Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparative efficacy of an antiseptic mouthrinse and an antiplaque/antigingivitis dentifrice. A six-month clinical trial.

BACKGROUND The efficacy of an essential oil-containing antiseptic mouthrinse (Listerine Antiseptic, Pfizer) and an antiplaque/antigingivitis dentifrice (Colgate Total, Colgate-Palmolive) has been demonstrated in numerous double-blind clinical studies. This study was conducted to determine their comparative efficacy. METHODS Three hundred sixteen subjects with mild-to-moderate gingival inflammation and plaque received a dental prophylaxis and began their randomly assigned brushing and rinsing regimen in an unsupervised setting. Subjects brushed for one minute and rinsed with 20 milliliters for 30 seconds twice daily for six months. The three groups were L (control toothpaste/Listerine rinse), T (Colgate Total toothpaste/control rinse) and P (control toothpaste/control rinse). RESULTS Subjects in the L and T groups demonstrated statistically significantly lower (P < .001) Modified Gingival Index, or MGI; Bleeding Index, or BI; and Plaque Index, or PI, at both three and six months than subjects in the P group. The magnitude of reduction for the L group was 22.9 percent, 70 percent and 56.1 percent, respectively, and for the T group, 20.8 percent, 58 percent and 22.1 percent, respectively. Subjects in the L group were not different from subjects in the T group in regard to visual signs of gingivitis (MGI), but were more effective (P < .001) than subjects in the T group in experiencing reduced BI and PI. No product-related adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION Although the Listerine Antiseptic and Colgate Total antiplaque/antigingivitis products produced similar, clinically significant reductions in gingivitis (as measured by MGI and BI), Listerine, when used in conjunction with a fluoride dentifrice and usual oral hygiene, provided a greater benefit in reducing plaque. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS When considering an antiplaque/antigingivitis product to recommend to patients, clinicians should consider Listerine Antiseptic, in conjunction with usual oral hygiene, if more rigorous plaque control is desired.
Secure Smart Homes

The Smart Home concept integrates smart applications in the daily human life. In recent years, Smart Homes have increased security and management challenges due to the low capacity of small sensors, multiple connectivity to the Internet for efficient applications (use of big data and cloud computing), and heterogeneity of home systems, which require inexpert users to configure devices and micro-systems. This article presents current security and management approaches in Smart Homes and shows the good practices imposed on the market for developing secure systems in houses. At last, we propose future solutions for efficiently and securely managing the Smart Homes.
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy: Investigation of three cases using in situ hybridization with JC virus biotinylated DNA probe

Using the technique of in situ DNA‐to‐DNA hybridization, a JC virus biotinylated DNA probe was developed and applied to formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded, or fixed, frozen sections of brain tissue from three subjects with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Light microscopy was carried out to correlate the presence of JC virus DNA with the selective infection of oligodendrocytes and astrocytes in PML. Oligodendrocytes (lytically infected) showed the greatest evidence of viral DNA. More astrocytes showing bizarre morphological changes had evidence of viral DNA than did astrocytes that were simply reactive. Viral DNA was not evident in vascular endothelial cells using this technique. Viral DNA replication may be an important initial step which produces the bizarre “transformed” astrocytes of PML. Findings in this study do not support the hypothesis that vascular endothelial replication is important in the pathogenesis of JC virus–induced PML. In situ hybridization with biotinylated JC virus probe may be useful in the diagnosis of PML on brain biopsy specimens.
Do we really have to consider data mining techniques for meteorological data

Weather data have two classes' synoptic data and climatic data. Real time data (Synoptic data) is used in applications like forecast modelling and aviation; climatic data is recorded over certain period of time. Formerly weather was forecasted manually by observing sky conditions and current weather conditions with manual calculations. Weather conditions are chaotic so there prediction must be precise and accurate. More sophisticated techniques have been developed which are far more efficient and accurate than manual calculations. Data mining is among one of such technologies. And it has a broader scope of applicability. One of such domains is Meteorology where data mining can enhance the productivity of its analysts extensively by transforming their huge, unmanageable data into valuable information knowledge. Meteorological changes of a region can cause economic and ecological damage and can harm human lives. Accurate prediction is therefore a key factor for controlling such occurrences. Various weather events e.g. Temperature, Humidity, Wind direction, Wind Speed, and Rain etc. are being predicted using various data mining techniques. The prime objective of this paper is to review research in data mining techniques applied in the field of weather prediction. A comparative study of various data mining techniques in weather forecasting is followed by a discussion on conventional preprocessing, challenges associated and issues of model evaluation and building methods. Therefore, this paper provides a roadmap to researchers for knowledge.
Transfer Pricing and Enforcement Policy in Oligopolistic Markets

In this paper we set up a symmetric two-country model with trade costs and international ownership to study the transfer pricing decisions by two multinationals operating in markets with Cournot competition. We let governments choose both the corporate profit tax rate and the level of enforcement of the "arm's length" principle and we examine how enforcement policies affect the tax competition game. Furthermore, we analyze in what direction economic integration, in terms of a reduction in trade costs and/or a larger international ownership of multinationals, influences the symmetric equilibrium level of the two policy instruments. We show that increased economic integration may lead to higher equilibrium tax rates, and that, as governments increase the level of enforcement, equilibrium tax rates increase as well. Moreover, we find that, when the two MNEs are not fully owned by domestic residents, trade liberalization decreases the equilibrium enforcement policy, while increased international ownership increases the level of enforcement.
Biomechanics of the Foot in Dance: A Literature Review

In any form of dance, great strain is placed on the lower extremity and the strong but sensitive foot. A large percentage of injuries to dancers involve the foot and ankle. Understanding the structure, biomechanics, and physics of the lower extremity helps to diagnose and evaluate the mechanics behind these injuries. The lower extremity function is complicated and needs to be studied carefully to understand its laws and principles. What often happens when injury occurs is that the dancer is not satisfying the natural requirements of movement through the joints. For example, her relevé is causing sickling and unstable foot positions because the forefoot is not strong enough and the leg external rotation and hip joint muscular support are not simultaneous with the heel raise. In the opposite direction, when the dancer is executing plié, the outcome of poor control of a weakened foot is strain on the passive supporting structures, such as the plantar ligaments, joint capsules, and plantar fascia. This leads to faulty bone alignment, increased bone load, and risk of overuse syndromes in various tissues.
Susceptibility to Experimental Biliary Atresia is linked to Different Hepatic Gene Expression Profiles in Two Different Mouse Strains

Aims: Aim of this study was to compare hepatic gene expression during the development of experimental biliary atresia in two different mouse strains. Methods: Balb/c mice and C57Black/6 (Black/6) mice were infected with RRV postpartum, clinical signs of BA and survival were noted. Liver sections were assessed for CD3, CD4 and CD8 expression, and the hepatic virus load was determined. Second, mice of both strains were sacrificed three days after infection. Isolated hepatic RNA was subjected to gene expression analysis using Affymetrix Gene Chip MOE 430 2.0. Results: The incidence of BA was significantly lower in Black/6 mice compared to Balb/c mice (13.5% vs. 67%, p<0.05). The mean virus titers were higher in mice with BA compared to mice without BA. Different gene profiles three days after virus infection were noted, with differential expression of 201 genes, including those regulating apoptosis, nucleic acid binding, transport function and particularly the immune response (CCL2, toll-like receptor 3 (TLR 3), CD 14 antigen, CXCL 10 and CXCL 11). This correlated with a significant increase of CD4 positive cells only in Balb/c mice with BA compared to healthy mice (13.5 vs. 5.0; p<0.05). Black/6 mice did not exhibit any significant increase of CD3 or CD4 leukocytes despite cholestasis. Conclusions: The different susceptibility to experimental BA was associated with an increase of CD4 T-cells in the liver of Balb/c mice, which is linked to different gene profiles at the onset of bile duct obstruction.
Evidence of a Pre-Angiosperm Origin of Endosperm: Implications for the Evolution of Flowering Plants

The formation of a polyploid endosperm tissue has long been considered a unique and defining feature (autapomorphy) of angiosperms. Contemporaneous with the fertilization of an egg nucleus by a sperm nucleus in Ephedra trifurca (a nonflowering seed plant closely related to angiosperms), a second fertilization event has previously been shown to occur between a second sperm nucleus and the sister nucleus of the egg nucleus. Development of the second fertilization product is now shown to be fundamentally similar to that of endosperm in primitive flowering plants: both are characterized by an initial period of free nuclear proliferation followed by a process of cellularization. In Ephedra, however, the second fertilization product ultimately yields additional embryos. If double fertilization in Ephedra and angiosperms is evolutionarily homologous, it is likely that endosperm evolved from a supernumerary fertilization event that originally produced embryos into one that produced a specialized nonembryo tissue dedicated to the nourishment of the zygotic embryo.
The neuregulin receptor, ErbB4, is not required for normal development and adult maintenance of the substantia nigra pars compacta

Degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra is associated with one of the most prominent human neurological disorders, Parkinson's disease. It is therefore of high interest to identify molecules with trophic effects on this neuronal population. We show here that the neuregulin receptor ErbB4 is differentially expressed in mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons, found in the substantia nigra and in a subregion of the ventral tegmentum but not in the retrorubral field. Early developmental onset and continued expression of ErbB4 into the adult and the presence of two high affinity ligands, neuregulin‐1 and betacellulin, in the basal ganglia, suggested that these molecules might participate in the differentiation and/or maintenance of the nigrostriatal system. In order to address this hypothesis, we used a loxP flanked ErbB4 allele in combination with a nestin‐Cre transgene and generated brain‐specific ErbB4 null mice. These mutant animals survived into adulthood. The distribution of dopaminergic cell bodies in the midbrain, the expression of numerous genes specific to mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons, and the axonal projection to the basal ganglia all appeared normal. Finally, an assessment of their motor function revealed no behavioral deficits. The apparent lack of any mutant phenotype suggests the presence of a strong compensatory mechanism.
Seasonal effects in the use of paternity leave in Germany

This short note uses a large administrative data set on the use of parental leave in Germany to explore whether fathers take paternity leave more often in some months than in others. Our results indicate that paternity leave is taken to a significantly greater extent during summer - independent from when the child is exactly born. Moreover, these seasonal effects are more pronounced when the total leave is shorter.
High Frequency of Human Enterovirus Species C Circulation in Madagascar

ABSTRACT Four poliomyelitis outbreaks caused by vaccine-derived polioviruses have been reported recently, including one in Madagascar in 2002. In all cases, the viral strains involved were recombinant between poliovirus vaccine strains and nonpoliovirus strains, probably enterovirus species C. Nevertheless, little is known about the circulation and epidemiology of enteroviruses in the regions where these outbreaks occurred. To assess the circulation of enteroviruses (particularly enterovirus species C) in Madagascar, we genetically characterized 55 enterovirus strains isolated between 1994 and 2002. The strains were identified and compared by partially sequencing the region encoding the VP1 capsid protein. Phylogenetic analysis and pairwise comparison with prototype enterovirus strains distinguished two different species: 25 isolates belonged to human enterovirus B species, and 30 isolates were identified as coxsackievirus A13, A15, A17, A18, A20, A21, and A24, belonging to the human enterovirus species C. The relatively high frequency and the wide distribution of species C coxsackie A viruses in different regions of Madagascar suggest that they had been silently and widely circulating in the country during the whole study period. The circulation of coxsackie A viruses, combined with the low routine oral polio vaccine coverage, may have played a role in the emergence of the recent outbreak in Madagascar.
An Analysis of Internal Environment of a Commercial- oriented Research Organization: Using Mckinsey 7S Framework in a Ghanaian Context

The largest research organization in Ghana has of part of its mandate to raise internally generated funds through the commercialization of research products and services in order to supplement government’s budgetary allocation. How could its internal structures, vision and mission be strategically aligned for effective commercialization performa nce? The study utilizes the McKinsey 7 S Framework which is an analytical tool used to help in a variety of situations, including how to improve the performance of a company, and determine how best to implement a proposed strategy. Finally, the study makes some strategic recommendations for consideration by policy makers within the public sector.
I/O Efficient Algorithms for Matrix Computations

We analyse some QR decomposition algorithms, and show that the I/O complexity of the tile based algorithm is asymptotically the same as that of matrix multiplication. This algorithm, we show, performs the best when the tile size is chosen so that exactly one tile fits in the main memory. We propose a constant factor improvement, as well as a new recursive cache oblivious algorithm with the same asymptotic I/O complexity. We design Hessenberg, tridiagonal, and bidiagonal reductions that use banded intermediate forms, and perform only asymptotically optimal numbers of I/Os; these are the first I/O optimal algorithms for these problems. In particular, we show that known slab based algorithms for two sided reductions all have suboptimal asymptotic I/O performances, even though they have been reported to do better than the traditional algorithms on the basis of empirical evidence. We propose new tile based variants of multishift QR and QZ algorithms that under certain conditions on the number of shifts, have better seek and I/O complexities than all known variants. We show that techniques like rescheduling of computational steps, appropriate choosing of the blocking parameters and incorporating of more matrix-matrix operations, can be used to improve the I/O and seek complexities of matrix computations.
IκB Kinase 2 Deficiency in T Cells Leads to Defects in Priming, B Cell Help, Germinal Center Reactions, and Homeostatic Expansion1

Signal transduction from proinflammatory stimuli leading to NF-κB-dependent gene expression is mediated by the IκB kinase 2 (IKK2/IKKβ). Therefore, IKK2 has become an important drug target for treatment of inflammatory conditions. T cells, whose activation depends to a large extent on the activity of NF-κB transcription factors, play important roles in inflammation and autoimmunity. Ablation of IKK2 specifically in T cells in CD4cre/Ikk2FL mice allows their survival and activation by polyclonal stimuli in vitro, suggesting that IKK2 is dispensable for T cell activation. We report in this study that IKK2-deficient T cells expand efficiently in response to superantigen administration in vivo, but are completely deficient in recall responses, most likely due to inefficient priming. IKK2-deficient T cells provide suboptimal B cell help and fail to support germinal center reactions. Finally, IKK2 is essential for homeostatic expansion of naive T cells, reflected by the inability of IKK2-deficient T cells to induce colitis in lymphopenic hosts.
Changes in mammary caveolin-1 signaling pathways are associated with breast cancer risk in rats exposed to estradiol in utero or during prepuberty

Abstract Developmental stage of rat mammary gland at the time of estrogen exposure determines whether the exposure increases or reduces later breast cancer risk. For example, in utero exposure to 17β-estradiol (E2) increases, whereas prepubertal exposure to this hormone decreases susceptibility of developing carcinogen-induced mammary tumors. E2 mediates its actions by interacting with caveolin-1 (CAV1), a putative tumor suppressor gene in breast cancer. Mammary tissues from 2-month-old rats exposed to E2 in utero contained decreased levels of CAV1, whereas prepubertal E2 exposure increased the levels, when compared to vehicle controls. Low CAV1 expression was associated with increased cell proliferation and estrogen receptor α expression, and reduced apoptosis in the mammary glands of rats exposed to E2 in utero. In contrast, high CAV1 expression correlated with reduced cell proliferation and cyclin D1 and phospho-Akt levels, and increased apoptosis in the mammary glands of rats exposed to E2 during prepuberty. In support of the role of CAV1 as a negative regulator of a variety of pro-growth signaling proteins, we detected decreased levels of Src and ErbB2 in rats exposed to E2 during prepuberty. Thus, estrogen exposure during mammary gland development affects the expression and function of CAV1 in a manner consistent with observed changes in susceptibility to mammary tumorigenesis.
Role of Copper Transport Protein Antioxidant 1 in Angiotensin II–Induced Hypertension: A Key Regulator of Extracellular Superoxide Dismutase

Extracellular superoxide dismutase (SOD3) is a secretory copper enzyme involved in protecting angiotensin II (Ang II)–induced hypertension. We found previously that Ang II upregulates SOD3 expression and activity as a counterregulatory mechanism; however, underlying mechanisms are unclear. Antioxidant 1 (Atox1) is shown to act as a copper-dependent transcription factor, as well as a copper chaperone, for SOD3 in vitro, but its role in Ang II–induced hypertension in vivo is unknown. Here we show that Ang II infusion increases Atox1 expression, as well as SOD3 expression and activity, in aortas of wild-type mice, which are inhibited in mice lacking Atox1. Accordingly, Ang II increases vascular superoxide production, reduces endothelium-dependent vasodilation, and increases vasoconstriction in mesenteric arteries to a greater extent in Atox1−/− than in wild-type mice. This contributes to augmented hypertensive response to Ang II in Atox1−/− mice. In cultured vascular smooth muscle cells, Ang II promotes translocation of Atox1 to the nucleus, thereby increasing SOD3 transcription by binding to Atox1-responsive element in the SOD3 promoter. Furthermore, Ang II increases Atox1 binding to the copper exporter ATP7A, which obtains copper from Atox1, as well as translocation of ATP7A to plasma membranes, where it colocalizes with SOD3. As its consequence, Ang II decreases vascular copper levels, which is inhibited in Atox1−/− mice. In summary, Atox1 functions to prevent Ang II–induced endothelial dysfunction and hypercontraction in resistant vessels, as well as hypertension, in vivo by reducing extracellular superoxide levels via increasing vascular SOD3 expression and activity.
Collective action and psychological change: the emergence of new social identities.

The study comprises an analysis of processes of psychological change among participants at an environmental protest. A participant observation study found evidence of a radicalized self concept among a number of crowd members, and indicates a link between radicalization, an asymmetry of categorical representations between protesters and the police, and the subsequent interaction premised on these divergent representations. The analysis supports an elaborated social identity model of crowd behaviour (Reicher, 1996, 1997a, 1997b; Stott & Reicher, 1998). It is argued that, in order to account for both social determination and social change in collective behaviour, it is necessary to analyse crowd events as developing interactions between groups. Where crowd members hold a different understanding of their social position to that held by an out-group (e.g. the police) and where the out-group has the power to treat crowd members in terms of its understandings, then those members who act on the basis of one understanding of their social relations find themselves in an unexpected and novel set of social relations. This then provides the basis for a series of changes, including the self-understanding of crowd members.
The impact of a history of psychotic symptoms on cognitive function in euthymic bipolar patients: a comparison with schizophrenic patients and healthy controls.

BACKGROUND About two-thirds of patients with bipolar disorder (BD) have a lifetime history of at least one psychotic symptom. OBJECTIVE To compare the neurocognitive performance of four groups: BD patients with and without a history of psychotic symptoms (BD HPS+ and BD HPS-, respectively); patients with schizophrenia (SZ); and healthy control (HC) subjects. METHOD In this cross-sectional study, 35 stabilized patients with SZ, 79 euthymic (44 HPS+ and 35 HPS-) patients with BD, and 50 HC were administered a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests. RESULTS There was worse neurocognitive functioning in both BD and SZ patients compared to HC. Overall, data from both groups of BD patients did not differ on sociodemographic, clinical, or neurocognitive variables. However, BD HPS+ patients had significantly more negative symptoms, as measured by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and showed a trend toward worse performance on executive functions compared to BD HPS- patients. Moreover, both BD groups had better performance on all neurocognitive tests compared to SZ group. CONCLUSIONS Neurocognitive dysfunction may be more marked in SZ than in BD, yet qualitatively similar. A history of past psychotic symptoms in BD was not associated with more severe cognitive impairment during euthymia. Therefore, BD with psychotic symptoms does not appear to be a distinct neurocognitive phenotype.