Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of mounthrinse solutions on the color stability and microhardness of a composite resin.

OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to evaluate three mouth rinse solutions' (Plax, Listerine and Periogard) influence on the microhardness and color stability of a composite resin (Esthet.X, Dentsply). MATERIALS AND METHODS For this purpose, forty specimens were prepared, being 10 specimens for each solution and 10 for artificial saliva (control group). Initially, specimens were polished and immersed in artificial saliva and following the initial color, an evaluation was made. For 30 days, specimens were immersed in the solutions three times a day for 1 min. After this cycling period, color change was analyzed and Knoop microhardness measures were carried out. A new color measurement was performed after repolishing the specimens. RESULTS The microhardness and color stability results showed no statistically significant difference among the studied solutions. However, samples immersed in Periogard showed a significant alteration in the composite resin brightness test. CONCLUSION It can be concluded that mouth rinse can influence the luminosity of composite resin.
Works council and training effects on satisfaction

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the direct and indirect impact of works councils via further training on job satisfaction. Basic estimates on an individual level do not reveal clearly direct effects, but on an establishment level, the existence of a works council increases the average job satisfaction. We also find a positive, weakly significant effect on an individual level accompanied by training under instrumental variables estimation and if we control for personal characteristics.
Experimental investigation of quantum key distribution through transparent optical switch elements

Quantum key distribution (QKD) enables unconditional physical layer security for the distribution of cryptographic key material. However, most experimental demonstrations have relied on simple point-to-point optical links. In this paper we investigate the compatibility of QKD with reconfigurable optical networks. By performing the first tests of QKD transmission through optical switches, we study if there are impairment mechanisms other than switch insertion loss that impact the sifted and error corrected secret bit yield. Three types of transparent optical switch elements are investigated including lithium niobate (LiNbO/sub 3/), microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and optomechanical. We show that QKD can be extended beyond point-to-point links to switched multinode architectures including protected ring networks to enhance quantum channel availability.
Dense-EEG source connectivity and dynamics of brain networks

Cognition is a network phenomenon. During cognitive activity, brain networks have to rapidly reorganize on a sub-second time scale. Tracking the dynamics of these networks over this short time duration is an unsolved issue. Here, we propose a new way to tackle this problem by using dense electroencephalography (EEG) recorded during a specific cognitive task: picture naming. We found that the cognitive task can be divided into six functional connectivity states (fcSs) characterized by significantly high synchronization of gamma (30-45 Hz) oscillations. We showed that dense-EEG can reveal the spatiotemporal dynamics of whole-brain functional connectivity at high temporal (in the order of ms) and spatial (~1000 regions of interest) resolution. Our results showed also that the brain cognitive functions are based on fast transitions between fcSs that last from 30 ms to 160 ms. Each identified network can be associated with one or several specific function (visual processing, lexical concept activation, selecting the target word from the mental lexicon, phonological encoding, phonetic encoding, and initiation of articulation) of the whole cognitive process. Finally, we believe that the identification of the dynamics of cognitive brain networks is a very powerful tool to understand the brain information processing.
Comparative Recovery of Streptococcus mutans on Ten Isolation Media

The ability of Streptococcus mutans (Bratthall serotypes a through e) to grow on 10 isolation media was examined. The number and morphology of the colonies were observed to vary on different media. The use of blood-sucrose media consistently produced the highest recoveries. Mitis salivarius agar (MS) and higher recovery values than modified medium 10 (MM10SB), Trypticase-yeast extract-cystine medium (TYC), or MS with 1% tellurite (MST). MST with 40% sucrose (MS40S), MST with 20% sucrose and 0.2 U of bacitracin per ml (MSB), and Carlsson medium with 1% sulfasoxazole (MC), media formulated for the selection of S. mutans, were the most inhibitory for all serotypes. The morphology of several S. mutans strains was atypical on MC and MS40S, making positive identification difficult. Absence of growth of serotype a strains on MSB and serotype d strains on MC were the two major differences observed among the serotypes. Results are discussed in terms of the difficulties in making quantitative determinations from cultural data.
Renal Sympathetic Nerves do not Modulate Renal Responses to Haemorrhage in Conscious Lambs

The present study was designed to investigate the renal responses to hypotensive haemorrhage early in life and the role of renal sympathetic nerves in modulating these renal responses. To this end, experiments were carried out in conscious, chronically instrumented lambs with either intact renal nerves (n = 7, Intact) or bilateral renal denervation performed at the time of surgery (n = 5, Denervated). Parameters of renal function were measured before and after 20% haemorrhage (experiment 1) and 0% haemorrhage (experiment 2), the latter serving as a time control. The two experiments were performed in random order at intervals of 24‐48 h. Within 20 min of hypotensive haemorrhage in intact lambs, glomerular filtration rate decreased by ∼60%; this response was not altered by renal denervation. Since renal plasma flow remained constant after haemorrhage, the filtration fraction also decreased. After 20% haemorrhage, urinary flow rate decreased in intact lambs; this response was also not altered by renal denervation. Excretion rates of Na+ and K+ as well as urinary osmolality and free water clearance were not altered by haemorrhage in either intact or denervated lambs. These data provide the first description of renal responses to haemorrhage early in life. In addition, the present findings provide new information that renal responses to haemorrhage early in life do not appear to be modulated by renal sympathetic nerves.
Erectile dysfunction in patients with psoriasis: potential impact of the metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects up to 5.5% of world population and is associated with erectile dysfunction (ED). Aim of the present study was to investigate impact of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on association between psoriasis and ED as well as to improve our understanding of this association via studying other possible causes of ED such as psychological factors and disease effects. PATIENTS AND METHODS The patient group included 37 male psoriasis patients and control group 28 healthy men. Severity of psoriasis was determined using Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), and ED was evaluated using International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) Scale. Psychiatric state of the patients were determined using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). MetS was diagnosed using the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. RESULTS MetS, ED prevalence and BDI score were significantly higher in psoriasis patient group (p = 0.032, p = 0.018 and p < 0.001). Average IIEF score of psoriasis patients with and without MetS, on the other hand, was not different (p = 0.073). IIEF score had negative correlations with age, BDI and PASI scores. In multiple linear regression analysis, BDI score, old age and smoking (but not MetS) were found to be independent predictors of ED. CONCLUSIONS ED, MetS and depression frequencies were significantly higher in psoriasis patient group. In addition, psoriasis severity and ED parameters were closely associated. Depression, old age and smoking were found to be independent risk factors for ED.
2,2',6,6'‐tetrachlorobiphenyl is estrogenic in vitro and in vivo

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants whose effects on biological systems depend on the number of and the positions of the chlorine substitutions. In the present study we examined the estrogenicity of the fully ortho‐substituted PCB, 2,2',6,6'‐tetrachlorobiphenyl (2,2',6,6'‐TeCB). This PCB was chosen as the prototypical ortho‐substituted PCB to test the hypothesis that ortho‐substitution of a PCB with no para‐ or meta‐chlorine‐substitutions results in enhanced estrogenic activity. The results indicate that 2,2',6,6'‐TeCB is estrogenic both in vitro, in the MCF‐7 cell focus assay, and in vivo, in the rat uterotropic assay. The estrogenic activity elicited by the addition of 5 μM 2,2',6,6'‐TeCB to the medium of MCF‐7 cultures was inhibited by the estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist, LY156758, suggesting that 2,2',6,6'‐TeCB or a metabolite is acting through an ER‐dependent mechanism. Results from competitive binding assays using recombinant human (rh) ER indicate that 2,2',6,6'‐TeCB does not bind rhERα or rhERβ. A metabolite of 2,2',6,6'‐TeCB, 2,2',6,6'‐tetrachloro‐4‐biphenylol (4‐OH‐2,6,2',6'‐TCB), does bind rhERα and rhERβ and is also 10‐fold more estrogenic than 2,2',6,6'‐TeCB in the MCF‐7 focus assay; however, this metabolite is not detected in the medium of MCF‐7 cultures exposed to 2,2',6,6'‐TeCB. Taken together, the results suggest that the estrogenicity observed in human breast cancer cells and the rat uterus may be due to 1) an undetected metabolite of 2,2',6,6'‐TeCB binding to the ER, 2) 2,2',6,6'‐TeCB binding directly to a novel form of the ER, or 3) an unknown mechanism involving the ER. J. Cell. Biochem. 72:94–102, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Wnt signalling in murine postnatal mammary gland development

The mammary gland undergoes numerous developmental processes postnatally, from the elongation of the ductal tree‐like structure to pregnancy‐induced lobulo‐alveolar development. Mammary epithelial stem cells have been suggested to be central to the control of enormous tissue expansion and remodelling during phases of mammary development. The Wnt signalling pathway plays a critical role in these biological steps and is suggested to be involved in the maintenance of the stem cell population. This review provides insight into recent findings on the activity of Wnt signalling during ductal and lobular mammary development and discusses the potential interplay between Wnt signals and mammary stem cells in mice.
Double duty of Atg9 self-association in autophagosome biogenesis

The understanding of the membrane flow process during autophagosome formation is essential to illuminate the role of autophagy under various disease-causing conditions. Atg9 is the only identified integral membrane protein required for autophagosome formation, and it is thought to cycle between the membrane sources and the phagophore assembly site (PAS). Thus, Atg9 may play an important role as a membrane carrier. We report the self-interaction of Atg9 and generate an Atg9 mutant that is defective in this interaction. This mutation results in abnormal autophagy, due to altered phagophore formation as well as inefficient membrane delivery to the PAS. Based on our analyses, we discuss a model suggesting dual functions for the Atg9 complex: by reversibly binding to another Atg9 molecule, Atg9 can both promote lipid transport from the membrane origins to the PAS, and also help assemble an intact phagophore membrane.
The potential of integrated reporting to enhance sustainability reporting in the public sector

This paper examines the influence of integrated reporting (IR) on the sustainability reporting practices of a state-owned enterprise through a content analysis of their reports and interviews with report preparers. The findings show a steady increase in the quantity and quality of sustainability disclosures. In 2012, the organization chose to adopt the IR framework in order to enhance sustainability reporting for all stakeholders. The IR process resulted in a more balanced disclosure of material aspects of sustainability. However, while IR has the potential to enhance public sector sustainability reporting, inter-generational equity issues were ignored.
Digital electric meter reading recognition based on horizontal and vertical binary pattern

Digital meter reading recognition from a digital electric meter image is the key step in the field of digital image processing to evaluate the meter readings from different environmental conditions automatically. This work has gain important for the purpose of automatic generation of electric bill from digital electric meter image. In this regard, a digital electric meter reading recognition framework is proposed in this paper. For that initially, the input image is normalized and converted to YCbCr image. As the digital electric meter reading region is resolute with color light, especially green, the reading region is extracted from YCbCr image based on the value of the Cb and Cr. After that, Canny edge operator is employed on the extracted region to find the edge image. In this edge image, the individual digit's edge gaps are filled up through the morphological operation to find individually connected digit edge image. These individual digits are segmented from an edge image through the vertical projection. Furthermore, the individually segmented digits are filled and thinned to detect the shapes of the digits. From these segmented digit shapes the Horizontal and Vertical Binary (HVB) pattern features are extracted. This is the key contribution of this paper. Finally, based on the HVB patterns the digital meter reading sequence is recognized. The experimental result reveals that the proposed framework is practical and effective.
Comparison of the clinical efficacy and safety of subcutaneous and sublingual immunotherapy: methodological approaches and experimental results

Purpose of reviewSublingual immunotherapy has been documented as clinically effective in controlled studies. Some concerns about the magnitude of disease severity reduction in relation to standard subcutaneous immunotherapy have been raised. The comparison with subcutaneous immunotherapy is important for giving recommendations on the use of sublingual immunotherapy in daily clinical practice. Recent findingsOnly three controlled comparative studies of sublingual and subcutaneous immunotherapy have been published. The methodology of the studies indicated that some study design deficiencies limited the interpretation of efficacy. Only one study used an optimal placebo-controlled, double-blind, double-dummy and randomized design. The studies are assessed with respect to a sufficient number of patients to detect statistically possible differences, the inclusion of patients, clearly defined outcome measures, doses of extract administered, and duration of treatment. In all three studies the reduction in disease severity was of the order of 50% with no significant difference between the two treatments. SummaryThe clinical efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy is based on three studies only, and a limited number of patients equal to the efficacy obtained by subcutaneous immunotherapy. Only limited information on long-term efficacy and preventative capacity are available. More data on these aspects are needed, but the restraint in using sublingual immunotherapy in the treatment strategy of allergic diseases does not seem to be evidence based. Future research should also focus on identifying which subsets of patients would most benefit from either of the two routes of immunotherapy administration.
New Murine Model of Spontaneous Autologous Tissue Engineering, Combining an Arteriovenous Pedicle with Matrix Materials

The authors previously described a model of tissue engineering in rats that involves the insertion of a vascular pedicle and matrix material into a semirigid closed chamber, which is buried subcutaneously. The purpose of this study was to develop a comparable model in mice, which could enable genetic mutants to be used to more extensively study the mechanisms of the angiogenesis, matrix production, and cellular migration and differentiation that occur in these models. A model that involves placing a split silicone tube around blood vessels in the mouse groin was developed and was demonstrated to successfully induce the formation of new vascularized tissue. Two vessel configurations, namely, a flow-through pedicle (n = 18 for three time points) and a ligated vascular pedicle (n = 18), were compared. The suitability of chambers constructed from either polycarbonate or silicone and the effects of incorporating either Matrigel equivalent (n = 18) or poly(dl-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (n = 18) on angiogenesis and tissue production were also tested. Empty chambers, chambers with vessels only, and chambers with matrix only served as control chambers. The results demonstrated that a flow-through type of vascular pedicle, rather than a ligated pedicle, was more reliable in terms of patency, angiogenesis, and tissue production, as were silicone chambers, compared with polycarbonate chambers. Marked angiogenesis occurred with both types of extracellular matrix scaffolds, and there was evidence that native cells could migrate into and survive within the added matrix, generating a vascularized three-dimensional construct. When Matrigel was used as the matrix, the chambers filled with adipose tissue, creating a highly vascularized fat flap. In some cases, new breast-like acini and duct tissue appeared within the fat. When poly(dl-lactic-co-glycolic acid) was used, the chambers filled with granulation and fibrous tissue but no fat or breast tissue was observed. No significant amount of tissue was generated in the control chambers. Operative times were short (25 minutes), and two chambers could be inserted into each mouse. In summary, the authors have developed an in vivo murine model for studying angiogenesis and tissue-engineering applications that is technically simple and quick to establish, has a high patency rate, and is well tolerated by the animals.
Lymphoplasmacytic Myenteric, Subepicardial, and Pulmonary Ganglioneuritis in Four Nonpsittacine Birds

ABSTRACT A disease condition with clinical and pathologic findings compatible with psittacine proventricular dilatation disease was diagnosed in a canary (Serinus canaria), a greenfinch (Carduelis chloris), a long-wattled umbrellabird (Cephalopterus penduliger), and a bearded barbet (Lybius dubius). The canary and the greenfinch were kept as pets by different owners, whereas the bearded barbet and the long-wattled umbrellabird were kept in separate mixed species enclosures at the Barcelona Zoo. Clinical signs were variable in all 4 birds and included polyphagia, weight loss, weakness, and ataxia. Postmortem examination findings were also variable and included emaciation, hepatic and renal atrophy or enlargement, gallbladder dilatation, and intestinal and ventricular dilatation. Histopathologic lesions in all birds consisted of multifocal lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of myenteric and cardiac nerves and ganglia. These lesions are characteristic of proventricular dilatation disease of psittacine birds.
Buying Consent

Community participation remains central to development policy; but so do concerns that negotiations to achieve it have become a drill devoid of real meaning. Repeatedly, development interventions fail to unlock its presumed benefits: low-cost innovation, good governance and sustainability. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork with the Orangi Pilot Project (OPP) in Pakistan, a well-known case of organic community participation, this article demonstrates that the ability to buy consent in the case of donor-funded projects erodes the capacity for real community negotiations to take place. The article argues for closer study of cases such as OPP, known for their strong element of community embeddedness, to understand where things go wrong in aid-induced community participatory projects. It shows how constant negotiations within the community that allowed for the building of trust, the merging of local and technical knowledge, the trialling and adjustments of interventions, and patient lobbying of government officials and field staff are key to unlocking the real benefits of community participation and ensuring social accountability on the part of government agencies. The quick fixes encouraged under development projects, which normally rely on material incentives to generate co-operation, undermine these very principles leading to growing evidence of failure of aid-induced community participatory projects.
Food insecurity, mental health, and use of mental health services among nonelderly adults in the United States

ABSTRACT This work examined the associations between food insecurity and severe mental illness (SMI) among US adults (aged 18–64 years); and that between food insecurity and use of mental health services, as well as cost-related mental health service underuse, among adults with SMI. We analyzed data from five years (2011–2015) of the National Health Interview Survey (n = 124,343). We used multivariate logistic regression to examine the relationships between food insecurity and SMI, inability to afford mental health services, and use of mental health service. We found increasing odds of SMI with increasing severity of food insecurity (p < 0.001). Among adults with SMI, those with very low food security had about two times higher odds of not being able to afford mental health care (p < 0.001) and 25% lower odds of using mental health services (p < 0.01) than those who were food secure. The findings imply food insecurity is associated with poor mental health and inadequate use of mental health services. Programs that provide food assistance could potentially serve as contact points for identifying adults with mental health problems and helping them access mental health care. Reducing food insecurity may possibly help reduce mental health issues.
Building Personal Brands with Digital Storytelling ePortfolios.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery said, “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea. ” This article presents a pedagogical approach for framing a digital-identity-enhancing ePortfolio that maximizes student engagement and produces a high-quality ePortfolio artifact. Building on the work of Lambert (2002), Barrett (2005), Klein (2013), Ramirez (2011), Nguyen (2013), Kahn (2014), Khedher (2014) and others, the authors have developed a technologyand pedagogy-based digital storytelling ePortfolio framework that helps students craft a digital identity and communicate a personal brand. When ePortfolio assignments provide opportunities for self-exploration that include creating a personal brand, students engage with and appreciate the importance of their work, as evidenced in our pilot study of secondthrough fourth-year students in a university honors colloquium. Furthermore, this personal branding approach extends existing ePortfolio models by helping students develop key twenty-first century metaskills (Neumeier, 2013), while also enhancing their human and social capital.