Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MTA and ferric sulfate in pulpotomy outcomes of primary molars: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE Methods of systematic review and meta analysis were employed to compare the success rate of pulpotomy of primary molars using mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and ferric sulfate (FS) as two regenerative and preservative agents, respectively. STUDY DESIGN After raising a PICO question (In pulpotomy of vital carious-exposed primary molars, how does MTA compare to FS in terms of clinical and radiographic outcomes? ) and determining the search strategy, MeSH-matching keywords were searched in four electronic databases and retrieved papers were examined in titles, and if necessary abstracts and full texts, to be relevant. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating pulpotomy of vital primary molars after carious/traumatic exposure conducted with either FS or MTA, with at least a 6-month recall, tooth restorability, and those considering clinical and radiographic signs/symptoms, were included. The nonrandomized allocation and absence of comparison between the treatment groups caused the exclusion of the article. The quality of the RCTs and also their risk of bias (low, moderate, high), were assessed using a modification of van Tulder list; for meta-analysis of the matching studies, the extracted data were analyzed by Mantel Hanszel analysis. RESULTS A total number of 620 articles were found. After exclusion of the common titles and application of the eligibility criteria, 4 RCTs [12-month follow-up: n=3, 24-month follow-up: n=4, in total: 264 teeth) comparing MTA and FS, were selected. It was showed that the 12-month outcome of both materials were similar [RR= 0.642 (CI 95%: 0.225-1.833, P=0.407)], while the two-year follow-up results revealed significant differences in treatment outcome, in favor of MTA [RR was 0.300 (CI 95%: 0.132-0.683, P=0.004)]. CONCLUSION MTA demonstrated superior long-term treatment outcomes in pulpotomy of primary molars than FS.
Determinants of Capital Structure in Pakistan

In financial management, capital structure is a systematic method for financing the operating activities through equity, debt or combination of the both. It is also referred to as a degree of debt in the capital arrangement of a business. However, it is a significant and an important decision for corporate firms. The business operations are significantly dependent on managing the cost of capital which is determined through capital structure of an organization. Hence, the objective of designing capital structure strategy is for reducing the borrowing cost and maximizing returns from acquired capital which has been acquired from various resources.The main purpose of our study is to empirically investigate the determinants of capital structure in the context of Pakistan. The balanced panel data set of our study is constructed using annual reports for 30 non-financial firms listed at Pakistan Stock Exchange for the period 2008 to 2017. We utilized Ordinary Least Squares estimation technique to estimate the econometric model. The empirical findings present that profitability and tangibility are key determinants for capital structure of firms in Pakistan. Moreover, tangibility has positive association with leverage. It shows that creditors are attracted by firms having high tangible assets. It is due to sureness for reclamation of their loans. On the other hand, profitability showed negative association with leverage. It implies that more profitable firms do not take external debts due to availability of cash reserves that they created from profits. Further, our study suggests the relevance of theories namely trade-off static theory and pecking order theory for identifying the determinants of capital structure in Pakistan. Keywords: Capital structure, Firm-specific factors, Ordinary Least Squares (OLS). JEL Codes: D22, F65
Examining the Effectiveness of a Site-Based Alternative Education Program for At-Risk High School Students

EXAMINING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A SITE-BASED ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR AT-RISK HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS By Keith S. Wolfe August, 2008 Dissertation Supervised by Sarah E. Peterson, Ph.D. This study sought to examine the effectiveness of an on-site alternative education program for at-risk high school students with regard to improving academic success, attendance, and behavior. A second purpose was to ascertain student perceptions of the program and perceptions of components that were most effective in providing support for at-risk factors and in facilitating success. Participants included high school students who were enrolled or had previously been enrolled in the program who were at risk of dropping out of school. Data was collected from student records and student surveys. Statistically significant effects were found for grades, attendance, and behavior when comparing before placement, during placement, and after placement in the alternative education program. Results indicated that grades and attendance were maintained while in the program but declined after leaving the program. Findings also showed that discipline referrals declined while enrolled in the program and again after exiting the
Development of peak performance in track cycling.

BACKGROUND Retrospective analysis of peak performances can be a usefull tool for the estimation of future trends in high performance sports. The purpose of this study was to investigate the evolution of performance in track cycling from 1979 to 1999 and to asses age- and gender-related differences. METHODS We studied the results of the world track cycling championships for this period in 200 m, 1000 m, individual and team pursuit races for elite and junior athletes. Overall trends, performance differences between rank 1 and 5, gender- and age-related differences were calculated. RESULTS They show a significant (p<0.01) improvement in 1000 m, individual and team pursuit times for men and individual pursuit times for women. No significant evolution was seen in 200 m performance. In junior riders, only male athletes showed a continuous, significant improvement of average race speed in individual and team pursuit over the study period. Gender difference was 11+/-1.8% in all disciplines at all ages. Difference between elite and junior riders ranged between 5+/-2.1% for male and 6.1+/-2.2% for female athletes. The gap between rank 1 and 5 remained constant (2-3%) over the study period. CONCLUSIONS A continuous improvement of performance over the last 20 years is visible in track cycling endurance disciplines. New technical developments show no statistical significant impact. The performance gap between male and female athletes is constant, independent of discipline or race distance and comparable to observations in other sports. Age-related differences in performance is most visible in disciplines requiring short, high intensity power output. Based on these data, estimation of possible winning times and adaptation of training programs for future track cycling competitions might be facilitated.
Ezrin interacts with cortactin to form podosomal rosettes in pancreatic cancer cells

Background and aims: Pancreatic cancer is a highly invasive malignancy. Ezrin, a plasma membrane–cytoskeletal linker protein, is associated with the invasive behaviour of cancers. The purpose of this study was to elucidate a possible molecular mechanism for the invasive phenotype. Methods: Using a combination of techniques, such as western blotting, co-immunoprecipitation, confocal and light microscopy, invasion and adhesion assays, organotypic cultures and human samples as well as RNA interference (RNAi) and expression of various mutant ezrin constructs, the dynamic molecular nature of podosomes in pancreatic cancer was dissected out. Results: Podosome and podosomal rosette formation in pancreatic carcinoma (PaCa3) cells is ezrin dependent and associated with adhesion to fibronectin with subsequent digestion of this substrate. Ezrin binds to increasing amounts of cortactin during formation of the podosomal rosette, with the C-terminal region, specifically the actin-binding domain, mediating this molecular linkage. Further, it is shown that phosphorylation of Tyr353 and Thr567 sites on ezrin (conventionally shown to translocate ezrin to the plasma membrane) is not required for podosome formation. The podosomal rosette is revealed to be a highly dynamic and transient structure, which can metamorphose into other cellular processes, such as filopodia or lamellipodia, and thereby enable epithelial cancer cells to “palpate” the underlying substrate and modify their cytoskeletal behaviour accordingly. In human tumour tissues and organotypic cultures, specific subcellular expression of ezrin (basal membranous; cellular processes invading stroma) in pancreatic cancer cells can be correlated with tumour progression and disease-free survival (log-rank test (Mantel–Cox), p = 0.019). Conclusion: Podosomes and their rosettes are driven by ezrin–cortactin interaction and this plays a role in pancreatic cancer invasion.
Systematic Risk Coefficient and Sentiment: Peculiarities of Sentiment Affected Companies in US Tourism Industry

This paper investigates the role that investor sentiment plays in asset pricing and risk measure, research will focus on the relationship that came from the point that a firm stock level is a derivative not only of a fundamental rational environment but at the same time is a part of a human mental being, reflecting personal sentiment and group narratives. In the current paper we incorporate behavioral sentiment variables into beta model, analyzing cluster peculiarities of sentiment dependent companies in US tourism industry, finding out which type of companies has strong regression between beta and sentiment. We found that the level of regression between systematic\risk coefficient and sentiment is dependent on period of sentiment, it is stronger during high and low sentiment period. We also found that high-low period of sentiment affects differently on companies from different clusters and sentiment affected companies have low level of financial stability.
Finance and the multinational company: Building bridges between finance and global strategy research

Research Summary: This paper argues for, and contributes to, a stronger integration of research on finance and international business/global strategy. We perform bibliometric analysis of journal publications between 2010 and 2016 and show that papers published in the two domains relate to very different underlying literatures which, so far, have had a limited overlap. We further argue based on a qualitative review of the literature that both fields offer substantial novel perspectives, models, and theories to each other that have the potential to enrich our theoretical understanding of relevant research questions in both domains. We map various pathways for further integration of international business/global strategy and finance fields and discuss different ways how to better connect the two fields and their different research perspectives and research methodologies. Managerial Summary: In this paper we, first, find that publications from the field of finance and from the area of international business/global strategy relate to very different literatures. Second, we show that both fields would indeed offer substantial and relevant novel perspectives to each other. Third, we develop various pathways for a more intense integration of both literatures. Given the relevance of both international business/global strategy and finance perspectives for business practice, we strongly believe that a more intense integration also bears substantial implications for managers. This is as much of the knowledge developed in international business/global strategy and finance did not fully transfer into the respective other field.
Accounting Choice under IFRS: The Role of Accounting Tradition and Managerial Opportunism

The present study investigates the role of accounting tradition and managerial opportunism when companies are given by IFRS the option to choose whether to book accounting items following the historical cost or the fair value method. We hypothesize that accounting tradition still plays a role in the choice, with Continental European companies preferring the historical cost and the Anglo-Saxon companies choosing more often the fair value. We also hypothesize that managers will act opportunistically, choosing the historical cost or the fair value method in order to influence the performance of the company and/or their remuneration. By using a hand-collected sample of 480 companies belonging to Continental Europe (Italy, Germany and France) and Anglo-Saxon countries (United Kingdom and Australia) we find support for the first hypothesis while we reject the second hypothesis. Accounting tradition does still play a role in the accounting choice, while managerial opportunism does not.
Blockchain Adoption for Combating Deceptive Counterfeits

We examine how blockchain technology can be used to combat counterfeiting. Specifically, we consider a market that consists of a manufacturer and a counterfeiter. The manufacturer can either use blockchain or signal through pricing to validate product authenticity. Customers have privacy concerns around blockchain usage. We find that blockchain should be used only when customers have intermediate distrust about products in the market. In markets with relaxed intellectual property regulations against counterfeiting where customers have serious distrust about products, pricing strategy is more effective than blockchain. Further, when the counterfeiter can produce a comparable quality product, the manufacturer could benefit using a pooling strategy. This benefit can be sufficiently large such that the manufacturer may not use blockchain even when the government offers subsidy or even when implementation is free. However, we show that blockchain can be more effective than pricing strategy in eliminating the post-purchase regret and improving social welfare.
Does Technology Improve SMEs Business Success? Empirical Research on Indonesian SMEs

This study aims to examine the effect of technology usage and financial resources on SMEs business success. Besides, it studies the relationship between SMEs business success and SMEs ownership. This study uses primary data in the form of questionnaires with purposive sampling method. The questionnaires are given to 120 SMEs owners who responsible for the success of their companies. The result proves that technology usage and financial resources have a significant impact on SMEs business success. Besides, there is a significant difference between technology usage and success of business based on SMEs ownership. This study is expected to provide benefits for the SMEs owners in planning the need for technology to raise business success. This study explains the relation between technology usage, SMEs business success and SMEs ownership that has never been performed before.
Effect of Pterygium Excision on Induced Corneal Topographic Abnormalities

Purpose To determine the effect of successful pterygium surgery on astigmatism and other corneal topographic indices. Methods Preoperative and postoperative refraction and corneal-topography analysis were performed on 16 consecutive eyes of 12 patients who underwent successful pterygium surgery, with statistical comparison of the pre- and postoperative visual acuity, refractive astigmatism, topographic astigmatism, Surface-Regularity Index, and Surface-Asymmetry Index. Results Successful pterygium surgery caused statistically significant improvements in visual acuity, refractive and topographic astigmatism, the Surface-Regularity Index, and the surface asymmetry index. Conclusion Corneal-topography analysis is an important component of the evaluation of patients with pterygium, revealing significant abnormalities that are improved by successful removal of the pterygium.
Association between p53 gene mutations and tobacco and alcohol exposure in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES To analyze the relationship between p53 gene mutations, tobacco smoke, and alcohol consumption in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. DESIGN We analyzed p53 gene mutations in exons 5 through 8 by polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis in a cohort of 84 patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. SETTING University hospital. RESULTS p53 gene mutations were detected in 24 (28.6%) cases (95% confidence interval, 19.3%-39.5%), and the GC to TA transversion (33%) was the most common type of mutation (95% confidence interval, 15.6%-55.3%). Most mutations mapped to the p53 DNA-binding domain, which is necessary for the physiological activity of p53 as a tumor suppressor. A statistically significant association was found between p53 mutations and exposure to tobacco smoke (P=.001), which was the only variable significantly associated with p53 mutations in a multivariate model. The association with alcohol consumption was only at a borderline level of significance (P=.065). CONCLUSION Our data document that a smoking habit is the only independent variable associated with an increased risk of p53 mutations in the laryngeal mucosa.
A study of development agency as an augmenter in the commercialisation of the mobile applications development SME sector in the Western Cape through business model innovation in response to disruptive innovation

III ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . V DEDICATION . VI TABLE OF CONTENTS. VII GLOSSARY . XIII CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 TITLE OF THE STUDY . 1 1.2 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY . 1 1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY . 6 1.4 RATIONALE FOR THE STUDY . 7 1.5 IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY. 9 1.6 RESEARCH CONTEXT OF THE STUDY . 10 1.7 RESEARCH PHILOSOPHY OF THE STUDY . 11 1.8 RESEARCH DESIGN OF THE STUDY . 12 1.9 THEORETICAL UNDERPINNING OF THE STUDY . 16 1.10 RESEARCH APPROACH OF THE STUDY . 17 1.11 THESIS STRUCTURE . 19 1.12 SUMMARY OF THE STUDY . 20 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW . 21 2.
National Hospitalization Trends for Pediatric Pneumonia and Associated Complications

OBJECTIVE: To determine current rates of and trends in hospitalizations for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and CAP-associated complications among children. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional, retrospective, cohort study by using the 1997, 2000, 2003, and 2006 Kids' Inpatient Database. National estimates for CAP and CAP-associated local and systemic complication rates were calculated for children ≤18 years of age. Patients with comorbid conditions or in-hospital birth status were excluded. Percentage changes were calculated by using 1997 (before heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine [PCV7]) and 2006 (after PCV7) data. RESULTS: There were a total of 619 102 CAP discharges for 1997, 2000, 2003, and 2006, after application of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Overall rates of CAP discharges did not change substantially between 1997 and 2006, but stratification according to age revealed a 22% decrease for children <1 year of age, minimal change for children 1 to 5 years of age, and increases for children 6 to 12 years (22%) and ≥13 years (41%) of age. Systemic complication rates were highest among children <1 year of age but decreased by 36%. In all other age groups, systemic complication rates remained stable. Local complication rates increased 78% overall. Children 1 to 5 years of age had the highest local complication rates. CONCLUSIONS: After the introduction of PCV7 in 2000, rates of CAP-associated systemic complications decreased only for children <1 year of age. Rates of pediatric CAP-associated local complications are increasing in all age groups.
The importance of value and context for mobile CRM services in banking

Purpose – The aim of the paper is to identify interactions existing among the identified factors and understanding how they impact adoption intention so that better CRM strategies for mobile channel can be orchestrated. Design/methodology/approach – The paper empirically explores the underlying factors by the application of confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. The study sample consists of 523 respondents with a response rate of 63.9 percent (usable response rate). Findings – The empirical findings reveal that from the perspective of benefits, perceptions value, perceived usefulness and context were the three critical components significantly influencing adoption intention. On the apprehension side, the effects of perceived security assurance, perceived trust, perceived cost and perceived risk on perceived value as well as perceived usefulness were significant. Research limitations/implications – The study had a few limitations such as selection of the sample from a limited number.
The capacity of health service commissioners to use evidence: a case study.

Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) lead a network of organisations that plan and make decisions about what services to provide through the NHS. By examining decision-making about service interventions designed to reduce potentially avoidable elderly care admissions into acute hospitals, our study explores the capacity of CCG-led commissioning networks to make decisions that are based on evidence. Empirically, we study 13 cases of representative (region, size, urban/rural) commissioning networks in England, drawing on interviews with commissioning managers, general practitioners (GPs), patient and public involvement (PPI) representatives and other relevant stakeholders. CCGs can not only draw on evidence about what is most clinically effective or cost-effective, but can also consider patient experience and local knowledge held by doctors. However, the inclusion of GPs and PPI representatives is limited, so the local knowledge of doctors and the patient experience are not considered as fully as they might be in commissioning decisions. CCGs can use government agencies, such as commissioning support units, that provide external information about local population and existing service provision, but they fail to do so adequately. The voluntary sector can play a key role in providing local knowledge about individual patients and their needs. Finally, given the need for health and social care organisations to collaborate to support older people so that they do not experience potentially avoidable admissions to acute hospitals, there is a need for organisations to develop joint evidence-based strategies and work together in real time to exchange information. From our research, in collaboration with a PPI reference group, a self-assessment questionnaire for CCG-led commissioning networks was developed, which allows CCGs to assess and develop their capacity to acquire and use different types of evidence in their decision-making.questionnaire for CCG-led commissioning networks was developed, which allows CCGs to assess and develop their capacity to acquire and use different types of evidence in their decision-making.
Social relationships reflected by depressive inpatients

ABSTRACT— In a study of 100 inpatients suffering from depressive symptoms, the influence of cognitive characteristics (negative automatic thoughts and dysfunctional attitudes) and of the severity of depression on the emotional reflections of social relationships were investigated at admission, discharge and 3 months follow‐up. The reflections of strained relation and rejection in the family or partnership were significantly determined by negative cognitive patterns and severity of depression. The prognostic aspects of the assessed psychological characteristics and the psycho‐therapeutic implications of the results are discussed.