Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Primary and secondary dentine thickness at the apical foramen of the mesial and distal root of the lower first permanent molar

Introduction Knowledge of the complexity of the root canal system in lower first molars and particularly the apical part of the root affects significantly the realization and success of the endodontic procedure. Aim The aim of this paper was to determine the thickness of the primary and secondary dentine around the main foramen of the mesial and distal root of the lower first permanent molar in teeth of various ages. Material and Method Fifty extracted lower first molars of both male and female patients extracted for various reasons were used in the study. All teeth were allocated to three age groups: under 25 years old (15 teeth), between 26 and 50 (20 teeth) and over 51 years old (15 teeth). After access cavity preparation, canal orifices were enlarged and root canals were explored using hand K-files #10. Using a diamond disc, the root tip was then cut off in the area of the apical foramen. Dentine thickness was determined using a complex configuration comprising of several devices which were interconnected by software. These included a polarised microscope (Leica DMLSP), a digital camera (Leica DC300) and a scanner. Results The results showed that the greatest mean thickness of the primary dentine was in the mesial root of the first lower molar in the first age group (0.177 mm), followed by the third (0.145 mm) whilst the least mean thickness was observed in the second age group (0.141 mm). In the distal root, the mean thickness of the primary dentine was in the second (0.175 mm), then the first (0.138 mm) and finally the third group (0.100 mm). The mean thickness of the secondary dentine in the mesial root was observed in the second group (1.25 mm), followed by the third (1.11 mm) whilst the least mean thickness was found in the first age group (0.95 mm). The mean thickness of the secondary dentine in the distal root was observed in the second group (1.26 mm), then the third (1.18 mm) whilst the least mean thickness was found in the first age group (0.99 mm). Conclusion The obtained results suggested that the mean thickness of the primary dentine in the mesial and distal roots was comparable. For both mesial and distal roots, the greatest mean thickness of the secondary dentine was observed in the second age group.
Examining science teachers' pedagogical content knowledge in the context of a professional development program

This dissertation reports on the pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) of science teachers during a professional development program. This research intended to help us understand why and how teachers make their classroom decisions as they teach science. The main questions in this study were: What is the pedagogical content knowledge of science teachers when they prepare and conduct lessons as part of a specific professional development program to improve their science teaching and how does this PCK change during this program? This study showed that teachers’ orientations, one of the PCK components, are complex because teachers have multiple goals and use multiple strategies when teaching a lesson. The study also showed that science teachers’ PCK can best be typified and described using teachers’ concerns, goals, and purposes in teaching science. When studying PCK development, this study showed that science teachers’ PCK development followed two different pathways of change. One pathway where teachers reflected on their classroom outcomes and the other pathway where they fail to reflect on these outcomes. When studying PCK in practice, there was evidence that when teachers use their PCK in inquiry lessons, their concerns and their orientations were closely related to their planning of inquiry-based instructions.
Pillaring Processes of Smectites with and Without Tetrahedral Substitution

Pillaring of montmorillonite and beidellite with aluminum polyhydroxypolymer takes place first by the saturation of the cation-exchange capacity by monomeric and/or dimeric aluminum hydroxide species and then the intercalation of the so-called Al13-polyhydroxypolymer. The clay slurry must have a solid concentration greater than 0.01% (w/w) to produce a basal spacing of about 18 Å. Sizeable clay tactoids must therefore exist in the slurry in order to produce a turbostratic structure ordered along the c axis. The main difference between pillared montmorillonite and pillared beidellite seems to be a more ordered distribution of pillars within the interlamellar space of the clays that are rich in tetrahedral substitutions. Recent 27Al and 21Si high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance data suggest that this higher degree of ordering results from the reaction of the aluminic pillars and the clay sheet near the sites of the tetrahedral substitutions.
Predictive use of matched and mismatched gender-marked articles in Spanish-English bilinguals

Most behavioral research involving typically-developing children has been devoted to understanding language production processes, but there is limited information on language comprehension; thus, part of the developmental picture is incomplete. Although there is a growing body of literature focusing on production of grammatical forms for bilingual children, there is a critical need to understand how children’s comprehension skills develop in conjunction with production skills by understanding their language knowledge and language experience. With regard to grammatical class, articles are especially important because they precede nouns in most contexts in Spanish and therefore are used with a high frequency in all aspects of language. Articles should be studied in the language processing of elementary age children to understand what children attend to during language comprehension. In this study, the visual world paradigm was used to examine gendered articles using phonological competitors in trials with informative (different-gender grammatical trials), uninformative (same-gender grammatical trials), or incorrect (ungrammatical trials) articles in bilingual children and adults. Participants named common nouns and completed an eye-tracking task, a grammaticality judgment task, and a standardized vii vocabulary test in both English and Spanish. Bilingual children ages 5-6 and 8-9 did not show gender sensitivity in informative vs. uninformative trials but were significantly slower on ungrammatical trials. Bilingual adults showed sensitivity to gender and were significantly faster on informative trials relative to uninformative trials, which in turn were significantly faster than ungrammatical trials regardless of participants’ profile of current Spanish language input. Children may be merging their representation of articles in the two languages and not find the gender cue in Spanish to be necessary. Spanish, a gendered language and English, a non-gendered language, may be in competition during this developmental period. Bilingual adults are able to quickly and accurately process the incoming gendered information, and are therefore able to demonstrate gender sensitivity.
Alternative eradication regimens for Helicobacter pylori infection in Indonesian regions with high metronidazole and levofloxacin resistance

Background The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori resistance to metronidazole and clarithromycin is high in Indonesia. Moreover, the increasing levofloxacin resistance rates in the absence of bismuth treatment in Indonesia has led to the use of other antibiotics as alternative regimens. Methods We determined the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of five alternative antibiotics for H. pylori (rifaximin, rifabutin, furazolidone, garenoxacin, and sitafloxacin) using the agar dilution method and assessed mutations associated with antibiotic resistance using next-generation sequencing. Result Analysis of 106 strains isolated from 1039 adult dyspeptic patients revealed that none of the strains were furazolidone-resistant. All strains were also sensitive to rifabutin and sitafloxacin. In contrast, the rates of resistance to rifaximin and garenoxacin were high (38.9% and 6.7%, respectively). The strains isolated from patients on Java Island had the highest resistance rates to garenoxacin and rifaximin. In addition, the resistance was distributed evenly among the ethnic groups, ranging between 25.0% and 69.2%. Except for rifaximin, for which the resistance rate was 38.9%, the other four antibiotics could be successfully employed to eradicate levofloxacin- and metronidazole-resistant H. pylori infections in vitro. Interestingly, garenoxacin-sensitive strains were found in regions with high clarithromycin resistance rates such as Bali and Papua Islands. In contrast, rifaximin might not be considered as an alternative antibiotic in regions with high clarithromycin resistance. There was an inconsistent association between gyrA and gyrB mutations and garenoxacin resistance. We confirmed that the I837V (replacement of isoleucine at position 837 with valine), A2414T/V, Q2079K and K2068R were the predominant rpoB point mutations. There was an association between vacA genotypes of H. pylori and rifaximin resistance (P = 0.048). Conclusion furazolidone-, rifabutin-, and sitafloxacin-based therapies might be considered as alternative regimens to eradicate H. pylori in Indonesia, including regions with high metronidazole and clarithromycin resistance rates. Moreover, sitafloxacin but not garenoxacin should be considered for eradication of levofloxacin-resistant strains.
BRAF Mutation Status in Primary, Recurrent, and Metastatic Malignant Melanoma and Its Relation to Histopathological Parameters

Background BRAF mutations are a common finding in malignant melanoma (MM). Nevertheless, apart from their significance as a therapeutic target in advanced melanoma, their prognostic value is still debated. Objective To assess BRAF mutation status in primary, recurrent, or metastatic MM and its correlations with histopathological findings. Methods We analyzed 203 samples from 178 consecutive patients: 129 primary cutaneous MM, 49 metastatic and recurrent MM of unknown primary site, and 25 cases of recurrences or metastases of primary MM. BRAF mutations in exon 15 were identified with real-time polymerase chain reaction and/or direct sequencing or pyrosequencing. Histopathological examination was performed according to standard procedures. Results We observed a 42.1% prevalence of BRAF mutations at codon 600 among our patients, 84% of whom harbored the V600E mutation. Mutations showed a statistically significant increase in younger patients (P = 0.011), in ulcerated tumors (P = 0.020), and in tumors lacking solar elastosis in adjacent dermis (P = 0.008). Mutations were also more common in male patients, as well as in primary MMs of the torso, and in nonvisceral metastases, however without reaching statistical significance. Logistic regression analysis identified type and ulceration as the only significant predictors of BRAF mutation. The highest frequencies of mutated BRAF were identified in superficial spreading and nodular types, and the lowest in acral lentiginous and lentigo maligna types. In situ MM and primary dermal melanoma displayed intermediate frequencies. Conclusion Frequency of mutated BRAF is type-related and correlated with ulceration, a known adverse prognostic factor.
Self-Corrections and the Reading Progress of Struggling Beginning Readers

While there is consensus that self-corrections (SCs) ought to be coded as part of oral reading assessments, less agreement exists as to what, if any, role self-correcting plays in reading development. The purpose of this study was to address limitations of prior research and provide a more statistically accurate estimate of the role of SC in early reading progress. A dataset that included running records (n = 3184) and baseline and posttest literacy achievement data for first-grade struggling readers (n = 140) was used. Baseline achievement, errors, and total words served as covariates. To investigate the potential moderating effects of errors and words, we interacted SC with errors and with total words. We then conducted hierarchical linear modeling to examine the role of SC in beginning reading. Our findings indicate that SC significantly and positively predicted early reading progress for struggling readers. Further, SC was found to have additional predictive power for students who were at the earliest period of literacy development. Results suggest that early reading instruction ought to pay careful attention to self-correcting behavior during oral reading and that oral reading assessments may be enhanced with specific instructions about what to do with SCs.
Biomass estimation using LiDAR data

Forest ecosystems play a very important role in carbon cycle because they suppose one of the biggest carbon reservoirs and sinks. Estimating the aboveground forest biomass is critical to understand the global carbon storage process. Different models to estimate aboveground biomass in the Pinus radiata specie in a specific region of Spain have been developed, using, exclusively, public and accessible data with low point density gathered periodically from Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) flights. The point clouds data were processed to obtain metrics considered as predictive variables and afterwards, the multiple regression technique has been applied to generate the biomass estimation models. The best models explain 76% of its variability with a standard error of 0.26 ton/ha in logarithmic units. The methodology can be considered as highly automated and extensible to other territories with similar characteristics. Our results support the use of this approach for more sustainable management of forest areas.
The Unknotting number and band-unknotting number of a knot

Proof. First, we show the ‘if’ part. If P is one of the projections of the connected sum of a (2, r)-torus knot diagram and a (2, s)-torus knot diagram, it follows from Theorem 2.6 and Proposition 2.2 that tr(P ) = p(P )− 2. Suppose that P is one of the projections of positive 3-braid diagrams. By Theorem 2.6, tr(P ) ≤ p(P )−2. Assume that tr(P ) < p(P )− 2. Let Q be a trivial pseudo diagram which realizes the trivializing number of P . Let p1, p2, . , pn be the pre-crossings of Q. Then n ≥ 3 since tr(P ) < p(P )−2. Let P ′ be the projection obtained from P by smoothing p1, p2, . , pn. Then P ′ is a projection of (n + 1)-component link diagram from Proposition 2.4. This contradicts that P is one of the projections of positive 3-braid knot diagrams.
A Three-phase Large Scale Skyline Service Selection Framework in Clouds

For the large scale services with high-dimensional QoS attributes and distributed environment, traditional service selection approaches are faced with unprecedented challenges in terms of efficiency and performance of QoS. To address these challenges, we propose a three-phase large scale Skyline service selection framework for service composition in clouds. This framework adopts distributed parallel Skyline computation with MapReduce to prune redundant candidate services, and employs parallel multiobjective optimization algorithm based on MapReduce to select Skyline services from the tremendous amount of Skyline services warehouse for composing single service into a set of more powerful Skyline composite services, then applies Top-k query processing technology or multiple attribute decision making support method to select k Skyline composite services from the set of Skyline composite services. Through theoretical analysis, the framework can efficiently solve the service selection problem with large scale services, high-dimensional QoS in cloud computing environment, and quickly generate better composite services with the global optimal QoS.
ON OPERATORS WITH AN ABSOLUTE VALUE CONDITION

Let A denote the class of bounded linear Hilbert space operators with the property that jA 2 j ‚ jAj 2 . In this paper we show that A-operators are flnitely ascensive and that, for non-zero operators A and B, A › B is in A if and only if A and B are in A. Also, it is shown that if A is an operator such that p(A) is in A for a non-trivial polynomial p, then Weyl's theorem holds for f(A), where f is a function analytic on an open neighborhood of the spectrum of A.
Rape Crimes Reviewed: The Role of Observer Variables in Female Victim Blaming

This article presents an overview of empirical research on the role of observer variables in rape victim blaming (female attacked by a male perpetrator). The focus is on literature from the last 15 years. The variables observer gender, ambivalent sexism, rape myth acceptance, and rape empathy are discussed in relation to victim blaming. Most research on rape is conducted using diverse methods and approaches that result in a great disparity regarding the role of these variables in predicting blame assignments. Despite the inconsistencies, most studies show that men hold the victim more responsible for her own victimization than women. Findings further indicate that higher scores on sexist ideologies and rape myth acceptance predict higher victim blame, and that higher rape empathy scores predict lower victim blame. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Influence of Investor Sentiments on Stock Market Capitalization of Different Economic Sectors in a Developing Economy: Evidence from Pakistan

This study investigates the effect of investor sentiment on the stock market capitalization on different economic sectors of Karachi Stock Exchange of Pakistan by using the data from the year 19722014. The findings of EGARCH model suggest that the Power and Fuel sector and the Chemical sector are more affected by investor sentiment as compared to the other sectors due to the presence of big giants’ firms of Pakistani market in those sectors. Furthermore, it is concluded that noise traders are irrational traders and they follow news and trends. Therefore, it is recommended that a number of different educational and awareness programs should be introduced for the individual investors to make them financial literate, and through this process the number of knowledgeable investors can be increased and the impact of noise traders
Response of fenugreek ( Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) seedlings under moisture and heavy metal stress with special reference to antioxidant system

In the present investigation, the impact of drought and heavy metal in fenugreek was critically monitored. Fenugreek seedlings were exposed to 1- bar polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution (osmotic stress) and 10 ppm solution of HgCl 2 (heavy metal). Within 3 days of seedling growth, mercury exposure induced relatively high level of adverse impact of root growth and biomass production where cell division was significantly reduced measured by mitotic index and development of root vascular bundle was affected indicating negative impact on nutrient transport chain. Mercury stress showed a five-fold increase in malonaldehyde (MAD) production along with antioxidant enzyme peroxidase (POD) activity and mercury stress showed simultaneous and lower antioxidant activity compared to osmotic stress increased activity in super oxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) indicates that mercury pollution leads to serious damage in cell membrane through accumulation of lipid peroxides and POD activity to quench it whereas osmotic stress is not so serious and adopt the mechanism to quench the superoxides by SOD and followed by the detoxification of H 2 O 2 by catalase and formation of lower level of MAD. Keywords: Fenugreek, antioxidant, heavy metal, osmotic stress African Journal of Biotechnology , Vol. 13(3), pp. 434-440, 15 January, 2014
Autonomy, proactiveness, and firm performance in the entrepreneurial small and medium-sized enterprises of the United States

How and in what situations do autonomy and proactiveness influence the financial performance of entrepreneurial small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)? This dissertation includes two studies to answer such inquiries by testing the research models with the approach of computer-aided text analysis. With the resource orchestration perspective and a configurational model, Study 1 examines whether the relationship between autonomy and firm performance depends on potential slack and environmental dynamism in a sample of 359 firm-year observations between 2009 and 2015. I theorized the alignment of autonomy, environmental dynamism, and potential slack results in superior firm performance. Study 2 looks at how proactiveness, acting as a mechanism of opportunity creation, interacts with market orientation to influence firm performance in a sample of 2,059 firm-year observations between 2009 and 2015. I theorized how the three sub-dimensions of market orientation respectively moderate the
Savings and Consumption When Children

Based on the Italian Survey on Household Income and Wealth (SHIW) and the German Socio-economic Panel (SOEP), we show tha t household consumption drops after a child moves out of a hous ehold, while at the same time, per capita consumption increases signifi ca tly. Parents approximately upgrade their personal lifestyle up t o the level of childless peers after all children are gone and save only a s m ll proportion of the freed-up resources. Since parents had fewer resourc es to save while they were young, retirement preparedness among them is a more serious concern than among childless individuals.
Perspectives to Definition of Big Data: A Mapping Study and Discussion

Big data is an emerging research area where common terminology is still evolving. Different perspectives to the research area and terminology exist, but a common definition for big data does not exist. We have performed a systematic mapping study in order to identify different big data definitions and their perspectives. As a result, we present a state-of-the-art review of the current status in big data definitions, discuss the shortcomings of the current definitions, and propose possible solutions for the shortcomings. The paper contributes to the emerging big data research by analyzing current definitions of big data from different perspectives, suggesting enhancement to the terminology as well as pointing out new research avenues. In addition, the article helps new researchers and practitioners to understand what big data is, and bridges the knowledge between theory and practice.
RDA in Germany, Austria and German-speaking Switzerland – a new standard not only for libraries

La comunita bibliotecaria in Germania, Austria e nella Svizzera tedesca ha raggiunto alla fine del 2015 un obiettivo comune. Dopo due anni di intensa preparazione, lo standard internazionale RDA e stato implementato e si e avviato il lavoro pratico. L'articolo descrive il progetto dal punto di vista della situazione organizzativa nei tre paesi e si concentra sugli obiettivi raggiunti e sul lavoro che resta ancora da fare. Offre inoltre una panoramica dell'impegno iniziale per allineare la gestione dei materiali speciali con RDA nelle nazioni di lingua tedesca e descrive le attivita associate al requisito specifico derivante dalla natura multilingue della Svizzera. Infine, l'articolo riferisce lo sviluppo strategico nei comitati internazionali RDA, come il RDA Steering Committee (RSC) e l'European RDA Interest Group (EURIG).