Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Shear bond strength evaluation of bonded molar tubes on fluorotic molars.

OBJECTIVE To study the shear bond strength (SBS), sites of failure, and micromorphology of bonded molar tubes used on teeth affected by dental fluorosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS This in vitro study included 140 first molars classified according to Dean's index for dental fluorosis. Samples were divided into seven groups: (1) healthy teeth etched for 15 seconds, (2) teeth with moderate fluorosis (MOF) etched for 15 seconds, (3) teeth with MOF etched for 150 seconds, (4) teeth with MOF microabrasion etched for 15 seconds, (5) teeth with severe fluorosis (SEF) etched for 15 seconds, (6) teeth with SEF etched for 150 seconds, and (7) teeth with SEF microabrasion etched for 15 seconds. All samples were incubated and were then submitted to the SBS test and evaluated with the modified adhesive remnant index (ARI) and analyzed by using a scanning electronic microscope. RESULTS The SBS mean value for healthy enamel was 20 ± 10.2 MPa. For the group with MOF, the etched 150-second mean value was the highest (19 ± 7.6 MPa); for the group with SEF treated with microabrasion and etched for 15 seconds, the mean value was (13 ± 4.1 MPa). Significant differences (P ≤ .05) were found in the ARI between healthy and fluorosed groups. CONCLUSIONS Fluorotic enamel affects the adhesion of bonded molar tubes. The use of overetching in cases of MOF and the combination of microabrasion and etching in SEF provides a suitable adhesion for fixed appliance therapy.
Public Investment and Industry Incentives in Life‐Science Research

Life-science research has shifted rapidly from the public to the private sector, raising questions about government’s remaining role. We shed light on the issue by employing a dynamic investment-response model to examine the public’s impact on industry life-science research effort and success. We find that government expenditures in both basic biological research and agricultural and medical science create substantial spillovers for private firms. The spillovers are, unfortunately, partly nullified by government competition for scarce research inputs. Yet even after accounting for such competition, public investment has been strongly complementary to private investment. Indeed, opportunities created through public research are the principal source of growth in industry life sciences. Copyright 2007, Oxford University Press.
Explaining Public Entrepreneurship in Local Government Organizations

This article seeks to explain the determinants of public entrepreneurship (PE) in two different organizational forms: the local government administration (LGA) and the local government corporation (LGC). Determinants belonging to external environment, managerial characteristics, strategy, and internal environment are considered and hypotheses are presented for each theme. These are tested on data from Swedish LGAs and LGCs in the sectors of waste management and water and sewerage. The analysis indicates that PE can be stimulated in both LGAs and LGCs, but also restrained, at least in LGAs. Furthermore, LGCs appear to have a wider set of PE-determinants than LGAs.
Dairy Products Market Segmentation: The Effects of Country of Origin on Price Premium and Purchase Intention

This study examines the impact of country of origin and other marketing factors on perceived price premium and purchase intention of dairy products. Applying factor analysis and 2-step cluster analysis, the article finds that there are 4 segments in the Thailand dairy market. The respondents in each segment perceive quality of products from 6 countries (or regions) differently. Three segments that consider country of origin have their evaluation of price premium and purchase intention of products from each country higher than the remaining segment. The applications to market strategy of international food companies and agribusiness industries are discussed.
Forecasting in Cointegrated Systems

We consider the implications for forecast accuracy of imposing unit roots and cointegrating restrictions in linear systems of I(1) variables in levels, differences, and cointegrated combinations. Asymptotic formulae are obtained for multi-step forecast error variances for each representation. Alternative measures of forecast accuracy are discussed. Finite sample behavior in a bivariate model is studied by Monte Carlo using control variables. We also analyse the interaction between unit roots and cointegrating restrictions and intercepts in the DGP. Some of the issues are illustrated with an empirical example of forecasting the demand for M1 in the U.K. Copyright 1995 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preliminary evidence for a role for impulsivity in cognitive disinhibition in bulimia nervosa

The present study investigated cognitive disinhibition in bulimia nervosa (BN) and examined whether impulsivity could account for this neuropsychological deficiency. Inhibitory processing of 13 women with BN (16–29 years) was compared against that of 13 healthy control participants matched for age, education, and socioeconomic status on a battery of widely used tasks: Stroop task, Haylings sentence completion test, excluded letter fluency, and Matching Familiar Figures Test. The women were also administered the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11). The BN patients displayed significant impairments on all inhibition measures and posited significantly higher impulsivity scores than the controls. Moreover, controlling for impulsivity reduced the group differences in Stroop color naming and excluded letter fluency to nonsignificance, indicating that poor inhibitory control in BN is at least partly attributable to an impulsive disposition.
Has the financial crisis shattered citizens' trust in national and European governmental institutions?

The financial crisis has differently affected trust in national and European governmental institutions. Our paper analyses the determinants of trust in national and European institutions over the last decade – with particular focus on the 2007-09 period – and comes to the conclusion that citizens’ declining trust in national governments is related to an increase in unemployment in the EU-15 and EU-25. In the EU-25, falling trust levels in national parliament are also associated with an increase in government debts. Trust in the European Commission and European Parliament seems strongly associated with the situation in the real economy (growth of GDP per capita). Furthermore, our analysis confirms that trust in national institutions has actually increased in the direct aftermath of the financial crisis.
EIA, Decision-making Theory and Screening and Scoping in UK Practice

As an aid to decision making Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is seen as a rational and systematic process which is often held to be holistic and proactive in its approach to environmental protection (Glasson et al., 1999). The roots of EIA are firmly located within the 1960s' demand for a more systematic and objective approach to environmental decision making and hence within the rationalist model of decision making theory. This paper examines the key stages of the EIA process to assess how far EIA conforms to the rationalist model today. Most research in EIA decision making has focused on the project authorization process and not the crucial decisions made at the earlier stages of screening and scoping. This study examines those early stages within the context of UK EIA practice. From this examination the paper attempts to locate EIA within decision-making theory.
Do labour supply and demand curves exist

The objective of this paper is to show that circumstantial and empirical evidence for the existence of labour supply and demand curves is at best inconclusive and at worst casts doubt on their existence. Because virtually all orthodox models of labour markets, simple and complex, are built upon the foundation stones of labour supply and demand curves, these models lack empirically supported foundations. Orthodox labour economists must, therefore, either provide stronger evidence or stop using labour supply and demand curves as the foundation stones of their models. The conclusion discusses implications for future orthodox and heterodox labour economics.
Lactate kinetics in human tissues at rest and during exercise

Lactate production in skeletal muscle has now been studied for nearly two centuries and still its production and functional role at rest and during exercise is much debated. In the early days skeletal muscle was mainly seen as the site of lactate production during contraction and lactate production associated with a lack of muscle oxygenation and fatigue. Later it was recognized that skeletal muscle not only played an important role in lactate production but also in lactate clearance and this led to a renewed interest, not the least from the Copenhagen School in the 1930s, in the metabolic role of lactate in skeletal muscle. With the introduction of lactate isotopes muscle lactate kinetics and oxidation could be studied and a simultaneous lactate uptake and release was observed, not only in muscle but also in other tissues. Therefore, this review will discuss in vivo human: (1) skeletal muscle lactate metabolism at rest and during exercise and suggestions are put forward to explain the simultaneous lactate uptake and release; and (2) lactate metabolism in the heart, liver, kidneys, brain, adipose tissue and lungs will be discussed and its potential importance in these tissues.
Relationship Between Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio, Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome.

BACKGROUND Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) give information about many diseases. An increase in inflammation markers occurs in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). OBJECTIVES The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between OSAS and NLR and PLR values. MATERIAL AND METHODS Two hundred eighty four patients with complaints of snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness were included in the study. Polysomnography had been performed on all patients and the control group. Fourty eight of these patients with apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) less than 5 (pure snoring) were included in the control group, 67 patients with AHI between 5 and 14.9 in the mild OSAS group, 61 patients with AHI between 15 and 29.9 in the moderate OSAS group and 108 patients with AHI more than 30 in the severe OSAS group. NLR and PLR values were calculated from the complete blood count (CBC) analysis of the patients and control group. The OSAS and control groups were compared by age, gender, body mass index (BMI) and PSG parameters as well as NLR and PLR values. RESULTS The PLR value in the OSAS group was found to be less than in the control group (p=0.006). As the non-REM AHI increased, the value of PLR decreased. As the nocturnal time spent with arterial oxygen saturation<90% increased, the value of NLR was determined to increase. CONCLUSIONS NLR and PLR values can give valuable information in OSAS.
A contemporary analysis of acute mastoiditis.

BACKGROUND Acute mastoiditis persists as a serious infection despite a dramatic decline in incidence coincident with the introduction of antibiotic therapy. OBJECTIVE To assist the contemporary practitioner in the recognition and management of acute mastoiditis through the assessment of a large series of patients. DESIGN Retrospective case series comprising 124 patients with acute mastoiditis. SETTING Pediatric and adult otology referral center. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Selected clinical parameters. Risk factors for necessity of surgical intervention and for increased length of hospitalization were analyzed by a stepwise logistic regression model. RESULTS A history of antecedent acute otitis media was absent in 45% of patients. Pain (98%) was the most common presenting symptom. Physical signs included an abnormal-appearing tympanic membrane (88%), fever (83%), a narrowed external auditory canal (80%), and postauricular edema (76%). Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most commonly isolated organism. Mastoid surgery was required in 62% of the patients. An elevated white blood cell count (relative risk [RR], 7.4; P < .01), proptosis of the auricle (RR, 4.5; P = .03), and fever on admission (RR, 7.3; P = .05) were risk factors for surgical intervention. All 33 patients with complications (27%) proceeded to surgical intervention. The average length of hospital stay was 7.9 days. The strongest predictor for an increased length of hospital stay was whether the patient required surgery (RR, 3.7; P = .002). CONCLUSIONS Acute mastoiditis remains a potentially serious otologic infection. Not all patients present with a classic history or physical examination. Therapeutic mastoidectomy is often required.
Diversification and firm performance in China

This study focuses on the performance implication of diversification in China. It finds that product diversification has an inverse U-shaped relationship with firm performance, while geographic diversification has a U-shaped one. In addition, the interaction between product diversification and geographic diversification has a negative impact on firm performance. The findings not only enrich our knowledge of the value of diversification in China’s transition economy, but also guide Chinese firms on how to use diversification strategy to compete in the market and enhance their performance. Key words: Diversification, performance, China.
The Demand for Housing Characteristics in Developing Countries

This paper develops and estimates an econometric model of the household demand for housing characteristics. The model is estimated using data from five cities and three developing countries. Overall, the procedures employed work well in a wide variety of circumstances. More specifically, it is found that: (1) Household willingness to pay for living space increases with income but at a less than proportionate rate; (2) Willlingness to pay for living space declines as household size increases; (3) Willingness to pay for several quality measures - structural quality; wall, roof and floor quality - is quite responsive to income.
Organizational Competence and Firm-Specific Tobin's q: The Moderating Role of Corporate Reputation

Corporate reputation activities have been shown to be a predictor of and a response to strategic organizational activities and outcomes. However, relatively little is known about the moderating role of corporate reputation in the relationship between organizational competencies and firm performance. Using a dynamic panel data model, this study examines how organizational competencies - employee value-added and technological competence - influence firm-specific Tobin's q, and how corporate reputation activities moderate this relationship. The results indicate that organizational competencies enhance firm-specific Tobin's q and that corporate reputation activities play a synergistic role, reinforcing the relationship between organizational competencies and firm performance. These findings contribute to both the resource-based view of the firm and corporate reputation literature by complementing and extending earlier research on the role of corporate reputation activi-ties on firm-specific performance.
Physical Association of Gi2α with Interleukin-8 Receptors*

Interleukin-8 (IL-8), one of the major mediators of the inflammatory response, belongs to a family of chemokines that includes NAP-2 (eutrophil-ctivating eptide-2) and Gro-α and whose biological activities are directed to a great extent toward neutrophils. Two distinct receptors have been described with overlapping, but not identical, binding affinities for IL-8, NAP-2, and Gro-α. This study was designed to examine the intracellular pathways activated upon the occupation of each of the IL-8 receptors (IL-8R). The formation of a physical coupling between IL-8 receptors and the α-subunit of heterotrimeric G proteins was tested in neutrophils by examining the presence of the former in anti-Gα immune precipitates. The addition of IL-8 to a suspension of human neutrophils led to a time-dependent detection of IL-8 in anti-Gi2α (raised against amino acids 159-168 (LERIAQSDYI) of Gi2α) and anti-Gtα (raised against the COOH-terminal 10 amino acids (KENLKDCGLF) of Gtα), but not anti-Gq, immunoprecipitates. Similar results were obtained in human 293 cells stably transfected with IL-8RA or IL-8RB. The peptide derived from the COOH-terminal sequence of Gt inhibited the co-immunoprecipitation of IL-8R and Gi observed in response to the anti-Gtα and anti-Gi2α antibodies. On the other hand, the Gi2α peptide only inhibited the immunoprecipitation induced by the anti-Gi2α antibody. Peptides derived from Gi1α or Gi3α had no effect in this assay. The introduction of the anti-Gi2α or anti-Gtα antibodies or their neutralizing peptides, but not the Gi1α or Gi3α peptides, into 293 IL-8RA or 293 IL-8RB cells completely blocked the calcium responses obtained upon stimulation with IL-8. These results demonstrate that the occupation of either type of IL-8 receptor leads to a physical coupling to the α-subunit of Gi2. In addition, the use of the subunit-specific peptides identified two functionally important but distinct regions of Giα, one involved in receptor/Giα interaction (KENLKDCGLF) and the other mediating downstream signal transmission (LERIAQSDYI). Finally, the results of this study also validate the use of the transfected 293 cell line as a model for the study of the signal transduction pathway(s) initiated by IL-8.
The Effects of Judgments of New Clients' Integrity upon Risk Judgments, Audit Evidence, and Fees

Client integrity concerns auditors when they plan new audit engagements because it is related to both fraud risk and the source credibility of clients. Auditors may increase audit work and fees when they judge integrity to be below normal. In an experiment, a sample of 63 Canadian audit partners read information about a prospective audit client, including information about the client's CFO. This information was manipulated to support a judgment of either high or low integrity. As hypothesized, judgments of client integrity were negatively related to risk judgments, audit evidence extent recommendations (indirectly through risk judgments), and fee recommendations (indirectly through risk judgments and extent recommendations).
Modeling Multiple Adoption Decisions in a Joint Framework

A multinomial probit (MNP) model is applied to the modeling of adoption decisions by farmers facing multiple technologies which can be adopted in various combinations. This model allows for full investigation of the interactions between decisions to adopt or not adopt several technologies. Estimation is carried out in a Bayesian framework employing Gibbs sampling to circumvent past difficulties encountered in maximum likelihood estimation of the MNP model. The model is estimated for a sample of U.S. apple growers with four possible sustainable production technology bundles. The results show that adoption decisions are most significantly influenced by off-farm labor supply. Copyright 1996, Oxford University Press.
The Potential of Floating Markets for Creative Tourism: A Study in Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand

This article examines the potential of floating markets in the Nakhon Pathom province as a creative tourism destination by performing a two-stage qualitative study. It explores in particular the perceptions of community leaders toward the possibility for established floating markets to become creative tourism destinations and the current and future constraints in such development. In the first stage, an environmental scanning is performed using readiness indices for tourism destination, which are adopted from two sources. In the second stage, the perceptions of community leaders toward floating markets are examined through in-depth, semi-structured interviews. These investigations reveal the significant role of community leaders and their perspectives toward the direction and development of their communities. The investigations also identify the factors that promote and obstruct creative tourism in a particular floating market destination.
Enhanced Detection of Enteroviruses in Clinical Samples by Reverse Transcription-PCR Using Complementary Locked Primer Technology

ABSTRACT To increase detection sensitivity, we modified primers using complementary locked primer (CLP) technology. The sensitivity of the reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) with CLP-modified primers was 10- to 100-fold higher than that of RT-PCR without these primers. CLP-modified primers can increase sensitivity, providing a widely accessible method for molecular diagnosis.
SME opportunity for growth or profit: what is the role of product and process improvement?

The process by which small firms avail themselves of the opportunity for growth or profitability is an important issue for firm managers and researchers alike. This study develops a conceptual research model that examines SME opportunities for growth or profitability – two dimensions of performance – derive from innovation that is product improvement oriented or process improvement oriented. The innovation/performance relationship is examined within the context of environmental uncertainty and SME internationalisation actions. The findings of the study suggest that internationalisation and innovation have a positive relationship to product improvements and process improvements, while environmental uncertainty, internationalisation and product improvement have positive relationships with growth as a performance dimension. Indeed opportunity for growth seems to be a more important dimension for SMEs in the sample.
Determinants of Underemployment of Young Adults: A Multi-Country Study

This longitudinal analysis of interview data for the years 1988 and 1990 explores the determinants of three forms of underemployment among young adults: part-time employment, temporary employment, and unemployment. The authors look at two occupational groups (office technology workers and machine Operators) across six European countries (Belgium, England, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands). Factors that affected patterns of underemployment were education, occupational group, initial labor market experience, perceptions of the labor market (interviewees' view of labor market conditions), and organizational socialization practices (the strategies employers took to integrate the young workers into their first jobs). Organizational and societal factors appear to have had greater influence than behavioral variables such as job search strategies and demographic variables such as gender and age. Unemployment and temporary work had many determinants in common; part-time work, in contrast, was affected only by initial labor market experience and organizational socialization practices.
The role of plant phenology in stomatal ozone flux modeling

Plant phenology plays a pivotal role in the climate system as it regulates the gas exchange between the biosphere and the atmosphere. The uptake of ozone by forest is estimated through several meteorological variables and a specific function describing the beginning and the termination of plant growing season; actually, in many risk assessment studies, this function is based on a simple latitude and topography model. In this study, using two satellite datasets, we apply and compare six methods to estimate the start and the end dates of the growing season across a large region covering all Europe for the year 2011. Results show a large variability between the green‐up and dormancy dates estimated using the six different methods, with differences greater than one month. However, interestingly, all the methods display a common spatial pattern in the uptake of ozone by forests with a marked change in the magnitude, up to 1.9 TgO3/year, and corresponding to a difference of 25% in the amount of ozone that enters the leaves. Our results indicate that improved estimates of ozone fluxes require a better representation of plant phenology in the models used for O3 risk assessment.