Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation and comparison of the marginal adaptation of two different substructure materials

PURPOSE In this study, we aimed to evaluate the amount of marginal gap with two different substructure materials using identical margin preparations. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty stainless steel models with a chamfer were prepared with a CNC device. Marginal gap measurements of the galvano copings on these stainless steel models and Co-Cr copings obtained by a laser-sintering method were made with a stereomicroscope device before and after the cementation process and surface properties were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A dependent t-test was used to compare the mean of the two groups for normally distributed data, and two-way variance analysis was used for more than two data sets. Pearson's correlation analysis was also performed to assess relationships between variables. RESULTS According to the results obtained, the marginal gap in the galvano copings before cementation was measured as, on average, 24.47 ± 5.82 µm before and 35.11 ± 6.52 µm after cementation; in the laser-sintered Co-Cr structure, it was, on average, 60.45 ± 8.87 µm before and 69.33 ± 9.03 µm after cementation. A highly significant difference (P<.001) was found in marginal gap measurements of galvano copings and a significant difference (P<.05) was found in marginal gap measurements of the laser-sintered Co-Cr copings. According to the SEM examination, surface properties of laser sintered Co-Cr copings showed rougher structure than galvano copings. The galvano copings showed a very smooth surface. CONCLUSION Marginal gaps values of both groups before and after cementation were within the clinically acceptable level. The smallest marginal gaps occurred with the use of galvano copings.
Computing Efficiently the Closeness of Word Sets in Natural Language Texts

We consider some search problems which have applications in statistical text analysis and natural language processing. Given two sets of words A and B , we propose a statistical, corpus-based measure of the “closeness” between A and B in texts. Our proposed measure involves the search, throughout a text corpus, of the words in A and B, under the restriction that these words should co-occur within a given maximum distance n. We address the problem of efficiently computing this closeness measure and present algorithms for it.
Previsão de inflação com incerteza do hiato do produto no Brasil

One of the main indicators of inationary pressures used in the monetary policy framework by the Banco Central do Brasil is the output gap. The output gap is also an important measure of the economic uctuations. This paper uses quarterly data to estimate output gap using univariate and multivariate methods, and compares the value added in predicting ination. A rolling forecasts experiment is used to assess the out of sample predictive accuracy of the alternative models in di¤erent horizons. There is a high degree of correlation between the methods as a whole. The results indicate that multivariate methods have best predictive power. Resumo Um dos principais indicadores de pressões inacionária, usado na política monetária pelo Banco Central do Brasil, é o hiato do produto. O hiato é também uma medida importante de utuações econômicas. Usamos neste artigo dados trimestrais para estimar diferentes medidas de hiato usando métodos univariados e multivariados. Um experimento de previsão fora da amostra é usado para medir a precisão das previsões de inação de cada modelo em diferentes horizontes. Existe um alto grau de correlação entre as medidas. Os resultados indicam que métodos multivariados têm um poder preditivo maior do ponto de vista da medida esperada de inação. Key-words: output gap, state-space models, production function, Phillips curve. Palavras chave: hiato, modelos de espaço estado, funçaõ de produção, curva de Phillips. JEL classi cation: C32, E31, E52. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors. No responsability for them should be attributes to the Banco Central do Brasil. yCorresponding author: osmani.guillen@bcb.gov. br
Biosynthesis and Uptake of Copper Nanoparticles by Dead Biomass of Hypocrea lixii Isolated from the Metal Mine in the Brazilian Amazon Region

A biological system for the biosynthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) and uptake of copper from wastewater, using dead biomass of Hypocrea lixii was analyzed and described for the first time. The equilibrium and kinetics investigation of the biosorption of copper onto dead, dried and live biomass of fungus were performed as a function of initial metal concentration, pH, temperature, agitation and inoculum volume. The high biosorption capacity was observed for dead biomass, completed within 60 min of contact, at pH 5.0, temperature of 40°C and agitation speed of 150 rpm with a maximum copper biosorption of 19.0 mg g−1. The equilibrium data were better described using the Langmuir isotherm and kinetic analysis indicated that copper biosorption follows a pseudo-second-order model. The average size, morphology and location of NPs biosynthesized by the fungus were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). NPs were mainly spherical, with an average size of 24.5 nm, and were synthesized extracellularly. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirms the presence of metallic copper particles. Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) study revealed that the amide groups interact with the particles, which was accountable for the stability of NPs. This method further confirmed the presence of proteins as stabilizing and capping agents surrounding the copper NPs. These studies demonstrate that dead biomass of Hypocrea lixii provides an economic and technically feasible option for bioremediation of wastewater and is a potential candidate for industrial-scale production of copper NPs.
Understanding Interlinked Data { Visualising, Exploring, and Analysing Ontologies {

Companies are faced with managing as well as integrating large collections of distributed data today. Here, the challenging task is not to store these volumes of structured and interlinked data but to understand and analyze its explicit or implicit relationships. However, up to date there is virtually no support in navigating, visu- alizing or even analyzing structured data sets of this size appropriately. This paper describes novel rendering techniques enabling a new level of visual analytics combined with interactive exploration principles. The underlying visualization rationale is driven by the principle of providing detail information with respect to qualitative as well as quantitative aspects on user demand while oering an overview at any time. By means of our prototypical implementation and a real-world data set we show how to answer several data specic tasks by interactive visual exploration.
Computational Intelligence in Circuit Synthesis

This paper is devoted to the synthesis of combinational logic circuits through computational intelligence or, more precisely, using evolutionary computation techniques. Are studied two evolution- ary algorithms, the Genetic and the Memetic Algo- rithm (GAs, MAs) and one swarm intelligence algo- rithm, the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). GAs are optimization and search techniques based on the principles of genetics and natural selection. MAs are evolutionary algorithms that include a stage of indi- vidual optimization as part of its search strategy, be- ing the individual optimization in the form of a local search. The PSO is a population-based search algo- rithm that starts with a population of random solu- tions called particles. This paper presents the results for digital circuits design using the three above algo- rithms. The results show the statistical characteristics of this algorithms with respect to the number of gen- erations required to achieve the solutions. The article analyzes also a new fitness function that includes an er- ror discontinuity measure, which demonstrated to im- prove significantly the performance of the algorithm.
Iberall and Fagg : Neural Network Models for Hand Shapes 1 Neural Network Models for Selecting Hand Shapes

The simple task of grasping objects has been studied for centuries by scientists and engineers who have tried to understand and duplicate the versatility of the human hand. From a timing perspective, Jeannerod (Jeannerod, 1984) has noted that the hand preshapes into some posture while the arm reaches out towards the object. Schlesinger (Schlesinger, 1919) identified hand surfaces and shapes that combine with object characteristics to name possible ways that the hand, in effect, creates tools for prehension. Napier (Napier, 1956) introduced the notion of task features, noting that the power and precision requirements of tasks could be met by the power and precision capabilities of the human hand. MacKenzie and Iberall (MacKenzie & Iberall, 1994) define prehension as the application of functionally effective forces by the hand to an object for a task, given numerous constraints. This definition places an emphasis on the task and functional aspects of the problem. These functional demands on a posture are to apply forces to match the anticipated forces in the task (stable grasp), impart motion to the object (manipulate), transport the object, and gather sensory information about the state of the interaction with the object. For the hand, different postures present different degrees of available force, motion, and sensory information. One of the challenges, then, is to understand the mechanisms involved in selecting the posture that best matches the requirements and the constraints of the presented task.
Distinct Terminal and Cell Body Mechanisms in the Nociceptor Mediate Hyperalgesic Priming

Hyperalgesic priming, a form of neuroplasticity in nociceptors, is a model of the transition from acute to chronic pain in the rat, which involves signaling from the site of an acute tissue insult in the vicinity of the peripheral terminal of a nociceptor to its cell body that, in turn, induces a signal that travels back to the terminal to mediate a marked prolongation of prostaglandin E2-induced hyperalgesia. In the present experiments, we studied the underlying mechanisms in the cell body and compared them to the mechanisms in the nerve terminal. Injection of a cell-permeant cAMP analog, 8-bromo cAMP, into the dorsal root ganglion induced mechanical hyperalgesia and priming with an onset more rapid than when induced at the peripheral terminal. Priming induced by intraganglion 8-bromo cAMP was prevented by an oligodeoxynucleotide antisense to mRNA for a transcription factor, cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), and by an inhibitor of importin, which is required for activated CREB to get into the nucleus. While peripheral administration of 8-bromo cAMP also produced hyperalgesia, it did not produce priming. Conversely, interventions administered in the vicinity of the peripheral terminal of the nociceptor that induces priming—PKCε activator, NGF, and TNF-α—when injected into the ganglion produce hyperalgesia but not priming. The protein translation inhibitor cordycepin, injected at the peripheral terminal but not into the ganglion, reverses priming induced at either the ganglion or peripheral terminal of the nociceptor. These data implicate different mechanisms in the soma and terminal in the transition to chronic pain.
An exploration of how policy implementation is perceived to contribute to capacity building within schools

This is a study of how UK public sector organisations both build and define capacity for improvement. Public service quality in the UK remains a subject of ongoing importance, not least because of its contribution to economic growth of the country as a whole but also because of the needs and wants of the civil population as consumers of those services. It is considered that in order to improve service in a continuous and sustainable manner, organisations must develop the capacity for improvement through the process of capacity building. The research is based in the field of Education, at school level, from which the implementation and effects of a particular capacity building policy can be examined. The policy in question is PPA time (Planning, Preparation, and Assessment time), which forms part of the government's agenda for Workforce Reform. In conducting this exploratory research, a qualitative approach to a case study based research design is adopted. An interpretive analysis of cases facilitates a richness and depth of understanding. Six detailed case studies are carried out at schools serving Key Stage 1 and 2 pupils in one Local Authority in the West Midlands. A number of research methods are employed to facilitate triangulation of the data, including semi-structured interviews, observation, a survey, and a diary study. This thesis makes three contributions to new knowledge. Firstly, it develops understanding of the role of certain influences on internal capacity. Some are found to influence internal capacity directly through their impact upon internal capabilities. Others are found to influence internal capacity indirectly through the way in which they impact upon implementation of a capacity building policy. Influences are further found to be `enablers', which if present would enhance internal capabilities; `qualifiers'; without which, particular influences would `inhibit' internal capabilities, and which had the potential to become `enablers'; and `inhibitors', which had detrimental effects on internal capabilities. Secondly, it examines the relationship between direct influences and internal capacity to find that several of the influences in the extant literature are less significant in the context of a policy designed to build capacity. Further, it finds that particular influences affect other influences and so are `higher order' influences. Thirdly, it interprets the literature and research findings to conclude that `capacity building' is best understood as: the process of developing the necessary resources to meet improvement objectives, and of maximising the benefits of those resources through organisational capabilities.
A novel two-stage self correcting GPS-free localization algorithm for GSM mobiles

Extending emergency services like Enhanced 911 to a constantly increasing mobile population is becoming increasingly important for wireless providers. Localization service or position estimation with GPS in GSM based mobile phones is an expensive affair, both in terms of cost and energy consumption. Experiments have shown that GPS does not provide reliable location estimates of mobile terminals (MT) in indoor and dense urban environments. The principal contribution of this paper is the proposed novel algorithm that employs the existing GSM signal strength measurements as an alternative to GPS measurements, as the basis for position estimation in GSM based networks. The proposed algorithm is two-staged with a signal weight based positioning technique (SWBP) as the initial stage followed by a self-correction feedback mechanism (SCFM). In the SWBP, an initial position estimate is computed using the received signal strengths from the surrounding base stations. This initial estimate from SWBP is then fed into the SCFM to generate an accurate final location estimate based on previous history of location estimates. The second stage (SCFM) strives to negate the effects of erroneous signal strength measurements and abrupt changes in user direction. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm yields better MT position estimates compared to conventional triangulation techniques.
The effects of prolonged abstinence on the processing of smoking cues: an ERP study among smokers, ex-smokers and never-smokers

Processing bias is an important feature of substance abuse. The issue whether processing bias is a more or less permanent feature of nicotine addiction remains to be resolved. The present study addresses the role of smoking status on smoking-related processing bias. We employed Event-Related Brain Potentials (ERPs) as measure of processing bias to investigate this issue. Further, self-report measures of nicotine craving and pleasantness ratings of smoking stimuli were obtained. Three groups, smokers, ex-smokers and never-smokers, were compared on their electrophysiological brain response to smoking-related and neutral pictures. The present study shows that both the P300 and SPW amplitudes in response to smoking-related pictures are significantly more enhanced for smokers than for ex-smokers and never-smokers at frontal and central sites, whereas the magnitude of the P300 and SPW amplitudes in response to neutral pictures does not differ between the three groups. Accordingly, it can be concluded that smokers show more bias for smoking-related pictures than ex-smokers and smokers. Because there is no significant difference between the P300 and SPW amplitudes of ex-smokers and never-smokers, it can also be concluded that ex-smokers display the same (low) level of processing bias as never-smokers. In addition, nicotine-craving ratings and pleasantness ratings of smoking stimuli were higher in smokers compared to ex-smokers. It can be concluded that the smoking-related craving, pleasantness rating, and processing bias decreases after a period of prolonged abstinence.
COMMUNITY COLLEGE PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITIONS: ENHANCING THE PROCESS BY UNDERSTANDING STAKEHOLDER PERCEPTIONS

A leadership crisis is pending at America’s community colleges. Presidents are serving shorter terms (Stanley & Betts, 2004) and retiring rapidly (Duree, Ebbers, SantosLaanan, Curtis, & Ferlazzo, 2008). Weisman and Vaughan (2006) project that 84% of current community college leaders will retire by 2016. New chief executives need to be effective at implementing the goals set by the board of trustees in a timely manner. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to identify stakeholder perceptions during a community college presidential transition and strategies for assisting in a smooth transition. In-person semi-structured interviews were conducted at three medium-sized Midwestern community colleges that were in the midst of a presidential transition. The stakeholders interviewed included one administrator, one faculty member and one staff member from each participating institution. Coding and theme identification assistance was provided by the use of nVivo 8 qualitative research data analysis software. From the data analysis four themes emerged. A priori themes included (a) leaders view organizations in frames, (b) communication of the college’s goals, and (c) stakeholder relationship development. One emergent theme was identified: positive bias towards the new president. Implications for research yielded the Bradford Transition Model for Community College Presidential Transitions for community college presidential transitions. This model provides clarity to the employee-based aspect of presidential transitions by visualizing the relationships between organizational culture, four emergent frames, and
Phase noise and jitter modeling for fractional-N PLLs

Abstract. We present an analytical phase noise model for fractional-N phase-locked loops (PLL) with emphasis on integrated RF synthesizers in the GHz range. The noise of the crystal reference, the voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), the loop filter, the charge pump, and the sigma-delta modulator (SDM) is filtered by the PLL operation. We express the rms phase error (jitter) in terms of phase noise of the reference, the VCO phase noise and the third-order loop filter parameters. In addition, we consider OFDM systems, where the PLL phase noise is reduced by digital signal processing after down-conversion of the RF signal to baseband. The rms phase error is discussed as a function of the loop parameters. Our model drastically simplifies the noise optimization of the PLL loop dynamics.
Staging of Primary Abdominal Lymphomas: Comparison of Whole-Body MRI with Diffusion-Weighted Imaging and 18F-FDG-PET/CT

Background. The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of whole-body MRI with diffusion-weighted sequences (WB-DW-MRI) with that of 18F-FDG-PET/CT in the staging of patients with primary gastrointestinal lymphoma. Methods. This retrospective study involved 17 untreated patients with primary abdominal gastrointestinal lymphoma. All patients underwent 18F-FDG-PET/CT and WB-DW-MRI. Histopathology findings or at least 6 months of clinical and radiological follow-up was the gold standard. The Musshoff-modified Ann Arbor system was used for staging, and diagnostic accuracy was evaluated on a per-node basis. Results. WB-DW-MRI exhibited 100% sensitivity, 96.3% specificity, and 96.1% and 100% positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV), respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and PPV and NPV of PET/CT were 95.9%, 100%, and 100% and 96.4%, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the two techniques (p = 0.05). The weighted kappa agreement statistics with a 95% confidence interval were 0.97 (0.95–0.99) between the two MRI readers and 0.87 (0.82–0.92) between the two methods. Conclusions. WB-DW-MRI appears to have a comparable diagnostic value to 18F-FDG-PET/CT in staging patients with gastrointestinal lymphoma.
3wish: Distributed [incr Tcl] Extensions for Physical-World Interfaces

The creation of physical-world interfaces seamlessly integrated with the physical environment poses new implementation and interface challenges for the Tcl language. 3wish is a suite of [incr Tcl] class libraries and C/C++ extensions which supports user interfaces integrating distributed physical sensors, displays, and 3D graphics. The poster presents an overview of 3wish, its application to physical-world interfaces, and its implementation of distributed sensors, displays, object proxies, and platform-independent 3D graphics.
FRAPPE: Fast Replication Platform for Elastic Services

Elasticity is critical for today's cloud services, which must be able to quickly adapt to dynamically changing load conditions and resource availability. We introduce FRAPPE, a new consistent replication platform aiming at improving elasticity of the replicated services hosted in clouds or large data centers. In the core of FRAPPE is a novel replicated state machine protocol, which employs speculative executions to ensure continuous operation during the reconfiguration periods as well as in situations where failures prevent the agreement on the next stable configuration from being reached in a timely fashion. We present the FRAPPE's architecture and describe the basic techniques underlying the implementation of our speculative state machine protocol.
SIMULATION STUDY OF THE OPTIMAL APPOINTMENT NUMBER FOR OUTPATIENT CLINICS

This paper analyzes the appointment scheduling systems in specialist outpatient clinics (SOC) to determine the optimal number of appointments to be planned in one session under different performance indicators and consult room configurations. A discrete event simulation model is constructed to model the workflow of a SOC considering three consult room configurations. Ground data are collected to generate model parameters including consult time, no-show rate and lateness rate. An appointment rule based on Bailey’s rule is proposed to generate appointments with various numbers of planned appointments in one session. Simulation results are measured by performance indicators including patient queue, patient waiting time, doctor utilization and doctor overtime. Simulation results show that the optimal number of planned appointments varies according to different operational requirements and consult room configurations. Study in this paper provides a guideline to choose the optimal number of planned appointments according to specific requirements. (Received in December 2008, accepted in May 2009. This paper was with the authors 2 months for 2 revisions.)