Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Associations of social and behavioural factors with early childhood caries in Xiamen city in China.

BACKGROUND Early childhood caries (ECC) is the presence of caries in primary teeth in children 71 months of age or younger. Despite a decreasing prevalence of caries in China, ECC and related risk factors in China have not been well studied. AIMS This study aimed to investigate the status of ECC in children living in Xiamen city in China and to analyse the associated social and behaviour determinants. DESIGN A stratified random sample consisted of 1523 children with normal birth records. Clinical examination was performed to record caries at the surface level. Parents filled in questionnaires regarding eating habits, family status, childcare provider, and oral intervention. RESULTS Prevalence of ECC in studied child population was 56.8-78.31%, with an increasing tendency with age. The following factors were found to be significantly associated with ECC: age, candy, carbonated drink, bedtime eating, late start of brushing, low education of parents, private childcare, increased number of siblings, rural residence, and lack of oral health knowledge. Using a stepwise forward logistic regression analysis, a prediction model was established. CONCLUSION Early childhood caries in children living in Xiamen city was strongly associated with eating habits, family- and childcare-related factors and tooth-brushing. The ECC-high-risk group is children in rural private childcare facilities.
Mechanics of bacterial macrofiber initiation

The twisting and writhing during growth of single-cell filaments of Bacillus subtilis which lead to macrofiber formation was studied in both left- and right-handed forms of strains FJ7 and RHX. Filament bending, touching, and loop formation (folding), followed by winding up into a double-strand fiber, were documented. Subsequent folds that produced multistrandedness were also examined. The rate of loop rotation during winding up was measured for 26 loops from 16 clones. In most cases, the first loop formed turned at a lower rate than those produced by the following cycles of folding. The sequence of folding topologies differed in FJ7 and RHX strains and in left- versus right-handed structures. Right-handed FJ7 routinely gave rise to four-stranded helices at the second fold, whereas left-handed FJ7 and both left-handed and right-handed forms of RHX made structures with predominantly two double-stranded helical regions. Left-handed RHX structures frequently produced second folds within the initial loop itself, resulting in T- or Y-shaped fibers. Sixteen cases in which the initial touch of a filament to itself produced a loop that snapped open before it could wind up into a double-strand fiber were found. The snap motions were used to obtain estimates of the forces generated by helical growth of single filaments and to investigate theoretical models involving the material properties of cell filaments. In general, the mechanical behavior of growing single-cell filaments and fibers consisting of two-, three-, or four-strand helices was similar to that described for larger, mature, multifilament macrofibers. The behavior of multicellular macrofibers can be understood, therefore, in terms of individual cell growth.
Does hippocampus associate discontiguous events? Evidence from event‐related fMRI

To examine the hypothesis that the hippocampus is necessary to overcome temporal or spatial “discontiguity” (Wallenstein et al., Trends Neurosci 1998; 21:317–323), subjects were imaged by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) when they were making judgments as to whether two words were semantically related. Two words were presented, either at the same time (the Simultaneous Presentation Condition) or one after the other with a short unfilled rest period (the Delayed Presentation Condition). The latter condition, relative to the former, was proposed to involve the process of “discontiguity association. ” Event‐related fMRI results of eight subjects showed that, relative to the binding of simultaneously presented words, the binding of delay presented words was associated with left hippocampus activity. This result provided direct neuroimaging evidence for the role of the hippocampus in “discontiguity association. ” © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Retail Food Environment in Relation to Socio-economic Characteristics, Weight Status and Diabetes

The food environment is drawing increasing attention as an important population-level determinant of diet, obesity and related health outcomes. Using retail food data sourced from a commercial database, we examined several dimensions of the local retail food environment in relation to area socio-economic characteristics, and weight status and diabetes risk among adult residents of three urban regions in southern Ontario. The first study showed that local access to different types of food retail was patterned by level of neighbourhood material deprivation. More deprived neighbourhoods generally provided better access to stores and restaurants of all types, including those selling more or less healthful foods. These patterns were partially explained by urban form factors. Relative access to unhealthy food retailers (as a proportion of all outlets) showed little variation by level of neighbourhood material deprivation. In the second study, we found that measures of absolute and relative availability of different types of restaurants (volume and proportion) within walking distance of residential areas had differential effects on the weight status of local residents. We also identified a novel interaction between absolute and relative restaurant measures, whereby exposure to a higher proportion of
The role of the iris in chick accommodation.

PURPOSE Peripheral defocus, higher-order aberrations, and accommodation interact with pupil size to influence retinal image quality and possibly eye growth. Iridectomy (ID) provides a fixed, enlarged pupil. Results from in vitro studies suggest that ID may reduce or eliminate accommodation in the chicken. This paper further investigates the effects of ID on chicken accommodation, eye growth, and refractive development. METHODS Refraction, biometry, and corneal curvature were measured, before, and after topical instillation of nicotine in 43 White-Leghorn chickens that had undergone monocular ID. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured, and eyes were imaged with anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) during accommodation. In vitro preparations were used to examine accommodation responses in a lens-scanning instrument. RESULTS Iridectomy induced small but significant decreases in anterior and vitreous chamber depths and an increase in lens thickness (LT). IOP was similar in iridectomized and control eyes from 1 week on. In vivo, nicotine induced similar accommodative changes in iridectomized and control eyes. OCT images revealed a forward displacement of the iris during accommodation in control eyes. Iridectomized and control eyes showed similar increases in LT. In vitro, iridectomized eyes showed minimal nicotine-induced accommodation. CONCLUSIONS Refraction and eye growth were minimally affected by ID in chickens, implying that emmetropization was unaffected and supporting the use of ID as a tool in emmetropization and myopia studies. The greatly attenuated accommodative responses in vitro for iridectomized eyes suggest a role of biomechanical factors in the chick. IOP was unaffected by the surgery, implying that the iris musculature is not essential for maintaining aqueous outflow pathways.
Applications of environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) in biomaterials field

Various tasks were undertaken in our laboratory where environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) has been of particular interest within the biomaterials field. The possibility of observing wet samples, as well as the fact that sample preparation is minimal, has improved shorter time scales and lower costs in microscopy. Minimal preparation has also reduced the possibility of introducing artifacts. Examples like cell cultures used for pit resorption assays, calcium phosphate deposition processes, and dissolution of phosphate glasses used as biomaterials are presented. Finally, a servohydraulic testing machine designed for mechanical testing in situ in ESEM has allowed the study of shape memory alloys for orthodontic applications or the behavior of different adhesives used in odontology. Microsc. Res. Tech. 61:469–480, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL DISCLOSURES AND AUDIT COMPONENTS IN NON-DISCRETIONARY INCOME

This study aims to determine the relationship of Intellectual Capital Disclosures (ICD), audit committee characteristics (size, gender, education, expertise), and audit quality toward the performance of the company measured through Non-Discretionary Net Income (NDNI) and Cash Flow Operation (CFO). This study is conducted on service listed companies in the Indonesia Stock Exchange (Service Industry) from 2010 to 2016 by panel data regression method analyzed using random effect model. The results of this study indicate that components in ICD have no significant impact on firm performance. Some components in the audit committees are found to have significant positive relationship towards financial performance. The empirical results suggest that ICD serve as a tool in aiding firm performance. A corporation should practice ICD extensively to enjoy the impact on the firm performance and value. Most research studies the relationship between intellectual capital disclosures and board diversity toward firm performance individually. The interaction of intellectual capital disclosures and audit committee characteristics is analyzed and studied to see whether audit committee characteristics is a factor that can help and improve the effectiveness of firm performance. Audit quality is also being analyzed and being taken into consideration as a variable. This is the first study to find the relationship towards the firm performance using NDNI and CFO as the dependent variables
Branding Strategies of a Private International School

Demand for international K-12 schools in India is growing, and this is causing competition between them. The purpose of this paper was to explore the branding strategies that private international school leaders in India use to enhance the school brand. Case study method was used where fifteen participants were interviewed from an international school in Southern part of India. Interviews were conducted with five school leaders, five teachers, and five parents using a semi-structured interview method with open-ended questions related to branding strategies. Brand-oriented organizations have internal approaches to developing their brand based on vision, mission, and values. As education is an intangible product, both internal branding and external branding are required to win the trust of parents. Various information technology tools including social media can help to devise personalized communication channels to tell the school’s story to the stakeholders. The inherent limitation with a case study method is that it is not generalizable. Branding as a process has been discussed for higher education institutions but not the K-12 sector, especially from the Indian perspective. The empirical evidence presented in this paper may help K-12 schools, especially in India to understand how to enhance the school brand.
The impact of ski slopes management on Krvavec ski resort (Slovenia) on hydrological functions of soils

The study was performed on the ski resort Krvavec, which is one of the most frequented ski resorts in Slovenia. The ski slopes serve as pastures for cattle during summer time and range from 1500 to 2000 m a.s. l. , which is at or above the upper timberline. To offer a longer ski season and to profit snow better (either natural or artificial one) the slopes have been levelled and consequently the soil profile has been changed. Such altered soil profile characteristics strongly impact hydrological functions of soils.To study these impacts, five plots (20 × 20 m) have been chosen on the slopes with a different history: pasture without any amelioration work, a patch of forest in the ski resort without any ameliorations, and three plots with different intensity of amelioration.Dynamics of soil water content on each plot has been determined by measuring soil water content in-situ with portable TDR system during several days after long lasting heavy rains. Statistically significant differences were shown in soil water content between the plots after the rain, although some differences between plots have disappeared in the following days.
The efficiency of electronic public procurement system in Ukraine

Public procurement has been the subject of research for a long time in the work of scientists from both the economically developed countries and those undergoing the transformation of public finances. Their research comes from different points of view, namely from the essence of the definition, the process of their conduct, the problems of the legislative framework to their effective implementation. In addition, the issue of electronic public procurement, which can greatly enhance the transparency of this process and reduce the level of corruption inherent in this area in all countries without any exception, is becoming increasingly relevant in recent times.Based on the conducted analysis, the article proposes the definition of the term of public procurement, defines the principles of public procurement as a controlled subject in the electronic environment of their conduct, and systematizes the basic indicators characterizing the effectiveness of public procurement. Based on the Granger causality method, an analysis of efficiency was performed and the basic indicators determining the level of savings in the public procurement system were determined. It is established that the use of Granger causality in changing the amount of savings in the system of public procurement gives only a quantitative characteristic. For a more complete picture quantitative analysis is supplemented with qualitative parameters.
The Role of ADAMTS1 and Versican in Human Myocardial Infarction: A Postmortem Study.

OBJECTIVE To determine the role of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motif (ADAMTS1) and fragmented versican in the myocardial infarction (MI) process in humans and to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of ADAMTS1 for postmortem diagnosis of MI. METHODS Thirty autopsied individuals were allocated into 2 groups, namely, a study group of individuals who died of myocardial infarction (n = 20), and a control group who died of trauma (n = 10). We performed standard immunohistochemical staining on myocardial tissue specimens, studying anti-ADAMTS1, anti-versican, and anti-versican C terminal peptide sequence (DPEAAE) fragments. RESULTS Strong, diffuse staining was observed throughout myocardial tissue for ADAMTS1 in the 2 groups. However, in the study group, we observed no expression for ADAMTS1 around fibrotic areas but detected slight staining in coagulative and necrotic zones. CONCLUSION Similar localizations of ADAMTS and fragmented versican in human heart tissue indicate that versican presumably is cleaved by ADAMTS1. Hence, ADAMTS1 can be regarded as a new marker for postmortem differential diagnosis of MI.
On the Development of a Swarm Engineering Methodology

This paper explores swarm engineering by revisiting popular concepts from swarm intelligence and making them more rigorous by providing mathematical definitions. The definitions form the basis for an examination of an engineering methodology which starts by examining the desired state of a global property of the system and then generates a requirement for a local behavior that generates the global property. This methodology allows a local behavior to be tested theoretically before it is tested empirically
Fraud in mobile financial services : protecting consumers, providers, and the system

The rapid growth of mobile financial services (MFS) is arguably the single most significant contributor to increased financial inclusion in emerging markets today. It has facilitated access to cheap and reliable financial services to an ever increasing formerly unbanked population segment. Innovative mobile money services like M-Pesa in Kenya and Tanzania have grown into major payments services that move billions of dollars annually. Unfortunately, MFS have also rapidly become a conduit for fraud and other criminal activity.
Evidentiary value and effects of contaminants on blood group factors in medico

Background: Blood is considered to be the most common trace evidence obtained from the scene of crime. Blood grouping reveals vital information regarding identification, in relation to crime investigation. With this respect contaminat effect on blood grouping was studied. Material and methods: Randomly A, B, AB, Rh positive samples were taken in duplicates and were added with rusted pins, dust particles, detergent, staphylocopcci one tube was kept in room temperature. Controls were kept in refrigerator at 4 results. Results: There were lots of changes in blood groups after 10 days of incubation in all tubes with contamination. Blood samples in dust after 10 days incubation had changed from A, B, AB to O blood group with Rh negativity. Blood samples in rust had retained with original ABO group but Rh positives were converted to Rh negative. Detergent tubes had also changed Rh pos retaining original ABO. There was no change in either ABO or Rh blood groups in tubes with Staphylococci bacteria. Conclusion: Stains contaminated with common agents like dust, rust, bacteria and detergent give inconclusive results by mixed agglutination method with passage of time. The results may be accepted with caution, as the opinion might be medico legally significant. 2, Issue 3, March, 2015. -legal grounds 1* , Manjunath MR 2 , Kusuma KN Institute of Medical Sciences, Mandya, Karnataka, India
Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae cause lower respiratory tract disease in paediatric patients

New studies suggest that Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae play a more significant role as causes of lower respiratory tract infections in childhood than was previously thought. In particular, the incidence of infections caused by these pathogens is high in children aged less than 5 years, the infections themselves seem to be a possible cause of wheezing, and may present a more complicated course when not treated with adequate antimicrobial agents. However, despite the increasing pathogenic significance of M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae, progress in fighting them is hampered by the lack of rapid and standardized diagnostic methods. This not only makes it practically impossible for practitioners to make a specific microbiological diagnosis, but has also had an adverse effect on treatment trials and has generated some questionable results. Carefully randomized and controlled trials are clearly needed to examine the effectiveness of different antibiotics against M. pneumoniae or C. pneumoniae and the optimal duration of therapy in various patient populations.
Scoping Job Enlargement with the Cultural Dimension of Individualism: An Industrial

Job satisfaction and sustainable job performance require managers to find the right balance between job enlargement and the division of labor in designing the optimum scope of work toward a continuum of employee engagement. This dissertation explores the cultural dimension of “Individualism” and its’ implication in this balance. If a manufacturing line is transferred from the United States (91 mean individualism score) to China (20 mean individualism score) does the scope of the work need to change to ensure that a greater population of workers is engaged and that they have work passion toward sustained performance (Hofstede, n.d.)? Does the statement of work need to increase in detail and prescriptiveness or conversely in autonomy and diversity of tasks to match the mean cultural dimension of individualism corresponding with the target culture of the workforce? This study builds on the theory of job enlargement, and considers a cultural implication of individualism in international business.
MULTIPLICITY OF ANTIBODY PROTEINS IN RABBIT ANTI-P-AZOBENZENEARSONATE SERA.

Rabbit antibodies against the p-azobenzenearsonate (Rp) group were studied with respect to their immunoelectrophoretic and chromatographic properties as well as their molecular size. Anti-Rp antibody activity was found in three different protein components of the antisera by the use of radioimmunoelectrophoresis with I131-Rp-insulin as a test antigen. The three antibody components, although all were directed against the same determinant group, differed in their reaction with horse antiserum against rabbit globulin. They were partially separated by gel filtration with Sephadex G-200 according to their molecular size and by chromatography on diethylaminoethyl cellulose. The antibodies of three different protein types were identified as the γ-type (6 S), the β2-type (16 S) and the β1-type (probably 9 S and 6 S). The γ-type contains γ-globulins of a wide range of electrophoretic mobility, but can be fractionated by chromatography into two distinct fractions which differ in their mobility, γ2 and γ1. It was present in all the antisera tested and carried a major part of the antibody activity. The β2-type appears to be the same as the β2 or γ1maeroglobulin previously found in rabbit serum. It was detected in most of the antisera tested. The β1-type is probably associated with the 9 S component and possibly also with the 6 S component. It seems to be the counterpart of β2A-globulin in the human. It was detected in only two of the six individual antisera tested.
Airway function correlates with circulating eosinophil, but not mast cell, markers of inflammation in childhood asthma

Background Lung function tests, including forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced expiratory flow at 25–75% of vital capacity (FEF25–75%) and provocation concentrations of histamine which reduce FEV] by 20% (PC20), are used as indicators of airway form and function in bronchial asthma. Recently, markers of eosinophil activation in bronchial lavage and serum have been suggested as a measure of eosinophil mediated inflammation in the airways. These include eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), eosinophil protein X (EPX) (also known as eosinophil derived neuro‐toxin) and eosinophil peroxidase (EPO). Similarly, serum tryptase has been used as a marker of mast cell activation in systemic anaphylaxis.