Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Amoxicillin Plus Metronidazole Therapy for Patients with Periodontitis and Type 2 Diabetes

The aim of this study was to assess the changes occurring in subgingival biofilm composition and in the periodontal clinical parameters of subjects with periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) treated by means of scaling and root planing (SRP) only or combined with systemic metronidazole (MTZ) and amoxicillin (AMX). Fifty-eight subjects were randomly assigned to receive SRP only (n = 29) or with MTZ (400 mg/thrice a day [TID]) and AMX (500 mg/TID) (n = 29) for 14 d. Six subgingival plaque samples/subject were analyzed by checkerboard DNA–DNA hybridization for 40 bacterial species at baseline and 3 mo, 1 y, and 2 y posttherapy. At 2 y posttherapy, the antibiotic-treated group harbored lower mean proportions (5.5%) of red complex pathogens than the control group (12.1%) (P < 0.05). The proportions of the Actinomyces species remained stable in the antibiotic group but showed a statistically significant reduction in the control group from 1 to 2 y in subjects achieving a low risk clinical profile for future disease progression (i.e., ≤4 sites with probing depth [PD] ≥5 mm). The test group also had a lower mean number of sites with PD ≥5 mm (3.5 ± 3.4) and a higher percentage of subjects reaching the low risk clinical profile (76%) than the control group (14.7 ± 13.1 and 22%, respectively) (P < 0.05) at 2 y posttreatment. MTZ + AMX intake was the only significant predictor of subjects achieving the low risk at 2 y (odds ratio, 20.9; P = 0.0000). In conclusion, the results of this study showed that the adjunctive use of MTZ + AMX improves the microbiological and clinical outcomes of SRP in the treatment of subjects with generalized chronic periodontitis and type 2 DM up to 2 y (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02135952).
Quality of life in children with acquired brain injury: Parent perspectives 1–5 years after injury

Primary objective: To obtain parental ratings of children's quality of life, cognitive, emotional and behavioural functioning, as well as ratings of service provision, following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Research design: A retrospective, cross-sectional study. Methods and procedures: Parents of 47 children with mild or moderate–severe TBI completed standardized questionnaires evaluating quality of life (PedsQL 4.0) and cognitive, emotional and behavioural functioning (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire). Data collected was compared with published normative data for these scales. Views regarding parental experiences of care and their ratings of service provision were also obtained. Results: Quality of life was significantly lower in 13-times as many children with TBI than expected from the normative population. Parents reported that more than 43% of children with TBI had cognitive, emotional and behavioural difficulties that impacted on their daily life. Whilst high levels of social deprivation were found, this did not fully explain the significantly raised levels of difficulties. Another factor associated with this poor outcome was the absence of systematic, routine follow-up or intervention. Conclusions: Parents frequently reported poor quality of life and cognitive, emotional and behavioural problems in their children following TBI. These preliminary findings indicate that children, after TBI, are at risk of developing persistent clinical problems and require follow-up beyond the acute period of their recovery.
Thin absorbing structure for all incidence angles based on the use of a high‐impedance surface

It is shown that thin mushroom layers (high‐impedance surfaces realized as regular arrays of small patches at a small distance from a metal surface) can be used as radar‐absorbing structures whose performance does not change with the incidence angle for TM‐polarized waves. The key role of the vias connectors between the patches and the ground plane is explained, and potential performance demonstrated in examples. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 38: 175–178, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.11006
Environmental reporting disclosure in South Africa: A comparative study of the expectations of selected groups of preparers and users

This study measures and compares the expectations of two different groups – the first is selected preparers of environmental reports (ERs) in South Africa (companies and professional environmental consultants), and the second is selected users of ERs (this included environmental activists, pressure groups and non‐governmental organisations [NGOs] with environmentally related objectives(. The study considers the perceived importance of environmental reports, the areas that are reported on and the levels of disclosure. It compares and contrasts the expectations of the above groups. The study found significant differences between the expectations of the groups. Predictably, the responses of the users showed expectations of higher levels of disclosure than those of professional environmental consultants, who in turn expected higher levels of disclosure than company respondents. Significant differences were found between the responses of the groups with regard to the importance of specific areas of environmental disclosure. The study shows that there is evidence of a gap between the expectations of the different groups, and hence that there is a need for improved environmental reporting in South Africa.
Cooperative formation of omega-muricholic acid by intestinal microorganisms

Three anaerobic bacteria, isolated from the ceca of rats and mice, converted, through a concerted mechanism, beta-muricholic acid, the predominant bile acid in germfree rats, into omega-muricholic acid. One isolate was a Eubacterium lentum strain; the second and third isolates were tentatively identified as atypical Fusobacterium sp. strains. The conversion of beta-muricholic acid into omega-muricholic acid proceeded in two steps: E. lentum oxidized the 6 beta-hydroxyl group of beta-muricholic acid to a 6-oxo group, which was reduced by either of the two other species to a 6 alpha-hydroxyl group, yielding omega-muricholic acid. This transformation occurred both in vitro and in gnotobiotic rats. Monoassociation of germfree rats with the E. lentum strain gave rise to an unidentified fecal bile acid, probably a derivative of beta-muricholic acid having a double bond in the side chain.
Advances in the internal marketing concept: definition, synthesis and extension

Over 20 years ago internal marketing was first proposed as a solution to the problem of delivering consistently high service quality. However, despite the rapidly growing literature, very few organisations actually implement the concept in practice as there does not, as yet, exist a single unified concept of what is meant by internal marketing. Critically examines the internal marketing concept and delineates its scope by tracing the major developments in the concept since its inception. The literature review suggests three major phases in the development of the concept, namely an employee motivation and satisfaction phase, a customer orientation phase, and a strategy implementation/change management phase. Proposes a definition and a set of core criteria that are essential features of an internal marketing program. Also explores the interrelationship between the proposed criteria and suggests a framework for empirical investigation of the IM concept in the context of services marketing. Discusses managerial implications arising from the proposed definition and model of internal marketing.
Interactions between molten aluminum and Y2O3 studied with TEM techniques

Complementary structural characterization of the reaction product region formed due to high‐temperature interaction (1273 K) between molten aluminum and dense polycrystalline yttria substrate was performed. The reaction product region extending up to 1 mm into the oxide substrate was characterized by a wavy shape morphology and multilayer structure consisted of three‐layered zones. The application of transmission electron microscopy coupled with focused ion beam preparation technique allowed the detailed structural examination of reactively formed compounds and interfaces between different zones and phases. Fine crystalline precipitates of Al5Y3O12 (YAG) phase surrounded by the Al3Y were detected within the first zone. The second layer consisted of much bigger AlYO3 (YAP) crystals and the third one, which was the widest zone, revealed a typical C4 microstructure where elongated YAP precipitates accompanied the Al2Y metallic channels.
Implications : Older Changes in Social Participation and Volunteer Activity Among Recently Widowed Older Adults

158 Purpose: Widowhood eliminates a key source of support that may trigger greater involvement in social activities and volunteer participation, which are related to better late-life health and functioning. We reexamine and build upon 2 recent studies exploring recent widowhood and social participation. Using different data, we perform a quasi-replication of Utz, Carr, Nesse, and Wortman’s (2002; “The effect of widowhood on older adults’ social participation: An evaluation of activity, disengagement, and continuity theories,” The Gerontologist, 42, 522–533) study and employ different analytic strategies to Li’s (2007; “Recovering from spousal bereavement in later life: Does volunteer participation play a role? ” Journal of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 62, S257–S266) study. Design and Methods: A synthetic cohort of recently widowed individuals aged 60 years and older (n = 228) was compared with random, non-widowed older adult controls (n = 228) across 3 waves of Americans’ Changing Lives data. Generalized estimating equations were used to assess the impact of widowhood on levels of social participation and formal and informal volunteerism, controlling for social, economic, demographic, and psychological factors. Results: Similar to Utz and colleagues, we found that widowhood was positively related to informal social participation, net of other effects, but did not reproduce this finding for formal social participation. Unlike Li, we did not find a significant relationship between widowhood and formal or informal volunteerism. Controlling for prior participation, widowhood remained significantly related to informal and formal social participation. Implications: Older Changes in Social Participation and Volunteer Activity Among Recently Widowed Older Adults
Relationship between Country of Origin Image, Product Knowledge, Product Involvement, and Purchase Intention

Today Marketing is the buzz word around the globe, and marketers are trying their best to be successful within their respective market over competition. The main objective of this study is to examine the impact of different factors on buying decision. Four variables has been used, three independent i.e. country-oforigin image, product knowledge, and product involvement and one dependent i.e. consumer purchase intention. Questionnaire of twenty one items was adopted from the research of Hanzaee and Khosrozadeh (2011) for data collection. Population was the students of Pakistani universities and selected sample size was of 207 students for applying tests for the empirical results. Data was compiled and different tests were applied through SPSS, and three hypotheses has been tested. The results demonstrate that the country of origin has no significant positive impact on the purchase intention and product knowledge, product involvement have a strong relationship and impact with purchase intentions of consumers.
Conceptualisation et mesure de la qualité perçue d'un service public

Devant le constat de l'insatisfaction des usagers, les réformes successives des services publics se sont focalisées sur la qualité de la servuction. La mesure de la qualité perçue occupe une place centrale dans la démarche d'engagement des services publics. Cet article s'attache à proposer un cadre d'analyse de l'évaluation d'un service public afin de rendre compte de la complexité du statut de l'usager à la fois client, assujetti et citoyen. Après une conceptualisation de la qualité perçue, le lien qualité perçue-satisfaction-engagement est étudié dans le contexte de services publics redistributif, et industriel et commercial. Les conditions de la transposition des travaux issus de la sphère privée sont également précisées.
Frontolimbic glutamate alterations in first episode schizophrenia: Evidence from a magnetic resonance spectroscopy study

Glutamatergic dysfunction has been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. In this study we performed absolute-quantification short-echo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in nine patients with first episode schizophrenia and 32 group-matched control subjects to test the hypothesis of glutamatergic dysfunction at disease onset. Regions of interest were the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the left hippocampus. In the patient group absolute concentrations of glutamate were significantly higher in the prefrontal cortex and near-significantly higher in the hippocampus. The glutamate signals significantly correlated with rating scores for schizophreniform symptoms. Absolute-quantification [1H]MRS can reveal glutamatergic abnormalities which might play an important role in the pathogenesis and course of schizophrenia.
Managerial Ownership and Corporate Cash Holdings:Insights from an Emerging Market

This paper examines the impact of managerial ownership on cash holding decisions of the firms listed in Borsa Istanbul 100 index between 2005 and 2013. Main aim of the study is to analyse whether there is any evidence for managerial alignment or managerial entrenchment effect on the corporate cash holdings. A non-monotonic relation between managerial ownership and cash holding is found. The findings indicate that managerial ownership aligns the interests of managers with those of shareholders. These firms with managerial ownership prefer to hold less cash. In addition, it is reported that at higher level of managerial ownership, entrenchment effect of managers is seen. Managers practice their own interests at the expense of shareholders’ and the firms with higher level of managerial ownership hold more cash. The results also reveal that prior year’s cash holding positively affects this year’s cash holding. Firm size, liquidity and tangibility are also effective on cash holding decisions of Turkish firms.
Effective interim collaboration: how firms minimize transaction costs and maximise transaction value

This study of automotive transaction relationships in the U.S.A. and Japan offers abta which indicate that transaction costs do not necessarily increase with an increase in reiation-specijk investments. We empirically examine the conditions under which transactors can simultaneously achieve the twin benejits of high asset specificity and low transaction costs. This is possible because the dtfferent safeguards which can be employed to control opportunism have different set-up costs and result in different transaction costs over dl~erent time horizons. We examine in detail the ~ractices of Javanese firms which result in effective inteq%n collaboration. @ . 1997 by John- Wiley & Sons: Ltd. "
Mutualistic associations of aphids and prokaryotes: biology of the genus buchnera

Aphids (class, Insecta; order, Homoptera; superfamily, Aphidoidea) are major pests of plants, including important agricultural crops (17, 44). Upon landing on a plant an aphid injects a flexible tube, which usually penetrates between plant cells until it reaches the phloem tissue (17, 44). The aphid sucks plant sap, a diet rich in carbohydrates but deficient in amino acids and other nitrogenous compounds (17, 44). This mode of feeding is conducive to the transmission of viruses, and the major economic impact of aphids arises from their role as vectors of viral plant pathogens (65). In addition, large populations of aphids may build up on plants and cause debilitation by depleting plant nutrients (17, 44). Many of the general properties of aphids are shared by whiteflies (Aleyrodoidea) and mealybugs (Pseudococcidae), which are related insects within the order Homoptera. All of these insects have symbiotic associations with intracellular prokaryotes (7, 19, 27, 30). In the case of aphids, the endosymbionts have been assigned to the genus Buchnera, which has one species, Buchnera aphidicola (53). There has been considerable new work on the endosymbionts of aphids, and in this review we will summarize the recent findings.
Identifying faults and gas chimneys using multiattributes and neural networks

Modern visualization and image processing techniques are revolutionizing the art of seismic interpretation. Emerging technologies allow us to interpret more data with higher accuracy in less time. The trend is shifting from horizon-based toward volume-based. New insights are gained by studying objects of various geologic origins and their spatial interrelationships. The standard way of highlighting objects is through seismic attribute analysis. Various attributes are tested in a trial-and-error mode, and one is selected as the optimal representation of the desired object. The selected attribute, which may be a mathematical composite of several attributes, is not sensitive to a particular geologic object but highlights any seismic position with similar attribute response.
Affiliation to Hotel Chains: Requirements Towards Hotels in Bulgaria

A hotel chain’s expansion involves several strategic decisions—whether to expand, choice of a destination, choice of an entry mode, and selection of a hotel partner. This research note focuses on the hotel partner selection and, more specifically, on the requirements the hotel chains have towards hotels in Bulgaria that aim to be affiliated, as well as hotels’ perceptions of chains’ requirements towards them. Findings reveal that chains place a higher emphasis on task-related rather than partner-related criteria. The hotels systematically overrate the importance of the specific requirements chains have towards them. Managerial implications, research limitations, and directions for future research are also discussed.
“Integrative” qualitative methods in a services context

Discusses the advantages of using qualitative methods for services marketing research. Describes in particular the use of an “integrative” qualitative research methodology in relation to a study concerning quality in marketing in a services context. Suggests that the development of an “integrative” qualitative research methodology is built on the very practical need for researchers to develop the “best” possible methodologies for their own specific research problem or issues. Combines the notion of an integrative research methodology with the idea of a “stream of research”, or research which builds on earlier studies and explicitly allows the research to evolve and develop through distinctive stages over a given time period.
Banking Competition and Real Sector Stability: Does the Risk Shifting Channel Exist?

Recent theoretical literature in the field of banking competition and bank risk stresses the importance of interactions between banks and firms and suggests that banking competition impacts firm stability. But empirical evidence whether banking competition increases or decreases stability of firms in the real sector is scarce. This paper investigates the effect of banking competition on firm stability for a sample of small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) in Germany between 1996-2006. Results show that less banking competition is beneficial for firm stability. This rejects recent suggestions from the banking literature that banks may exploit their competitiveness and increase incentives for firms to undertake more risk. Thereby, this paper suggests the often cited charter value paradigm in banking to be right.
The Effect of Shocks to College Revenues on For-Profit Enrollment: Spillover from the Public Sector

This paper investigates whether declines in public funding for post-secondary institutions have increased for-profit enrollment. The two primary channels through which funding might operate to reallocate students across sectors are price (measured by tuition) and quality (measured by resource constraints). We estimate, on average, that a 10 percent cut in appropriations raises tuition about 1to 2 percent and decreases faculty resources by ½ to 1 percent, creating substantial bottlenecks for prospective students on both price and quality. These cuts, in turn, generate a nearly one percentage point increase in the for-profit market share of “elastic” enrollment (i.e. attendees of community colleges plus for-profit institutions), owing entirely to students who, in a better funding environment, would have attended a public institution. We estimate an elasticity of for-profit enrollment with respect to state and local appropriations of 0.2. Finally, we extend our analys is to show that for every 1 percent increase in flagship tuition generated by funding shortfalls, for-profit attendance increases by 1½ percent.
Measuring Service Quality: A Reexamination and Extension

The authors investigate the conceptualization and measurement of service quality and the relationships between service quality, consumer satisfaction, and purchase intentions. A literature review suggests that the current operationalization of service quality confounds satisfaction and attitude. Hence, the authors test (1) an alternative method of operationalizing perceived service quality and (2) the significance of the relationships between service quality, consumer satisfaction, and purchase intentions. The results suggest that (1) a performance-based measure of service quality may be an improved means of measuring the service quality construct, (2) service quality is an antecedent of consumer satisfaction, (3) consumer satisfaction has a significant effect on purchase intentions, and (4) service quality has less effect on purchase intentions than does consumer satisfaction. Implications for managers and future research are discussed.
Dynamics of Alliances in Highly Integrated Supply Chain Networks

Partnerships and alliances are both tools to increase integration in supply chains and effects of increased integration. As a result of alliance, integration in supply chain networks effectiveness and efficiency increase. To develop highly integrated supply chain networks involves investing time, resources and much effort. Therefore, firms often continue and grow within the existing supply chain network rather than choose other alternatives. On the other hand, this also means that the establishment of new alliances is hindered. The gradual changes normally also apply to the dissolution of alliances. Even though the firm seems to leave a specific individual alliance, it might stay on in the same supply chain or still be a part of the firm network in another supply chain. Few radical changes take place. If they do, acquisitions, technological change or strategic alliances between networks are mostly the triggers causing effects on several individual alliances. Over time, as integration increases, supply chain networks become leaner and more tightly connected, and complexity, risk and conflicts rise in the formation and dissolution of alliances. This spiral effect is enhanced by the tendency to imitate the successful supply chains' increasing homogeneity of chains and stronger competition. Thereby the total industry network will be increasingly integrated, which means fewer opportunities to switch and lower flexibility. Most firms are already tied up and the effects more difficult to foresee. To change alliances will be increasingly problematic and costly when both the supply chain and the total industry network are highly integrated. Acquisitions would rise since this might be the only way to break into these integrated supply chains. As a result the number of alternatives decreases and the dynamics of alliances reduced, which in the end forces new waves of radical changes due to "domino" effects.