Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antimicrobial effi cacy of mixture tetracycline citric acid and detergent, sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine on rapid disinfection of gutta-percha cones

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the disinfection efficacy of various disinfectants on guttapercha root canal filling materials. Materials and Methods: Totally, 370 standard #80 gutta-percha cones were used for the study. The gutta-percha cones were sterilized with ethylene oxide. Ten cones were separated for negative control group. Then the gutta-percha cones were randomly divided into four groups containing 90 points each and contaminated with Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans. Specimens were incubated in 10 ml brain heart infusion broth at 37°C for 72 h. After incubation, cones were dried with sterile gauze; ten of the cones from each group were separated for positive control groups and rest of the cones were divided into four subgroups according to the chemical disinfectant used (n = 80 each): About 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl); 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX); 10% povidone iodine; and mixture tetracycline citric acid and detergent (MTAD) groups. For each subgroup, the gutta-percha cones were immersed into the disinfectant for 1 and 10 min individually. In plates showing growth, the number of colony forming units were counted. Results: NaOCl, CHX and MTAD, were equally effective on tested microorganisms. Conclusion: About 5.25% NaOCl, 2% CHX, and MTAD are effective agents for a rapid high disinfection level of gutta-percha cones.
A Survey of Recoverable Distributed Shared Virtual Memory Systems

Distributed Shared Virtual Memory (DSVM) systems provide a shared memory abstraction on distributed memory architectures. Such systems ease parallel application programming because the shared-memory programming model is often more natural than the message-passing paradigm. However, the probability of failure of a DSVM increases with the number of sites. Thus, fault tolerance mechanisms must be implemented in order to allow processes to continue their execution in the event of a failure. This paper gives an overview of recoverable DSVMs (RDSVMs) that provide a checkpointing mechanism to restart parallel computations in the event of a site failure.
Self Organizing Behavior And Swarm Intelligence In A Pack Of Mobile Miniature Robots In Search Of Pollutants

In this paper we discuss a "distributed robotic system" (DRS) based on the notions of "instinctive" response and cooperation. The proposed DRS comprises cellular robotic units dedicated to enviromental monitoring. The paper attempts to exploit previous theoretical analysis in the field of Cellular Robotic Systems (CRS) in order to implement a real society of miniature robots. We believe that practical applications of CRS can be envisaged, just like for their biological analogues, essentially in those tasks requiring ''e xp 1 or at i o n" "h u n t i n g /d e f e n c e", and "transportation" capabilities. The specific application which has been considered in this paper is the search of pollutants emitting odors and gases, perhaps toxic, that the cellular robots must detect. The analogy is with a pack of animals aggressively in search of preys in a partially constrained unstructured environment. The overall behavior of the pack of CRS is investigated by simulation. In addition, the problem of efficient communication between different robotic units is also addressed.
Evaluation of mounting mechanisms for the installation of lightweight PV systems on commercial rooftops

Lightweight PV (LPV) systems enable deployment of PV onto rooftops that are load constrained (maximum distributed load of <; 3 psf). The total system weight is reduced by eliminating traditional racking components and ballasts, and by reducing the weight of modules. PVMC has surveyed lightweight PV systems for commercial rooftops that are deployed in the market today, and has broadly classified these systems as: a) Mechanical (Rigid PV clamped to metal roofs), b) Direct attach (Flex PV adhered to metal roofs), c) Sacrificial layer (Flex PV adhered to membrane roofs), and d) Plastic mold (Rigid PV clamped to membrane roofs). PVMC is developing advanced mounting concepts that incorporate emerging, light-weight and frameless PV technologies into the above classification using low cost, commercially available adhesives and clamps.
Infant attachment security and early childhood behavioral inhibition interact to predict adolescent social anxiety symptoms.

Insecure attachment and behavioral inhibition (BI) increase risk for internalizing problems, but few longitudinal studies have examined their interaction in predicting adolescent anxiety. This study included 165 adolescents (ages 14-17 years) selected based on their reactivity to novelty at 4 months. Infant attachment was assessed with the Strange Situation. Multimethod BI assessments were conducted across childhood. Adolescents and their parents independently reported on anxiety. The interaction of attachment and BI significantly predicted adolescent anxiety symptoms, such that BI and anxiety were only associated among adolescents with histories of insecure attachment. Exploratory analyses revealed that this effect was driven by insecure-resistant attachment and that the association between BI and social anxiety was significant only for insecure males. Clinical implications are discussed.
Entrepreneurship in the United States

In this paper I examine changes in self-employment that have occurred since the early 1980s in the United States. It is a companion paper to a recent equivalent paper relating to the UK. Data on random samples of twenty million US workers are examined taken from the Basic Monthly files of the CPS (BMCPS), the 2000 Census and the 2005 American Community Survey (ACS). In contrast to the official definition of self-employment which simply counts the numbers of unincorporated self-employed, we also include the incorporated self-employed who are paid wages and salaries. The paper presents evidence on trends in self-employment for the US as a whole as well as in construction. Construction is particularly important given that it accounts for a fifth of all self-employment and self-employment rates are roughly double the national rates. It is also important given the existence of public sector procurement programs that primarily exist in construction that have the intended purpose of assisting firms owned by women and minorities. I document the fact that self-employment rates of white women and minorities in comparison to those of white males have increased in construction and elsewhere as have self-employment earnings. Despite this substantial disparities remain. I also find evidence of discrimination in the small business credit market. Firms owned by minorities in general and blacks in particular are much more likely to have their loans denied and pay higher interest than is the case for white males.
Graded sympatholytic effect of exogenous ATP on postjunctional α‐adrenergic vasoconstriction in the human forearm: implications for vascular control in contracting muscle

Recent evidence suggests that adenosine triphosphate (ATP) can inhibit vasoconstrictor responses to endogenous noradrenaline release via tyramine in the skeletal muscle circulation, similar to what is observed in contracting muscle. Whether this involves direct modulation of postjunctional α‐adrenoceptor responsiveness, or is selective for α1‐ or α2‐receptors remains unclear. Therefore, in Protocol 1, we tested the hypothesis that exogenous ATP can blunt direct postjunctional α‐adrenergic vasoconstriction in humans. We measured forearm blood flow (FBF; Doppler ultrasound) and calculated the vascular conductance (FVC) responses to local intra‐arterial infusions of phenylephrine (α1‐agonist) and dexmedetomidine (α2‐agonist) during moderate rhythmic handgrip exercise (15% maximum voluntary contraction), during a control non‐exercise vasodilator condition (adenosine), and during ATP infusion in eight young adults. Forearm hyperaemia was matched across all conditions. Forearm vasoconstrictor responses to direct α1‐receptor stimulation were blunted during exercise versus adenosine (ΔFVC =−11 ± 3%versus−39 ± 5%; P< 0.05), and were abolished during ATP infusion (−3 ± 2%). Similarly, vasoconstrictor responses to α2‐receptor stimulation were blunted during exercise versus adenosine (−13 ± 4%versus−40 ± 8%; P< 0.05), and were abolished during ATP infusion (−4 ± 4%). In Prototol 2 (n= 10), we tested the hypothesis that graded increases in ATP would reduce α1‐mediated vasoconstriction in a dose‐dependent manner compared with vasodilatation evoked via adenosine. Forearm vasoconstrictor responses during low dose adenosine (−38 ± 3%) and ATP (−33 ± 2%) were not significantly different from rest (−40 ± 3%; P> 0.05). In contrast, vasoconstrictor responses during moderate (−22 ± 6%) and high dose ATP (−8 ± 5%) were significantly blunted compared with rest, whereas the responses during adenosine became progressively greater (moderate =−48 ± 4%, P= 0.10; high =−53 ± 6%, P< 0.05). We conclude that exogenous ATP is capable of blunting direct postjunctional α‐adrenergic vasoconstriction, that this involves both α1‐ and α2‐receptor subtypes, and that this is graded with ATP concentrations. Collectively, these data are consistent with the conceptual framework regarding how muscle blood flow and vascular tone are regulated in contracting muscles of humans.
Open Book 'Financial' Management: A Case Study of Manco, Inc.

This paper reviews the strategic nature of open book 'financial' management (hereafter referred to as open book management) in optimizing an organizations return on human capital and illustrates it using Manco Inc., as a case study. The challenges and advantages of implementing open book management to improve financial performance and employee motivation are described briefly, as are some suggested procedures and steps to facilitate the implementation of open book management. Open book management is seen as being useful in minimizing agency costs as it reduces the degree of asymmetry in the information available to managers and employees especially in non-public multi-divisional public companies.
Business Valuation : Valuation of IT-companies in the area of Jönköping

Background:In Sweden Internet was introduced in 1983 and IT became a popular phe-nomenon in the 1990s. In the middle of this decade IT-companies had a prosperous period. Many companies acquired competitors frequently dur-ing these years in order to build brand names and stay competitive. More than 400 IT-companies went bankrupt during 2001, due to the burst of the IT-bubble. Today, there is no doubt that IT-companies are willing to acquire other companies in the industry. Before an acquisition both the purchaser and seller do a careful valuation of the current company, using different valuation methods. Lately, there are some IT-companies in the area of Jonkoping and its surroundings that have carried out acquisitions.Purpose:In this thesis IT-companies in the area of Jonkoping are considered in or-der to describe what valuation methods that are used when valuing these before an acquisition. Intangible assets are of great importance for this in-dustry. Therefore the aim is also to find out which these are and how they are valued.Method:In order to fulfill the purpose a qualitative research is maintained. Primary data is collected from two telephone interviews and six face-to-face inter-views. Three of the interviews are conducted with people working at IT-companies that have carried out an acquisition between 2006 and 2008. The other interviews were performed with people working with business valuation on a daily basis.Conclusion:When valuing IT-companies as well as the intangible assets, where good-will is significant due to synergies, the net present value approach is most commonly used. The relative valuation approach is also useful, especially for companies in the early phase of the life cycle since these do not show any historical facts. Within the IT-industry; P/S, P/E, and value per em-ployee, are all useful. The net asset value approach is the most common before a direct acquisition. In this research indirect acquisitions are most often applied.
Competition, Efficiency, and Soundness in Banking: An Industrial Organization Perspective

How can competition enhance bank soundness? Does competition improve soundness via the efficiency channel? Do banks heterogeneously respond to competition? To answer these questions, we exploit an innovative measure of competition [Boone, J., A new way to measure competition, EconJnl, Vol. 118, pp. 1245-1261] that captures the reallocation of profits from inefficient banks to their efficient counterparts. Based on two complementary datasets for Europe and the U.S., we first establish that the new competition indicator captures a broad variety of other characteristics of competition in a consistent manner. Second, we verify that competition increases efficiency. Third, we present novel evidence that efficiency is the conduit through which competition contributes to bank soundness. In a final examination of banks’ heterogeneous responses to competition, we find that smaller banks’ soundness measures respond more strongly to competition than larger banks’ soundness measures, and two-stage quantile regressions indicate that the soundness-enhancing effect of competition is larger in magnitude for sound banks than for fragile banks.
Metabolism of Vitamin D 2 to 17 , 20 , 24-Trihydroxyvitamin D 2 by Cytochrome P 450 scc ( CYP 11 A 1 )

As well as catalyzing the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone for steroid synthesis, cytochrome P450scc (P450scc) can also metabolize vitamins D2 (D2) and D3 (D3). Two products of D2 metabolism by P450scc, 20-hydroxyvitamin D2 and 17,20-dihydroxyvitamin D2, have been identified and shown to exert biological activity on cultured keratinocytes. The aim of this study was to fully characterize the metabolism of D2 by P450scc, including identifying additional products and determining the kinetics of D2 metabolism. Two new products were isolated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography: a dihydroxy metabolite with a hydroxyl group at C20 plus another unidentified position, and a trihydroxy metabolite identified by NMR as 17,20,24-trihydroxyvitamin D2. Kinetics of D2 metabolism was determined with substrate solubilized by 2-hydroxypropyl-cyclodextrin or incorporated into phospholipid vesicles. In 2-hydroxypropyl-cyclodextrin, D2 was hydroxylated at C20 with a kcat/Km 5-fold lower than that for cholesterol metabolism. 20-Hydroxyvitamin D2 was hydroxylated with a similar kcat/Km to D2, whereas 17,20-dihydroxyvitamin D2 was hydroxylated with a lower kcat/Km than that for D2 in 2-hydroxypropyl-cyclodextrin. In vesicles, D2 displayed a high Km relative to that for cholesterol, but hydroxylation resulted in products that could be further hydroxylated with relatively low Km values. We conclude that P450scc catalyzes three sequential hydroxylations of D2 producing 20-hydroxyvitamin D2, 17,20-dihydroxyvitamin D2, and 17,20,24-trihydroxyvitamin D2, which dissociate from the active site of P450scc and accumulate in the reaction mixture. D2 metabolism occurs with lower efficiency (kcat/Km) than that observed for both cholesterol and D3 metabolism by
The clinical application of the upper extremity compound movements rehabilitation training robot

In order to estimate the effect of neural rehabilitation robot for improving the upper extremity motor function, 23 hemiplegia patients who are BrunnstromTII at least receive clinical rehabilitation training by the upper extremity compound movements rehabilitation training robot. The assistance models of the neural rehabilitation robot and the programming of the clinical rehabilitation training are studied in this dissertation. The clinical assessment results make clear that after a period of rehabilitation treatment, the function of most patients, which could be assessed by Fugl-Meyer method, improved to a certain extent, and the rehabilitation effect is better than the traditional rehabilitation training. The outcome indicates that, the upper extremity compound movements rehabilitation training robot has a significant application prospect in clinical rehabilitation.
Performance of a High-Efficiency Switched-Capacitor-Based Resonant Converter With Phase-Shift Control

This paper presents operating performance of a switched-capacitor-based resonant converter (SCRC) using a phase-shift control method. The proposed phase-shift control realizes zero-voltage switching operation, and thus achieves a high-conversion efficiency. A theoretical analysis shows that the SCRC can reduce its inductor volume compared with a conventional buck converter when the output voltage range is within 19%-81% of its input voltage. Experimental results verify the operating characteristics of the proposed method and show the improved conversion efficiency of more than 99%.
A Comparative Study on Ground Surface Reconstruction for Rough Terrain Exploration

Obtaining information about foreseeing terrain is an important technique for mobile robot navigation in unstructured terrain. There are several methods proposed in the literature which try to extract the geometrical models of ground surfaces efficiently. This paper categorizes the conventional ground approximation methods into three types, and presents the conceptual and performance differences thorough synthetic and real data analysis. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of previous and newly developed techniques, and also provide discussions which will be useful in the design of terrain modeling as a step of mobile robot navigation.
A Friction Model for Non-Singular Complementarity Formulations for Multibody Systems With Contacts

The dynamics of multibody systems with many contacts are frequently formulated as a Linear Complementarity Problem (LCP), for which several direct or iterative algorithms are available to solve it efficiently. These formulations rely on discretized friction models that approximate the friction cone of the Coulomb model to a pyramid. However, they produce rank-deficient LCPs even though the physical problem does not have constraint redundancy and has a unique solution. Here, a new discretized friction model is presented which results in an LCP formulation with a full-rank lead matrix. This model relies on an inertial term to couple the equations of the model, which behaves as close to the Coulomb model as the other discretized models. Moreover, it is shown through some simulations that some algorithms can be used with this formulation, which could not be used with the other rank-deficient LCP formulations.
Early Internationalization by Firms in Transition Economies into Developed Markets: The Role of International Networks

Based on a sample of 104 firms in the Czech manufacturing sector that engaged in internationalization into developed markets, our study examines the relationship between reliance on international networks and early internationalization by Czech manufacturing SMEs. Our findings indicate that while, as expected, reliance on international networks facilitates early internationalization, the relationship is contingent on firms’ emphasis on technological innovation and perceived environmental hostility. Implications of our study findings from the standpoint of theory, practice, and future research are discussed. Copyright © 2014 Strategic Management Society.
The Role of Commodities in Strategic Asset Allocation

We shed new light on the role of commodities in asset allocation for investors with and without liabilities who (a) believe that asset returns are time varying and predictable (b) have short and long term horizons and (c) have access, in addition to a standard passive commodity portfolio, to commodity portfolios based on equal weights, momentum and the basis. We document significant benefits, in- and out-of-sample, from investing in factor-based commodity portfolios. We also confirm and extend the evidence on the negative role of commodity investments based on commonly used commodity benchmarks for investors with long horizons and liabilities.
DCM operation of interleaved DC/DC converters for PV applications

In this paper the interleaved operation of boost converters employed in a photovoltaic power processing system is proposed. By forcing the converters to work in discontinuous conduction mode, an high voltage conversion ratio and a significant noise rejection capability are obtained. This solution is useful in distributed photovoltaic applications because it improves the maximum power point tracking efficiency and allows to boost the voltage of any photovoltaic module up to the high voltage bus. The analytical model and the simulation results confirm the features of the proposed solution.
Study of Cyclin Proteolysis in Anaphase-Promoting Complex (APC) Mutant Cells Reveals the Requirement for APC Function in the Final Steps of the Fission Yeast Septation Initiation Network

ABSTRACT Cytokinesis in eukaryotic cells requires the inactivation of mitotic cyclin-dependent kinase complexes. An apparent exception to this relationship is found in Schizosaccharomyces pombemutants with mutations of the anaphase-promoting complex (APC). These conditional lethal mutants arrest with unsegregated chromosomes because they cannot degrade the securin, Cut2p. Although failing at nuclear division, these mutants septate and divide. Since septation requires Cdc2p inactivation in wild-type S. pombe, it has been suggested that Cdc2p inactivation occurs in these mutants by a mechanism independent of cyclin degradation. In contrast to this prediction, we show that Cdc2p kinase activity fluctuates in APCcut mutants due to Cdc13/cyclin B destruction. In APC-null mutants, however, septation and cutting do not occur and Cdc13p is stable. We conclude that APC cut mutants are hypomorphic with respect to Cdc13p degradation. Indeed, overproduction of nondestructible Cdc13p prevents septation in APC cutmutants and the normal reorganization of septation initiation network components during anaphase.
Rule-based semantic web services annotation for healthcare information integration

Accessing and exchanging data across heterogeneous systems become problems due to the lack of a uniform system and an accepted standard. In healthcare domain, each healthcare institute has used the different Electronic Patient Records (EPR) systems to manage the patient health information. The EPR systems are developed proprietarily and often only serve one specific requirement within a healthcare institute. This research proposes a framework for interoperating the healthcare systems using semantic Web Services. A framework is designed to incorporate with important procedures, such as, the Semantic Web services annotation is imperative to cope with the semantic service discrepancies with the help of rule-based generation. The ontology mapping is the process of determining correspondences between information concepts with semantic bridges description to construct the semantic rules. As a result, the framework enables semantic interoperability among independently developed healthcare system for integrating the healthcare information.
Endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration biopsy

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) provides detailed imaging of both intramural and extramural structures within the abdomen and mediastinum. However, EUS is limited in its ability to differentiate an inflammatory/reactive process from a malignancy. Fine‐needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB), coupled with EUS, allows for the sampling of the target lesion under ultrasound guidance in real time. To better evaluate the clinical utility and efficiency of EUS‐FNAB, a retrospective analysis of the first 103 EUS‐FNABs performed at our institute was undertaken.