Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE EFFECT OF ADDING TiO 2 NANOPARTICLES ON DENTALAMALGAM PROPERTIES

In recent years, there have been many attempts to improve the properties of dental amalgam. The aim of the present investigation was fabrication and characterization of dental amalgams containing TiO2 nanoparticles and evaluation of their compressive strength, antibacterial and corrosion behavior. In this experimental research, TiO2 nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) were added to reference amalgam alloy powder and then, dental amalgam was prepared. In order to investigate the effect of TiO2 NPs on properties of dental amalgam, 0, 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 wt. % of TiO2 NPs were added to amalgam alloy powder and the prepared composite powder was triturated by a given percent of mercury. Xray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) techniques were used to characterize the prepared specimens. Potentiodynamic polarization corrosion tests were performed in the Normal Saline (0.9 wt. % NaCl) Solutions as electrolytes at 37°C. The results showed that the corrosion behavior of the dental amalgam with 0.5 or 1 wt. % TiO2 NPs is similar to the corrosion behavior of the reference amalgam, while with increasing the weight percent of TiO2 NPs, the corrosion rate increases. Also, the results of this investigation indicated that adding TiO2 NPs in amounts of up to 1 wt. % to amalgam alloy powder improve compressive strength of dental amalgam and has no destructive influence on its corrosion behavior. As well as, according to antibacterial results, TiO2 NPs can increase the biocompatibility and antibacterial activity of dental amalgam. The results of present study suggest that amalgam/ TiO2 NPs nanocomposite with 1% of TiO2 NPs could be regarded as a biocompatible and bioactive dental material that provide better characters for dental applications.
Candida albicans Adhesion to and Invasion and Damage of Vaginal Epithelial Cells: Stage-Specific Inhibition by Clotrimazole and Bifonazole

ABSTRACT Clotrimazole and bifonazole are highly effective antifungal agents against mucosal Candida albicans infections. Here we examined the effects of low levels of clotrimazole and bifonazole on the ability of C. albicans to adhere, invade, and damage vaginal epithelial cells. Although adhesion and invasion were not affected, damage was greatly reduced upon azole treatment. This clearly indicates that low levels of azoles influence specific activities of C. albicans during distinct stages of vaginal epithelium infections.
Preferential secretion of inducible HSP70 by vitiligo melanocytes under stress

Inducible HSP70 (HSP70i) chaperones peptides from stressed cells, protecting them from apoptosis. Upon extracellular release, HSP70i serves an adjuvant function, enhancing immune responses to bound peptides. We questioned whether HSP70i differentially protects control and vitiligo melanocytes from stress and subsequent immune responses. We compared expression of HSP70i in skin samples, evaluated the viability of primary vitiligo and control melanocytes exposed to bleaching phenols, and measured secreted HSP70i. We determined whether HSP70i traffics to melanosomes to contact immunogenic proteins by cell fractionation, western blotting, electron microscopy, and confocal microscopy. Viability of vitiligo and control melanocytes was equally affected under stress. However, vitiligo melanocytes secreted increased amounts of HSP70i in response to MBEH, corroborating with aberrant HSP70i expression in patient skin. Intracellular HSP70i colocalized with melanosomes, and more so in response to MBEH in vitiligo melanocytes. Thus, whereas either agent is cytotoxic to melanocytes, MBEH preferentially induces immune responses to melanocytes.
AUTOMATIC BUILDING EXTRACTION AND ROOF RECONSTRUCTION IN 3K IMAGERY BASED ON LINE SEGMENTS

We propose an image processing workflow to extract rectangular building footprints using georeferenced stereo-imagery and a derivative digital surface model (DSM) product. The approach applies a line segment detection procedure to the imagery and subsequently verifies identified line segments individually to create a footprint on the basis of the DSM. The footprint is further optimized by morphological filtering. Towards the realization of 3D models, we decompose the produced footprint and generate a 3D point cloud from DSM height information. By utilizing the robust RANSAC plane fitting algorithm, the roof structure can be correctly reconstructed. In an experimental part, the proposed approach has been performed on 3K aerial imagery.
Response of lipogenic enzymes to intensity and duration of overfeeding in the adult Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

1. Adult male Japanese quail (Coturnix Coturnix Japonica) were overfed at different intensities during varying periods: (1) by gradually increasing the daily amount of food up to twice the control level in a period of 11 d and keeping this level constant during the subsequent 12 d period (prolonged overfeeding); (2) by gradually increasing the daily amount of food up to approximately twice the control level in a period of 6 d (short, low-intensity overfeeding; SL); (3) by gradually increasing the daily amount of food up to approximately 2.5-fold the control level in a period of 7 d (short, high-intensity overfeeding; SH). 2. The activities of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (EC 6.4.1.2; CBX), fatty acid synthetase (FAS), ATP citrate lyase (EC 4.1.3.8; CCE) and malate dehydrogenase (decarboxylating) (NADP) (EC 1.1.1.40; ME) were determined in adipose tissue (AT) and liver of the overfed and ad lib. - fed chicks. Size and fat content of carcass, AT and liver were also determined in order to evaluate the extent of obesity. 3. The weight of carcass, lean body mass, liver and AT and the extent of fat deposition increased with the total amount of food consumed. Obesity was particularly pronounced in quail after prolonged overfeeding. 4. Lipogenic enzymes in liver were much more active than those of AT. The specific activities of CBX, FAS and CCE in liver and AT in overfed Japanese quail increased consistently in the SL and SH groups only and the increase was related to the level of food intake in these groups. ME was the only enzyme whose specific activity increased in all overfed groups. Total AT enzyme activities were increased most strongly after prolonged overfeeding because of the pronounced tissue enlargement in that treatment. But in liver, where tissue enlargement was less and differences in size due to the three overfeeding treatments were less marked, total activities depended mainly on the enhancement of specific activities. 5. The results lead to the conclusion that the increase in hepatic lipogenic enzymes roughly reflects the current food intake and may thus be considered to represent the primary adaptation in the overfed Japanese quail. Secondary adaptation, involving tissue enlargement, occurs principally in AT of Japanese quail after prolonged overfeeding, in which situation AT contributes significantly to total lipogenic activity.
Expression of luminal and basal cytokeratins in human breast carcinoma

We have examined basal and luminal cell cytokeratin expression in 1944 cases of invasive breast carcinoma, using tissue microarray (TMA) technology, to determine the frequency of expression of each cytokeratin subtype, their relationships and prognostic relevance, if any. Expression was determined by immunocytochemistry staining using antibodies to the luminal cytokeratins (CKs) 7/8, 18 and 19 and the basal markers CK 5/6 and CK 14. Additionally, assessment of α‐smooth muscle actin (SMA) and oestrogen receptor status (ER) was performed. The vast majority of the cases showed positivity for CK 7/8, 18 and 19 indicating a differentiated glandular phenotype, a finding associated with good prognosis, ER positivity and older patient age. In contrast, basal marker expression was significantly related to poor prognosis, ER negativity and younger patient age. Multivariate analysis showed that CK 5/6 was an independent indicator for relapse free interval. We were able to subgroup the cases into four distinct phenotype categories (pure luminal, mixed luminal/basal, pure basal and null), which had significant differences in relation to the biological features and the clinical course of the disease. Tumours classified as expressing a basal phenotype (the combined luminal plus basal and the pure basal) were in a poor prognostic subgroup, typically ER negative in most cases. These findings provide further evidence that breast cancer has distinct differentiation subclasses that have both biological and clinical relevance. Copyright © 2004 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Isolation of Lactococcus lactis nonsense suppressors and construction of a food‐grade cloning vector

Nonsense suppressor strains of Lactococcus lactis were isolated using plasmids containing nonsense mutations or as revertants of a nonsense auxotrophic mutant. The nonsense suppressor gene was cloned from two suppressor strains and the DNA sequence determined. One suppressor is an ochre suppressor with an altered tRNAgin and the other an amber suppressor with an altered tRNAser. The nonsense suppressors allowed isolation of nonsense mutants of a lytic bacteriophage and suppressible auxotrophic mutants of L. lactis MG1363. A food‐grade cloning vector based totally on DNA from Lactococcus and a synthetic polylinker with 11 unique restriction sites was constructed using the ochre suppressor as a selectable marker. Selection, following etectroporation of a suppressible purine auxotroph, can be done on purine‐free medium. The pepN gene from L. lactis Wg2 was subcloned resulting in a food‐grade plasmid giving a four‐ to fivefold increase in lysine aminopeptidase activity.
Theory-Driven Collocated CMC: A Study of Collocated Mediated Interaction as a Public Sphere

Computer-mediated communication (CMC) tools are used to increase social interaction in collocated settings. Recent research has been primarily constructive (oriented to building of systems) or phenomenon-driven (serving attempts to understand interactions in collocated CMC). The paper contributes a theory-driven approach and examines collocated CMC as a Habermasean "public sphere": a space that supports inclusive, civil, and rational discussion. An in-the-wild experimental study comparing CMC with face-to-face (F2F) communication enabled ascertaining that CMC is more inclusive than F2F communication. Respectfulness levels did not differ but were established differently: via collective construction of a common narrative in F2F and through quick reactions in CMC. Similarly, while rationality figures were on a par, F2F communication allowed participants to justify their claims better. The article discusses how a theory-based approach can strengthen phenomenon-driven research with new conceptual frames and measurement tools, and steer constructive research with a normative framework.
Effect of optical elements of transmitter on intensity beam profile

The paper deals with the Fresnel diffraction effect which occurs when the laser beam is transmitted by the free space optical link transmitter. A specific diffraction problem of the spherical wave with the Gaussian intensity distribution is explained. The paper is focuses on the experimental study of diffraction in the Fresnel zone (the near zone of radiation).
The female entrepreneur’s financial networks: accessing finance for the emergence of technology-based firms in Jordan

Abstract In this paper, we focus on how female entrepreneurs in Jordan finance the establishment and early growth of their technology-based ventures. Previous research exploring the experiences of female entrepreneurs, undertaken primarily in Western, developed countries, had emphasised their early reliance on informal capital, sourced via personal networks, acquaintances, friends and family. Little was known, however, about the experiences of women in developing economies, such as the Middle East, where they represent a growing proportion of the educated and entrepreneurial populations, albeit from a small base. The study discussed here investigated the entrepreneurial journey of the female founders of 16 technology-based firms in Jordan, adopting a network perspective to explore how they accessed sources of finance and investigate the dynamic nature and characteristics of their financial ties, from start-up through to early growth. Our findings show how, compared with their western counterparts, these Jordanian women adopt a very different approach to venture funding from the start, relying more heavily on formal sources and networks. In securing funds from formal business networks ties, they leverage benefits from connections established via formal events and networking platforms to facilitate development of their financial network ties at a very early stage.
A Time-Varying Parameter VAR Investigation of the Exchange Rate Pass-Through in Turkey

The effects of exchange rate movements on price levels have important implications to macroeconomic policies through the impacts on trade balance and inflation. In contrast to previous studies, we employ a VAR model with time-varying parameters to measure the magnitude of exchange rate pass-through (ERPT). The findings confirm the time-varying pattern in the ERPT, as the magnitude of ERPT has reached its maximum value during the 1994 financial crisis. The decline in the magnitude of ERPT has become more pronounced after the 2001 financial crisis as a result of the implementation of inflation targeting, which has shifted Turkey’s economy from a long lasting high inflationary phase to a low inflationary economic environment. Key words: Exchange rate pass-through, Wholesale prices, Consumer prices, Time-varying parameter VAR, Turkey.JEL: C32, E31, E42, E58.
AddNeuroMed—The European Collaboration for the Discovery of Novel Biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease

There is an urgent need for Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers—especially in the context of clinical trials. Biomarkers for early diagnosis, disease progression, and prediction are most critical, and disease‐modification therapy development may depend on the discovery and validation of such markers. AddNeuroMed is a cross European, public/private consortium developed for AD biomarker discovery. We report here the development and design of AddNeuroMed and the progress toward the development of plasma markers. Despite the obstacles to such markers, we have identified a range of markers including CFH and A2M, both of which have been independently replicated. The experience of AddNeuroMed leads us to three overall conclusions. First, collaboration is essential. Second, design is paramount and combining modalities, such as imaging and proteomics, may be informative. Third, animal models are valuable in biomarker research. Most importantly, we have learned that plasma markers are feasible.
Improved Efficiency of Microcrystalline Silicon Thin-Film Solar Cells With Wide Bandgap CdS Buffer Layer

In this paper, we have reported a new structure based upon an optical simulation of maximum light trapping and management in microcrystalline silicon thin-film solar cells by using multitexture schemes and introducing an n-type cadmium sulphide (CdS) buffer layer with the goal of extreme light coupling and absorption in silicon absorber layer. Photon absorption was improved by optimizing the front and back texturing of transparent conductive oxide layers and variation in buffer layer thickness. We have demonstrated that light trapping can be improved with the proposed geometry of 1-μm-thick crystalline silicon absorber layer below a thin layer of wide bandgap material. We have improved the short-circuit current densities by 1.35 mA/cm2 resulting in a total short-circuit current of 25 mA/cm2 and conversion efficiency of 9% with the addition of CdS buffer layer and multitextures, under global AM1.5 conditions. In this study, we have used a two-dimensional full-vectorial finite element to design and optimize the proposed light propagation in solar cell structure configuration. Our simulation results show that interface morphology of CdS layer thickness and textures with different aspect and ratios have the most prominent influence on solar cell performance in terms of both short-circuit current and quantum efficiency.
Doxorubicin induces apoptosis by targeting Madcam1 and AKT and inhibiting protein translation initiation in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Doxorubicin (Doxo) is one of the most widely used chemotherapeutic drugs for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Doxo is a DNA intercalating drug that inhibits topoisomerase II. Thereby Doxo has the ability to block DNA replication and induce apoptosis. However, the other targets and mechanisms through which Doxo induces apoptosis to treat HCC still remain unknown. Here, we identified Mucosal vascular addressin cell adhesion molecule 1 (Madcam1) as a potential Doxo target because Madcam1 overexpression suppressed, while Madcam1 depletion stimulated Doxo-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, we first revealed that Doxo can induce apoptosis by blocking protein translation initiation. In contrast, Madcam1 activated protein translation through an opposite mechanism. We also found de-phosphorylation of AKT may be an important pro-apoptotic event that is triggered by Doxo-induced Madcam1 down-regulation. Finally, we revealed that Madcam1 promoted increased AKT phosphorylation, which is essential for maintaining the sensitivity of HCC cells to Doxo treatment. Taken together, we uncovered a potential mechanism for Doxo-induced apoptosis in HCC treatment through targeting Madcam1 and AKT and blocking protein translation initiation.
Colonoscopy in colorectal-cancer screening for detection of advanced neoplasia.

BACKGROUND Recommendations for colorectal-cancer screening are based solely on age and family history of cancer, not sex. METHODS We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the data from a large colonoscopy-based screening program that included 50,148 participants who were 40 to 66 years of age. People 40 to 49 years of age were eligible only if they had a family history of cancer of any type. Of the 43,042 participants 50 to 66 years of age, 13.3% reported a family history of colorectal cancer, as did 66.3% of the 7106 participants who were 40 to 49 years of age. We defined advanced neoplasia as cancer or adenoma that was at least 10 mm in diameter, had high-grade dysplasia, or had villous or tubulovillous histologic characteristics, or any combination thereof. We used multivariate logistic regression to identify associations between participants' characteristics and advanced neoplasia in a primary (or derivation) data set, and we confirmed the associations in a secondary (or validation) data set. RESULTS Advanced neoplasia was detected in 2553 (5.9%) participants 50 to 66 years of age and in 243 (3.4%) participants 40 to 49 years of age. The rate of complications during colonoscopy was 0.1%, and no participants died. In the validation set, a logistic-regression model showed that male sex was independently associated with advanced neoplasia (adjusted odds ratio, 1.73; 95% confidence interval, 1.52 to 1.98; P<0.001). In each age group (40 to 49 years, 50 to 54 years, 55 to 59 years, and 60 to 66 years), the number of persons who would have to undergo colorectal-cancer screening in order to detect one advanced neoplasia was significantly lower in men than in women (23 vs. 36, 17 vs. 28, 12 vs. 22, and 10 vs. 18, respectively). CONCLUSIONS We detected advanced neoplasia at a significantly higher rate in men than in women, which may warrant refinement of the screening recommendations for colorectal cancer.
The Impact of Institutional Quality on Monetary Policy in Pakistan

This study seeks to examine whether the monetary management in Pakistan is conducted under the framework advocated by the Taylor rule. We investigate this question after modifying the Taylor rule to control for the influence of institutional quality on monetary policy. Even after controlling for institutional quality, we find no evidence that the central bank makes use of the Taylor framework in devising monetary policy. Our results also suggest that by and large the focus of the monetary policy has been on containing inflation.
Your Story, Your History: Social Studies and History Instruction in a Nicaraguan Primary School

In the latter half of the 20 century, the country of Nicaragua experienced major political upheaval, which not only affected political, social and economic policies, but education as a whole. Education has been a constant struggle in Nicaragua – this country is the second poorest in Latin America and has the highest dropout rate in Latin America with 52% of individuals leaving school before finishing their primary school education. The Sandinista movement rallied the country together and as a result helped to foster a rich culture and history of Nicaragua, which can be found in primary school social studies classes. This qualitative and naturalistic study investigated the social studies and history curriculum present in Nicaraguan schools as well as which strategies and methods were utilized in instruction. Multiple data collection methods were employed, including participant observations in primary classrooms, field notes, administrator and teacher interviews, and student and teacher artifacts. The findings of this study revealed that social studies is directly taught in the classroom primarily by rote memorization as well as informal instruction by cultural influences prevalent throughout the country. Students in this city were surrounded by buildings covered with political signs, references to political figures and their colors. Findings also showed an expanding communities model of learning social studies and history in this particular public school and the frequent integration of social studies into other subjects such as language and literature and the natural sciences. Furthermore, this research suggests that these educators strive for success and overcome any obstacles that may be presented, such as limited time allotted to social studies instruction as well as insufficient resources.
Application of UPFC for improving micro-grid voltage profile

The power source in micro-grid (MG) is either atmosphere dependent source (e.g. wind generator, solar etc.) or it will be small hydro or diesel turbine. This introduces power quality concerns in MG. It is because of small power number (MW per Hz.) due to limited size of the system and limited resources for system stability. In this paper, a new application of the UPFC is introduced. The slightly modified UPFC can be used to improve the voltage profile of the micro-grid with or without grid connectivity. The proposed method will address the voltage stability concern in the MG using modified UPFC in low and medium voltage system.