query expansion in a clinical document retrieval task and a biomedical term word sense disambiguation task. We found that, with some limitations, biomedical articles may be used in lieu of clinical reports to represent the semantics of clinical terms and that distributional semantic methods are useful for clinical and biomedical natural language processing applications. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION The software and reference standards used in this study to evaluate semantic similarity and relatedness measures are publicly available as detailed in the article. CONTACT pakh0002@umn.eduSupplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Clustering of protein-protein interaction network using fractal dimension of protein subnetworks

Protein-protein interactions play a vital role in the biological processes of all living organisms. These interactions can be represented as networks, in which a node represents a protein and an edge represents an interaction between a pair of proteins. Clustering of these networks leads to the detection of significant protein complexes. FDPClus, a density based clustering method of these networks using the principles of fractal dimension is proposed here. A modified sand box algorithm is used to find the fractal dimension of protein subnetworks. The F-measure values obtained for the Gavin and Collins data set are 0.48 and 0.63 respectively when compared against the CYC2008 yeast benchmark protein complex set. The proposed method shows better performance than other existing methods such as DPClus, MCODE, RNSC, CORE and MCL. Hence it demonstrates the usefulness of fractal dimension of protein subnetworks in the clustering of Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) networks.
Components of variance in a multicentre functional MRI study and implications for calculation of statistical power

This article firstly presents a theoretical analysis of the statistical power of a parallel‐group, repeated‐measures (two‐session) and two‐centre design suitable for a placebo‐controlled pharmacological MRI study. For arbitrary effect size, power is determined by the pooled between‐session error, the pooled measurement error, the ratio of centre measurement errors, the total number of subjects and the proportion of subjects studied at the centre with greatest measurement error. Secondly, an experiment is described to obtain empirical estimates of variance components in task‐related and resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Twelve healthy volunteers were scanned at two centres during performance of blocked and event‐related versions of an affect processing task (each repeated twice per session) and rest. In activated regions, variance components were estimated: between‐subject (23% of total), between‐centre (2%), between‐paradigm (4%), within‐session occasion (paradigm repeat; 2%) and residual (measurement) error (69%). The between‐centre ratio of measurement errors was 0.8. A similar analysis for the Hurst exponent estimated in resting data showed negligible contributions of between‐subject and between‐centre variability; measurement error accounted for 99% of total variance. Substituting these estimates in the theoretical expression for power, incorporation of two centres in the design necessitates a modest (10%) increase in the total number of subjects compared with a single‐centre study. Furthermore, considerable improvements in power can be attained by repetition of the task within each scanning session. Thus, theoretical models of power and empirical data indicate that between‐centre variability can be small enough to encourage multicentre designs without major compensatory increases in sample size. Hum Brain Mapp 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Localization using beacon in wireless sensor networks to detect faulty nodes and accuracy improvement through DV-Hop algorithm

Now a days, Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) are emerging as a challenging and interesting area. Wireless Sensor Network consists of a large number of heterogeneous or homogeneous sensor nodes which communicates through wireless medium and works together to sense or monitor the environment. The number of sensor nodes in a network can vary from hundreds to thousands. The node senses data from environment and sends these data to the gateway node. Mostly WSNs are used for applications such as military surveillance and disaster monitoring. WSNs are multi-hop networks, which depend on the intermediate nodes to relay the data packet to the destination. These nodes are equipped with lesser memory, limited battery power, little computation capability, small range of communication and need a secured and efficient routing path to forward the incoming packet delay by data aggregation) and multipath sensor networks to increase the resilience and reliability of the network. The localization information is crucial for the operation of WSN. There are mainly two types of Localization algorithms. The Range-based localization algorithm has requirements on hardware, thus is expensive to be implemented in practice. The Range-free localization algorithm reduces the hardware cost. In this paper we locate known nodes by placement (DV Hop) in various locations for best result. Our algorithm improves the localization accuracy compared with previous algorithms, which has been demonstrated by the simulating results.
International Pricing in a Generalized Model of Ideal Variety

We examine international markups and pricing in a generalized version of an "ideal variety" model. In this model, entry causes crowding in variety space, so that the marginal utility of new varieties falls as market size grows. Crowding is partially offset by income effects, as richer consumers will pay more for varieties closer matched to their ideal types. We show theoretically and confirm empirically that declining marginal utility of new varieties results in: a higher own-price elasticity of demand (and lower prices) in large countries and a lower own-price elasticity of demand (and higher prices) in rich countries. The model is also useful for generating facts from the literature regarding cross-country differences in the rate of variety expansion. Copyright (c) 2009 The Ohio State University.
Protocol for Micropropagation of Two Ficus carica Cultivars

Shoot tips of two fig cultivars (Conadria and Black Mission) proliferated in vitro, were cultured on modified MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). The present investigation aimed to investigate the effect of different medium salt strengths (Double, full, half and quarter) and different sources of carbon (sucrose and fructose) at different concentrations (0.1 and 0.2 mol/l) supplemented in MS medium on shoot multiplication and rooting stage of studied fig cultivars. Obtained results showed that Black Mission cultivar surpassed Conadria cultivar in shoot number while, Conadria gave higher leaves number and shoot length than Black Mission. Full and double MS medium strengths enhanced both of shoots number and shoot length, significantly. Fructose as a carbon source was better than sucrose for multiplication. The best shoot length and shoot number were obtained when fructose was added to the medium at 0.2 mol/l. In rooting stage, MS medium with half strength increased markedly rooting percentage in comparison with other medium strengths. Rooting percentage, root number, root length and plantlet length of fig shoots were better on MS medium contained fructose (0.1M) as a carbon source compared with those on medium contained sucrose.
Benthic iron and phosphorus fluxes across the Peruvian oxygen minimum zone

Benthic fluxes of dissolved ferrous iron (Fe2+) and phosphate (TPO4) were quantified by in situ benthic chamber incubations and pore‐water profiles along a depth transect (11°S, 80‐1000 m) across the Peruvian oxygen minimum zone (OMZ). Bottom‐water O2 levels were < 2 µmol L−1 down to 500‐m water depth, and increased to ∼ 40 µmol L−1 at 1000 m. Fe2+ fluxes were highest on the shallow shelf (maximum 316 mmol m−2 yr−1), moderate (15.4 mmol m−2 yr−1) between 250 m and 600 m, and negligible at deeper stations. In the persistent OMZ core, continuous reduction of Fe oxyhydroxides results in depletion of sedimentary Fe : Al ratios. TPO4 fluxes were high (maximum 292 mmol m−2 yr−1) throughout the shelf and the OMZ core in association with high organic carbon degradation rates. Ratios between organic carbon degradation and TPO4 flux indicate excess release of P over C when compared to Redfield stoichiometry. Most likely, this is caused by preferential P release from organic matter, dissolution of fish debris, and/or P release from microbial mat communities, while Fe oxyhydroxides can only be inferred as a major P source on the shallow shelf. The benthic fluxes presented here are among the highest reported from similar, oxygen‐depleted environments and highlight the importance of sediments underlying anoxic water bodies as nutrient sources to the ocean. The shelf is particularly important as the periodic passage of coastal trapped waves and associated bottom‐water oxygenation events can be expected to induce a transient biogeochemical environment with highly variable release of Fe2+ and TPO4.
Ultracentrifugal and electrophoretic studies on neonatal calf sera and maternal colostrum

1. Neonatal serum proteins and those of maternal colostrum have been examined in the Spinco analytical ultracentrifuge and the Perkin-Elmer electrophoresis apparatus. To facilitate correlations between the two types of result, certain protein fractions have been prepared electrophoretically and examined in the ultracentrifuge. 2. The electrophoretically distinguishable components of precolostral serum, albumin, α and β globulin and traces of γ globulin sedimented mainly as a single boundary which showed evidence of a slower component (probably fetuin) with a sedimentation constant of about 3S. A small proportion of a macroglobulin component (S020 ≅ 16S), associated with the α globulin, was also present. In conformity with the very low γ globulin, there was a complete lack of globulin with S020 ≅ 6·5–7·0S. The β globulin and the bulk of the α globulin sedimented closely with albumin, whose sedimentation constant in an electrophoretically isolated fraction was somewhat lower than normal, probably as a result of α-globulin contamination. 3. The electrophoretic and ultracentrifuge analysis of postcolostral calf serum showed evidence of passive absorption from the maternal colostrum of immune lactoglobulin. There was a rise in the concentration of total serum protein of which up to 51·6% was immune lactoglobulin, of sedimentation constant 6–6·5S. No such component occurs in precolostral sera. The electrophoretic and ultracen-trifugal characteristics of this globulin were not significantly altered as the result of absorption. The acquisition of immune lactoglobulin was accompanied by a simultaneous fall in serum albumin concentration. 4. Examination of colostrum, rennin-produced colostral whey, and of electrophoretic fractions prepared from colostrum showed the presence of a small proportion of a macroglobulin (S020 ≅ 18S), a well-defined immune lactoglobulin of S020 ≅ 6·4S and electrophoretic properties in the γ-range, and a group of electrophoretically more mobile components with sedimentation constants ranging downwards from 3S. 5. Electrophoretically prepared fractions from the serum of a deprived calf 27 days old showed sedimentation properties in conformity with the results on precolostral sera, with the macroglobulin component being again associated with α globulin. The remainder of α and β globulin sedimented alongside albumin and the additional γ-globulin component in a single boundary of S020 ≅ 6·5–7S. 6. The concentration of autogenous γ globulin developed by calves which had been deprived of colostrum increased with time and was generally in fair agreement with that of the 6·5–7S component. The authors wish to thank Sir Alan Drury, F.R. S. , for his interest and encouragement during the course of this work, Mr N. Buttress, Mr D. Hardman and Miss J. Mallon for technical assistance and Mr J. Clark for assistance in the care and handling of the calves.
Aromatic-Aromatic Interactions in Biological System: Structure Activity Relationships

While, intramolecular hydrogen bonds have attracted the greatest attention in studies of peptide conformations, the recognition that several other weakly polar interactions may be important determinants of folded structure has been growing. Burley and Petsko provided a comprehensive overview of the importance of weakly polar interactions, in shaping protein structures. The interactions between aromatic rings, which are spatially approximate, have attracted special attention. A survey of the proximal aromatic residue pairs in proteins, allowed Burley and Petsko to suggest that, “phenyl ring centroids are separated by a preferential distance of between 4.5 and 7 A, and dihedral angles approximately 90° are most common”.
Lactogenic Hormone Activation of Stat5 and Transcription of the β-Casein Gene in Mammary Epithelial Cells Is Independent of p42 ERK2 Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Activity*

HC11 mammary epithelial cells have been used to characterize molecular events involved in the regulation of milk protein gene expression. Treatment of HC11 cells with the lactogenic hormones prolactin, insulin, and glucocorticoids results in transcription of the β-casein gene. Prolactin induces a signaling event which involves tyrosine phosphorylation of the mammary gland factor, Stat5, a member of the family of signal transducers and activators of transcription (Stat). Here we show that HC11 cells express two Stat5 proteins, Stat5a and Stat5b. Phosphopeptide and phosphoamino acid analysis of Stat5a and Stat5b immunoprecipitated from phosphate-labeled HC11 cells revealed that both proteins were constitutively phosphorylated on serine. Lactogenic hormone treatment resulted in the appearance of a tyrosine-phosphorylated peptide in both Stat5 proteins. Consistent with this observation, a Western blot analysis of Stat5a and Stat5b showed that lactogenic hormones induced a rapid, transient increase in phosphotyrosine which paralleled the binding of Stat5 to its cognate recognition sequence in the β-casein gene promoter. Lactogenic hormone treatment of the HC11 cells also led to a rapid activation of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway. We examined the role of this pathway in β-casein transcription using a specific MAP kinase kinase inhibitor, PD98059. Concentrations of PD98059 which completely abrogated lactogen-induced MAP kinase activation did not affect the phosphorylation state of Stat5, its DNA binding activity, or transcriptional activation of a β-casein reporter construct. This indicates that the MAP kinase pathway does not contribute to lactogenic hormone induction of the β-casein gene.
Interaction effects of ego involvement on the relationships between aesthetics, usability and commitment. An application to electronic banking services and virtual travel communities

Purpose – This study aims to investigate how ego‐involvement and the design of online services may be associated with affective commitment, making the distinction between hedonic and utilitarian services.Design/methodology/approach – This research uses partial least squares to estimate the parameters of the research model.Findings – This research reaches four conclusions. First, that visual aesthetics and usability have a significant effect on the desire to continue using online services. Second, that ego‐involvement becomes an important quasi‐moderator when engaging in web‐based relationships. Third, that perceptions of aesthetics (and usability) more significantly influence highly‐involved users' commitment to hedonic (utilitarian) online services than their commitment to instrumental (hedonic) services. Fourth, the influences of aesthetics on usability reflect the benefits that web information systems (WIS) offer.Research limitations/implications – The model does not include all the relevant variables.
Radio to gamma-ray variability study of blazar S5 0716+714

We present the results of a series of radio, optical, X-ray, and γ-ray observations of the BL Lac object S50716+714 carried out between April 2007 and January 2011. The multifrequency observations were obtained using several ground- and space-based facilities. The intense optical monitoring of the source reveals faster repetitive variations superimposed on a long-term variability trend on a time scale of ∼350 days. Episodes of fast variability recur on time scales of ∼60−70 days. The intense and simultaneous activity at optical and γ-ray frequencies favors the synchrotron self-Compton mechanism for the production of the high-energy emission. Two major low-peaking radio flares were observed during this high optical/γ-ray activity period. The radio flares are characterized by a rising and a decaying stage and agrees with the formation of a shock and its evolution. We found that the evolution of the radio flares requires a geometrical variation in addition to intrinsic variations of the source. Different estimates yield robust and self-consistent lower limits of δ ≥ 20 and equipartition magnetic field Beq ≥ 0.36 G. Causality arguments constrain the size of emission region θ ≤ 0.004 mas. We found a significant correlation between flux variations at radio frequencies with those at optical and γ-rays. The optical/GeV flux variations lead the radio variability by ∼65 days. The longer time delays between low-peaking radio outbursts and optical flares imply that optical flares are the precursors of radio ones. An orphan X-ray flare challenges the simple, one-zone emission models, rendering them too simple. Here we also describe the spectral energy distribution modeling of the source from simultaneous data taken through different activity periods.