Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the potential genotoxicities of resin-, silicone-, and bioceramic-based root canal sealers against human lymphocytes

Root canal sealer materials leak through the foramens and remain in close contact with the periradicular tissues for prolonged periods of time. Hence, biocompatibility with periradicular tissues is an important requirement for these materials. Genotoxicity is one of the major factors affecting the biocompatibility of a material. The currently used root canal sealers contain chemicals that can cause DNA damage when exposed for long periods of time. There are a wide range of sealers including resin-based, silicone-based, and bioceramic-based sealers that have potential for genotoxicity. The purpose of this study was to compare the genotoxicity potentials of a resin-based (AH Plus; Dentsply US), silicone-based (GuttaFlow Bioseal; Coltene), and bioceramic-based (iRoot SP; Innovative BioCeramix Inc.) sealers against human lymphocytes. The γ-H2AX assay was used, and the presence of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) was evaluated in the cells after incubation with the sealers for one, three, and seven days. Lymphocytes were examined under a fluorescence microscope (100x magnification). Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U post hoc tests demonstrated significant differences in γ-H2AX foci among all three sealers. The highest value was found in the resin-based sealer, followed by the siliconeand bioceramic-based sealers. Experimental article (J Int Dent Med Res 2019; 12(1): 88-94)
Systematic lidar observations of Saharan dust layers over Athens, Greece in the frame of EARLINET project (2004–2006)

In this paper we present a statistical analysis on the geometrical and optical properties of Saharan dust lay- ers observed over Athens, Greece, in a three-year period from 1 January 2004 up to 31 December 2006. The ob- servations of the vertical aerosol profile were performed by the multi-wavelength (355-532-1064-387-607 nm) Raman li- dar system of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) operated in the city of Athens (37 98 0 N, 23 77 0 E), Greece, in the frame of the European Aerosol Research Li- dar Network (EARLINET-ASOS) project. The number of dust events was greatest in late spring, summer, and early autumn periods. This was evident also by aerosol obser- vations during dust outbreaks obtained from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). In our li- dar measurements, multiple aerosol dust layers of variable thickness (680-4800 m) were observed. The center of mass of these layers was located in altitudes between 1600 and 5800 m. However, the mean thickness of the dust layer typi- cally stayed around 2700 m and the corresponding mean cen- ter of mass was of the order of 2900 m. The top of the dust layer ranged from 2000 to 8000 m, with a mean value of the order of 4700 m. MODIS observations during dust outbreaks showed that the AOD values at 550 nm ranged between 0.3- 0.6, while the corresponding Angstr ¨ om exponent (AE) val- ues were of the order of 0.5-0.65, indicating the presence of rather large particles.
X-ray standing wave study of vanadium oxide films on α-Fe 2 O 3 ( 0001 )

Introduction Metallic or metal-oxide layers supported on different types of oxides have been extensively studied due to their wide applications in heterogeneous catalysis and gas sensors [1]. Despite this considerable interest, the morphology of the supported metal or metal oxide, the active sites, and role of supporting oxides in catalytic reaction need to be explored further to fully understand catalysis and to design new types of catalytic systems for specific reactions. Supported vanadium oxide has been used in the manufacture of important chemicals and in the reduction of environmental pollution [2]. In supported vanadium oxide catalysis, the phenomenon known as monolayer catalysis has been reported [3], in which a submonolayer vanadium oxide film supported by an appropriate oxide displays greater catalytic activity when compared to multilayer vanadium oxide films. This monolayer enhanced catalysis demonstrates the significant role of the supporting oxide. The significance of the reducibility of the supporting oxide substrate has also been proposed [4]. As the most stable form of iron oxide, hematite (α-Fe2O3) has wide application in fields of heterogeneous catalysis, corrosion and gas sensing [1]. Vanadium oxide on hematite is an interesting system since V2O3 vanadium oxide and hematite are isostructural, as both share the corundum structure. Vanadium oxides on α-Al2O3(0001) has reported to grow as V2O3 films [5]. In the present work, we report on x-ray standing wave (XSW) measurements of vanadium and vanadium oxide monolayer films grown on α-Fe2O3(0001).
Flow cytometric analysis of inflammatory markers in conjunctival epithelial cells of patients with dry eyes.

PURPOSE To investigate in impression cytology (IC) specimens the expression of inflammatory and apoptosis-related markers by conjunctival epithelial cells from patients with dry eye as a rationale for treatment with topical cyclosporine. METHODS Immunologic anomalies were identified at baseline, before treatment with the masked medication, in a homogeneous series of patients with dry eye syndrome, who were enrolled in a large European multicenter clinical trial (Cyclosporin A Dry Eye Study; Allergan, Irvine, CA). IC specimens were collected in 243 patients with moderate to severe keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), with or without Sjogren's syndrome (SS). Fifty normal subjects were separately examined to provide normal control values. Specimens were analyzed in a masked manner by flow cytometry, using antibodies directed to markers of the immune system and/or apoptotic pathway: HLA DR, CD40, CD40 ligand, Fas, and APO2.7. Levels of expression were quantified, and results were compared with those obtained in the 50 normal patients. RESULTS One hundred sixty-nine specimens were successfully interpreted at baseline, including 41% from patients with SS. A highly significant increase of HLA DR expression by conjunctival cells was found in KCS-affected eyes compared with normal eyes, which did not express this marker or did so very weakly. HLA DR expression in eyes with SS was significantly higher than in KCS-affected eyes without SS. Fas and APO2.7 were found at low levels in all normal and KCS-affected eyes. CD40 and CD40 ligand expressions were significantly increased in eyes with KCS compared with normal eyes. HLA DR, CD40 and Fas were found at significantly higher levels in the SS group than in the non-SS group. CONCLUSIONS. Conjunctival cells from patients with dry eye with moderate to severe KCS, with or without SS, overexpress inflammatory and apoptosis-related markers. Whether inflammation is a primary phenomenon in KCS or is the consequence of repetitive abrasion of the ocular surface after tear film deficiency remains to be determined. These data, nevertheless, support the use of immunomodulatory and/or anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of patients with KCS.
Influence of Implant Design (Cylindrical and Conical) in the Load Transfer Surrounding Long (13mm) and Short (7mm) Length Implants: A Photoelastic Analysis

Purpose: This study compared the influence of implant design (cylindrical and conical) in the load transfer on bone surrounding 13mm and 7mm length implants under simulated occlusal loading, using photoelastic analysis. Method: Dental implants of 4mm diameter were divided into four groups, which varied in length and design: Group 1- standard (13 mm) cylindrical implant; Group 2 - standard conical implant; Group 3 – short (7 mm) cylindrical implant, and Group 4 - short conical implant. After the inclusion of the implant models in a photoelastic resin, they were subjected to a static load of 100 N. The lengths of the fringes that were generated were measured in three portions since the implants body: crestal, central and apical portion, parallel to the implant long axis. Furthermore, the entire extension area of dissipation of force was measured. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA (α = 0.05). Results: Lower stress was observed at the crestal bone in groups 2 and 4, while the stress levels in groups 1 and 3 were higher with significant differences compared to the other groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: The total amount of stress transmitted to the bone was not affected by implant length under axial loading condition, but changed in relation to the implant design with respect to the concentration of the fringes, which corresponded to the load distribution, with even more dissipation by conical implants.
Illusory colors promote interocular grouping during binocular rivalry

356 Color acts like glue: It can bind together features over space and time to promote perceptual grouping. For example, spatially distributed features identical in color tend to be grouped into larger, global forms—grouping by similarity, in Gestalt parlance (Wertheimer, 1958). In the temporal domain, features identical in color tend to be linked over space and time, thereby influencing perception of apparent motion (Gorea & Papathomas, 1989; Green, 1989; Gyulai, 2003) and global motion coherence (Krauskopf & Farell, 1990). Color’s glue-like quality also plays a part in the binding of monocular features imaged in the left and right eyes in binocular vision. Color can thus influence perceived depth in complex, multifeature stereo displays (den Ouden, van Ee, & de Haan, 2005); it can promote interocular matching of otherwise uncorrelated random dot patterns (Ramachandran, Rao, Sriram, & Vidyasagar, 1973); it can support depth perception in reverse contrast stereograms (Treisman, 1962); and it can dictate feature matches in stereograms containing multiple ambiguous feature matches (Jordan, Geisler, & Bovik, 1990). Chromatic information, in other words, plays an important role when the binocular visual system attempts to establish interocular feature matches. Given color’s ubiquitous role as a visual binding agent, it is not surprising to learn that color also influences interocular grouping during binocular rivalry, a form of perceptual bistability characterized by alternating periods of dominance between dissimilar monocular images. During rivalry, component parts of a coherent pattern can be presented separately to the two eyes and yet achieve visual dominance at the same time (Kovács, Papathomas, Yang, & Fehér, 1996; Kulikowski, 1992; Papathomas, Kovács, & Conway, 2005). To experience color’s effect on figural coherence during rivalry, view the two pairs of rival targets shown in Figure 1, achromatic and chromatic versions of the well-known figure designed by Diaz-Caneja in the early 20th century (see Alais, O’Shea, Mesana-Alais, & Wilson, 2000). Notice how the incidence of global coherence (i.e., complete dominance by one entire figure, the bullseye or the horizontal grating) is greater when the contours that define those figures are colored.1 This influence of color on rivalry coherence has been confirmed in several studies (see review by Papathomas et al., 2005). In this article, we show that interocular grouping during rivalry can also be promoted by illusory colors produced by orientation-selective color adaptation, the so-called McCollough effect (McCollough, 1965). This finding reveals the perceptual potency of these illusory colors and sheds light on the nature of the interactions between rivalry and the McCollough effect.
Small Compound 6-O-Angeloylplenolin Induces Mitotic Arrest and Exhibits Therapeutic Potentials in Multiple Myeloma

Background Multiple myeloma (MM) is a disease of cell cycle dysregulation while cell cycle modulation can be a target for MM therapy. In this study we investigated the effects and mechanisms of action of a sesquiterpene lactone 6-O-angeloylplenolin (6-OAP) on MM cells. Methodology/Principal Findings MM cells were exposed to 6-OAP and cell cycle distribution were analyzed. The role for cyclin B1 to play in 6-OAP-caused mitotic arrest was tested by specific siRNA analyses in U266 cells. MM.1S cells co-incubated with interleukin-6 (IL-6), insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), or bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) were treated with 6-OAP. The effects of 6-OAP plus other drugs on MM.1S cells were evaluated. The in vivo therapeutic efficacy and pharmacokinetic features of 6-OAP were tested in nude mice bearing U266 cells and Sprague-Dawley rats, respectively. We found that 6-OAP suppressed the proliferation of dexamethasone-sensitive and dexamethasone-resistant cell lines and primary CD138+ MM cells. 6-OAP caused mitotic arrest, accompanied by activation of spindle assembly checkpoint and blockage of ubiquitiniation and subsequent proteasomal degradation of cyclin B1. Combined use of 6-OAP and bortezomib induced potentiated cytotoxicity with inactivation of ERK1/2 and activation of JNK1/2 and Casp-8/-3. 6-OAP overcame the protective effects of IL-6 and IGF-I on MM cells through inhibition of Jak2/Stat3 and Akt, respectively. 6-OAP inhibited BMSCs-facilitated MM cell expansion and TNF-α-induced NF-κB signal. Moreover, 6-OAP exhibited potent anti-MM activity in nude mice and favorable pharmacokinetics in rats. Conclusions/Significance These results indicate that 6-OAP is a new cell cycle inhibitor which shows therapeutic potentials for MM.
Accurate Estimates of Microarray Target Concentration from a Simple Sequence-Independent Langmuir Model

Background Microarray technology is a commonly used tool for assessing global gene expression. Many models for estimation of target concentration based on observed microarray signal have been proposed, but, in general, these models have been complex and platform-dependent. Principal Findings We introduce a universal Langmuir model for estimation of absolute target concentration from microarray experiments. We find that this sequence-independent model, characterized by only three free parameters, yields excellent predictions for four microarray platforms, including Affymetrix, Agilent, Illumina and a custom-printed microarray. The model also accurately predicts concentration for the MAQC data sets. This approach significantly reduces the computational complexity of quantitative target concentration estimates. Conclusions Using a simple form of the Langmuir isotherm model, with a minimum of parameters and assumptions, and without explicit modeling of individual probe properties, we were able to recover absolute transcript concentrations with high R2 on four different array platforms. The results obtained here suggest that with a “spiked-in” concentration series targeting as few as 5–10 genes, reliable estimation of target concentration can be achieved for the entire microarray.
Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy Modulates the Inflammatory Response in Experimental Traumatic Brain Injury

Therapy with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has showed to be promising due to its immunomodulatory function. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) triggers immune response and release of inflammatory mediators, mainly cytokines, by glial cells creating a hostile microenvironment for endogenous neural stem cells (NSCs). We investigated the effects of factors secreted by MSCs on NSC in vitro and analyzed cytokines expression in vitro in a TBI model. Our in vitro results show that MSC-secreted factors increase NSC proliferation and induce higher expression of GFAP, indicating a tendency toward differentiation into astrocytes. In vivo experiments showed that MSC injection at an acute model of brain injury diminishes a broad profile of cytokines in the tissue, suggesting that MSC-secreted factors may modulate the inflammation at the injury site, which may be of interest to the development of a favorable microenvironment for endogenous NSC and consequently to repair the injured tissue.
Natural Web Interfaces Designing Ethical Personal Agents

As personal agents weave themselves into the very fabric of our lives, it is crucial that those agents respect their users’ values and act ethically. We understand a value as what is right or good according to an individual and ethics as a system of values. Rokeach1 proposed two types of values—terminal values, referring to desired end-states of existence, and instrumental values, referring to modes of behavior or means to achieve the terminal values.
Advances and Future Prospects of Spin-Transfer Torque Random Access Memory

Spin-transfer torque random access memory (STT-RAM) is a potentially revolutionary universal memory technology that combines the capacity and cost benefits of DRAM, the fast read and write performance of SRAM, the non-volatility of Flash, and essentially unlimited endurance. In order to realize a small cell size, high speed and achieve a fully functional STT-RAM chip, the MgO-barrier magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJ) used as the core storage and readout element must meet a set of performance requirements on switching current density, voltage, magneto-resistance ratio (MR), resistance-area product (RA), thermal stability factor (¿) , switching current distribution, read resistance distribution and reliability. In this paper, we report the progress of our work on device design, material improvement, wafer processing, integration with CMOS, and testing for a demonstration STT-RAM test chip, and projections based on modeling of the future characteristics of STT-RAM.
Endothelial cells promote stem-like phenotype of glioma cells through activating the Hedgehog pathway

Microenvironmental regulation of cancer stem cells (CSCs) strongly influences the onset and spread of cancer. The way in which glioma cells interact with their microenvironment and acquire the phenotypes of CSCs remains elusive. We investigated how communication between vascular endothelial cells and glioma cells promoted the properties of glioma stem cells (GSCs). We observed that CD133+ GSCs were located closely to Shh+ endothelial cells in specimens of human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). In both in vitro and in vivo studies, we found that endothelial cells promoted the appearance of CSC‐like glioma cells, as demonstrated by increases in tumourigenicity and expression of stemness genes such as Sox2, Olig2, Bmi1 and CD133 in glioma cells that were co‐cultured with endothelial cells. Knockdown of Smo in glioma cells led to a significant reduction of their CSC‐like phenotype formation in vitro and in vivo. Endothelial cells with Shh knockdown failed to promote Hedgehog (HH) pathway activation and CSC‐like phenotype formation in co‐cultured glioma cells. By examination of glioma tissue specimens from 65 patients, we found that the survival of glioma patients was closely correlated with the expression of both Shh by endothelial cells and Gli1 by perivascular glioma cells. Taken together, our study demonstrates that endothelial cells in the tumour microenvironment provide Shh to activate the HH signalling pathway in glioma cells, thereby promoting GSC properties and glioma propagation. © 2014 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
On broad iron Kalpha lines in Seyfert 1 galaxies

The X-ray spectrum obtained by Tanaka et al from a long observation of the active galaxy MCG$-6-30-15$ shows a broad iron K$\alpha$ line skewed to low energies. The simplest interpretation of the shape of the line is that it is due to doppler and gravitational redshifts from the inner parts of a disk about a massive black hole. Similarly broad lines are evident in shorter observations of several other active galaxies. In this paper we investigate other line broadening and skewing mechanisms such as Comptonization in cold gas and doppler shifts from outflows. We have also fitted complex spectral models to the data of MCG$-6-30-15$ to see whether the broad skewed line can be mimicked well by other absorption or emission features. No satisfactory mechanism or spectral model is found, thus strengthening the relativistic disk line model.
Monopoly Pricing of Experience Goods

We develop a dynamic model of experience goods pricing with independent private valuations. We show that the optimal paths of sales and prices can be described in terms of a simple dichotomy. In a mass market, prices are declining over time. In a niche market, the optimal prices are initially low followed by higher prices that extract surplus from the buyers with a high willingness to pay. We consider extensions of the model to integrate elements of social rather than private learning and turnover among buyers.
Women.s empowerment: what works and why?

Revisiting foundational feminist work on the concept of empowerment from the 1980s and 1990s, this paper draws on the findings of a multi-country research programme, â€˜Pathways of Womenâ€™s Empowermentâ€™, to explore pathways of positive change in womenâ€™s lives, in diverse contexts, and to draw together some lessons for policy and practice. It begins with an account of womenâ€™s empowerment in development, tracing some key ideas that have shaped feminist engagement with empowerment in theory and practice. It then introduces the Pathways programme and its methodological approach, before turning to each of Pathwaysâ€™ themes, exploring key findings from our research and highlighting examples of â€˜what worksâ€™. It goes on to narrate a series of stories of change that illustrate some of the dynamics and dimensions of change identified in our key conclusions. Drawing out the principal lessons, the paper concludes with reflections on implications for development policy and practice
Network Theory of Organization: A Multilevel Approach

Management research regularly considers social networks and their effects on a wide range of organizational phenomena. Scholars employing the social network perspective have generated a considerable body of organizational research, with much of this scholarship single-level in its focus: exploring how networks of individuals, groups, or firms relate to organizational outcomes at the same level of analysis. However, given that organizations are multilevel systems, a network theory of the organization should, by definition, be multilevel in its scope, considering how networks at one level of the organizational system influence networks at higher and/or lower levels. In this article, the authors overlay canonical multilevel theory on the social network perspective to derive postulates defining the broad theoretical domain of a multilevel network theory of organization. The link between these two theoretical perspectives is the graph theoretical notion of systems of nested networks, allowing the authors to examine how an observed network structure at one level of the system of organizational networks relates to network structures and effects at higher or lower levels of the system.
PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION OF SHOCKED CARBONATES FROM THE HAUGHTON IMPACT STRUCTURE , DEVON ISLAND , NU , USING X-RAY DIFFRACTION AND RIETVELD REFINEMENT

STRUCTURE, DEVON ISLAND, NU, USING X-RAY DIFFRACTION AND RIETVELD REFINEMENT. R. L. Flemming1,2, J. D. Newman1,2, R. J. Botor1, F. Cao1,2, C. M. Caudill1,2, M. R. Galarneau1, J. Geiger1, V. L. Houde1,2, L. E. Jenkins1,2, Y. Li1,2, J. M. Maris1,2, M. N. Metcalf1, G. D. Tolometti1,2, A. N. Rupert1, M. A. McCraig1,2,4, G. R. Osinski1,2,3. 1Department of Earth Sciences/ 2Centre for Planetary Science and Exploration (rflemmin@uwo.ca). 3Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada, 4The University of Arizona, Lunar & Planetary Lab, Tucson, AZ, 85721.