Reference Point Research Articles

Accuracy of impression methods through the comparison of 3D deviation between implant fixtures.

To compare the accuracy of three impression methods by comparing the distance between the reference points of the implant fixture, especially in curved maxillary anterior teeth. Implant fixtures were placed in the maxillary central incisor and canine regions. A maxillary master cast was made using a model scanner and 3D printer. Ten impressions were taken from the three experimental groups constructed (group P: pick-up impression coping; group I: scan body with an intraoral scanner; group B: bite impression coping). The distance between the reference points, the angle between the scan bodies, and displacement of the 3D surface area were measured. The distances between the reference points were significantly different between groups I and B in the maxillary incisors, and between group P and the other two groups in the maxillary canines. Group P had the least amount of displacement in both fixtures. Both fixtures showed the highest displacement in group B. Displacement of the 3D surface area in the maxillary incisors showed no significant difference between the groups. There was a significant difference in the maxillary canines between groups P and I. In the present study, all three implant impression methods showed changes in the position and angle of the fixture compared with the master cast. The highest accuracy was shown by the impression method using the pick-up impression coping, but the impression method using the intraoral scanner also showed clinically acceptable accuracy. It should be noted that errors may occur when taking impressions using a bite impression coping.

Color Face Image Generation with Improved Generative Adversarial Networks

This paper focuses on the development of an improved Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) specifically designed for generating color portraits from sketches. The construction of the system involves using a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) computing host as the primary unit for model training. The tasks that require high-performance calculations are handed over to the GPU host, while the user host only needs to perform simple image processing and use the model trained by the GPU host to generate images. This arrangement reduces the computer specification requirements for the user. This paper will conduct a comparative analysis of various types of generative networks which will serve as a reference point for the development of the proposed Generative Adversarial Network. The application part of the paper focuses on the practical implementation and utilization of the developed Generative Adversarial Network for the generation of multi-skin tone portraits. By constructing a face dataset specifically designed to incorporate information about ethnicity and skin color, this approach can overcome a limitation associated with traditional generation networks, which typically generate only a single skin color.

The Relationship Between Religious Values and Politics in Türkiye: Research on the Voting Preference of Religious Communities

This study investigates the voting preferences of religious communities with a standardized structure in Türkiye. The results of the qualitative research conducted in Diyarbakır with“six” religious congregations that declared that they would support the People's Alliance and “one” religious congregation that declared that they would support the Nation's Alliance before the 2023 elections revealed that religious values are dominant in the vote preferences of religious congregations. However, when we look at the reasons for the emergence of their values, we see that it is not based solely on faith; the religious ideology that emerged as a result of the political traumas caused by the religious policies of the single-party period on the religious community is an important reference point in the vote preference of religious communities. Due to the low number of candidates in an election with two candidates, an understanding of the lesser of two evils was adopted.

Personal Bests and Gender

Abstract We connect two large bodies of scientific inquiry. First, important theories in the social sciences establish that human preferences are reference-dependent. Second, a separate field of research documents substantial differences in preferences and attitudes across genders. Specifically, we examine the universe of official classic chess games (more than 250,000 subjects and 22 million games). This allows us to study differences across genders both in cognitive performance (intensive margin) and in competitive participation (extensive margin), using the fact that personal bests act as reference points. We find that males and females behave very differently around their personal bests in both margins.

A research report on the phase-domain trajectories of fault recording and their mathematical models

In currently known theories and algorithms of fault recording analysis and application, there is little literature where fault feature parameters are mined deeply from electrical physical quantities themselves. In this report the calculation method of the phase angles of the reference point and sample points is obtained, which ensures the correspondence of the time-domain waveform of digital fault recording with its phase-domain trajectory. The relationship between the initial phase angle of a sinusoid and the position of its trajectory, the characteristics of the trajectories of three-phase short-circuit currents containing dc components and the mathematical models of these trajectories are analyzed. Taking a rectangular wave current and a triangle wave current as example, the characteristics of the trajectories of non-sinusoidal and periodical waveforms containing harmonics are analyzed as well as their mathematical models. The research results show that the relationship between the initial phase angle of a sinusoid and the position of its circular trajectory is definite; the dc components have no impact on the positions of the trajectories of the short-circuit currents, but on their sizes and shapes; the harmonics have an impact on the shapes of the trajectories, and their positions are decided by the initial phase angles of the ac fundamental components in the waveforms. Subsequent study of the algorithm of fault recording analysis will be spread based on the contents in this report.

Analyzing Common Market Options in the Scope of OIC

This paper initially employs the gravity model in order to analyze the trade data of selected 23 OIC countries and its 4 different subgroups. Then it applies stochastic frontier analysis to the model to gain efficiency scores and uncapped trade potential among countries in order to determine whether the group would have trade creation effect once they go for a Common Market structure. According to the statistical results, the 23 country group gives statistically significant results while deriving a %62 uncapped trade potential among group countries. Additionally, the 13-country subgroup also gives statistically significant results while deriving a %59 uncapped trade potential among them.
 While there are a number of studies which applies stochastic frontier analysis to the gravity model and gains efficiency scores, this study is the first to employ the method for OIC countries in order to determine the best possible country group for a Common Market without having trade diversion affect. The purpose of this study is to determine the Common Market options for Turkiye in the scope OIC in order to be a reference point for future Common Market initiatives.

Trace organic contaminants in lake waters: Occurrence and environmental risk assessment at the national scale in Canada

Numerous contaminants are produced and used daily, a significant fraction ultimately finding their way into natural waters. However, data on their distribution in lakes is lacking. To address this gap, the presence of 54 trace organic contaminants (TrOCs), representative of various human activities, was investigated in the surface water of 290 lakes across Canada. These lakes ranged from remote to highly impacted by human activities. In 88% of the sampled lakes, contaminants were detected, with up to 28 detections in a single lake. The compounds most frequently encountered were atrazine, cotinine, and deethylatrazine, each of which was present in more than a third of the lakes. The range of detected concentrations was from 0.23 ng/L to about 2200 ng/L for individual compounds, while the maximum cumulative concentration exceeded 8100 ng/L in a single lake. A risk assessment based on effect concentrations for three aquatic species (Pimephales promelas, Daphnia magna, and Tetrahymena pyriformis) was conducted, revealing that 6% of lakes exhibited a high potential risk for at least one species. In 59% of lakes, some contaminants with potential sub-lethal effects were detected, with the detection of up to 17 TrOCs with potential impacts. The results of this work provide the first reference point for monitoring the evolution of contamination in Canadian lakes by TrOCs. They demonstrate that a high proportion of the sampled lakes bear an environmentally relevant anthropogenic chemical footprint.

Multispecies comparative prostate anatomy by imaging: Implications for experimental models of prostatic disease.

There is an increasing interest in using preclinical models for development and assessment of medical devices and imaging techniques for prostatic disease care. Still, a comprehensive assessment of the prostate's radiological anatomy in primary preclinical models such as dogs, rabbits, and mice utilizing human anatomy as a reference point remains necessary with no optimal model for each purpose being clearly defined in the literature. Therefore, this study compares the anatomical characteristics of different animal models to the human prostatic gland from the imaging perspective. We imaged five Beagle laboratory dogs, five New Zealand White rabbits, and five mice, all sexually mature males, under Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval. Ultrasonography (US) was performed using the Vevo® F2 for mice (57 MHz probe). Rabbits and dogs were imaged using the Siemens® Acuson S3000 (17 MHz probe) and endocavitary (8 MHz) probes, respectively. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was also conducted with a 7T scanner in mice and 3T scanner in rabbits and dogs. Canine transrectal US emerged as the optimal method for US imaging, depicting a morphologically similar gland to humans but lacking echoic zonal differentiation. MRI findings in canines indicated a homogeneously structured gland similar to the human peripheral zone on T2-weighted images (T2W) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). In rabbits, US imaging faced challenges due to the pubic symphysis, whereas MRI effectively visualized all structures with the prostate presenting a similar aspect to the human peripheral gland on T2W and ADC maps. Murine prostate assessment revealed poor visualization of the prostate glands in ultrasound due to its small size, while 7T MRI delineated the distinct prostates and its lobes, with the lateral and dorsal prostate resembling the peripheral zone and the anterior prostate the central zone of the human gland. Dogs stand out as superior models for advanced preclinical studies in prostatic disease research. However, mice present as a good model for early stage studies and rabbits are a cost-effective alternative and serve as valuable tools in specific research domains when canine research is not feasible.

Angulation of the dural venous sinuses of the posterior cranial fossa: Anatomical study with clinical and surgical applications.

Cerebral vein and dural venous sinus thromboses (CVST) account for 0.5%-1% of all strokes. Some structural factors associated with a potentially higher risk for developing CVST have been described. However, angulation of the dural venous sinuses (DVS) has yet to be studied as a structural factor. The current study was performed because this variable could be related to alterations in venous flow, thus predisposing to a greater risk of CVST development. Additionally, such information could help shed light on venous sinus stenosis (VSS) at or near the transverse-sigmoid junction. The angulations formed in the different segments of the grooves of the transverse (TS), sigmoid (SS), and superior sagittal sinuses (SSS) were measured in 52 skulls (104 sides). The overall angulation of the TS groove was measured using two reference points. Other variables were examined, such as the communication pattern at the sinuses' confluence and the sinus grooves' lengths and widths. The patterns of communication between sides were compared statistically. The most typical communication pattern at the sinuses' confluence was a right-dominant TS groove (82.98%). The mean angulations of the entire left TS groove at two different points (A and B) were 46° and 43°. Those of the right TS groove were 44° and 45°. The median angulations of the left and right SSS-transverse sinus junction grooves were 127° and 124°. The mean angulations of the left and right TS-SSJsv grooves were 111° (range 82°-152°) and 103° (range 79°-130°). Differentiating normal and abnormal angulations of the DVSs of the posterior cranial fossa can help to explain why some patients are more susceptible to pathologies affecting the DVSs, such as CVST and VSS. Future application of these findings to patients with such pathologies is now necessary to extrapolate our results.

Benchmarks for Pirá 2.0, a Reading Comprehension Dataset about the Ocean, the Brazilian Coast, and Climate Change

ABSTRACT Pirá is a reading comprehension dataset focused on the ocean, the Brazilian coast, and climate change, built from a collection of scientific abstracts and reports on these topics. This dataset represents a versatile language resource, particularly useful for testing the ability of current machine learning models to acquire expert scientific knowledge. Despite its potential, a detailed set of baselines has not yet been developed for Pirá. By creating these baselines, researchers can more easily utilize Pirá as a resource for testing machine learning models across a wide range of question answering tasks. In this paper, we define six benchmarks over the Pirá dataset, covering closed generative question answering, machine reading comprehension, information retrieval, open question answering, answer triggering, and multiple choice question answering. As part of this effort, we have also produced a curated version of the original dataset, where we fixed a number of grammar issues, repetitions, and other shortcomings. Furthermore, the dataset has been extended in several new directions, so as to face the aforementioned benchmarks: translation of supporting texts from English into Portuguese, classification labels for answerability, automatic paraphrases of questions and answers, and multiple choice candidates. The results described in this paper provide several points of reference for researchers interested in exploring the challenges provided by the Pirá dataset.

Micro-Vibration Analysis, Suppression, and Isolation of Spacecraft Flywheel Rotor Systems: A Review

In this paper, the main excitation sources of micro vibration of spacecraft flywheel rotor systems (SFRSs) are briefly described, and then the research progress is systematically reviewed from four perspectives, including modeling methods, suppression means, vibration isolation techniques, and ground simulation tests. Finally, the existing problems of current research and the direction of further research are given to better serve the micro-vibration prediction and sensitivity analysis of existing models, and provide reference points for the micro-vibration suppression and isolation of the next generation of high-precision spacecraft.

Responsible leadership in a military organization (in the light of opinion surveys of professional soldiers)

<p>Military leadership is currently an extremely popular and important aspect of managing human resources in difficult, changeable, and unpredictable conditions. The solutions used in modernly managed, well-organized, subsidized, and ethically militarized systems become a point of reference and a model for organizations that encounter perturbations in the management of the organization’s human resources. The most important of them are certainly the sense of trust of subordinates in their superiors and the leaders’ responsibility for the level of staff development. The aim of the research undertaken was to verify the thesis that can be formulated in this affirmative sentence: “A modern commander should be honorable, self-confident, and have the ability to influence his subordinates and shape friendly interpersonal contacts in the group he reports.” The literature search in the field of leadership and questionnaire research were aimed at answering the main research question: “What mental properties and behavioural features should characterize a responsible leader in military organizations?”. The work uses the diagnostic survey method, and the interview was conducted using a multi-factor survey questionnaire on a 30-person study group consisting of professional soldiers aged 25–40. The adopted age range of the study group corresponds to the period of active military service, from the age of graduation to the year of termination of active military service. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire is composed of two scales, creating a total of 37 randomly ordered statements in the form of single-choice questions. To analyze the distribution of answers, ranks were used to assess the degree of their compliance with the respondents’ beliefs. Based on the conclusions from the conducted research, we have grounds to believe that professional soldiers expect their leader to be helpful to his subordinates and to ensure that the soldiers are motivated to act and perform their tasks. An important behavior that is expected from the commander is the desire to have a common mission in achieving the goal. Based on the research results, it was found that an undesirable feature is the inconsistency of commanders when pointing out the mistakes of their subordinates, who do not devote interest and time to learning how to avoid mistakes and to improve the competence of their subordinates.</p>

Numerical study of the influence of amplitudes on heat transfer in a tube bundle

The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of different surface roughness levels on a staggered arrangement of tubes in a cross-flow configuration, with water as the fluid being used. The focus lies in comparing the data obtained from the rough surface configuration with that of a smooth cylinder reference point. To assist this comparison, a comprehensive two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is created, which accurately represents the distinctive characteristics of each surface shape. This study also included modifying the Remax within a range of 10 000–16 000 and analyzing the outcomes of using four different tube types, each with different supernatant thicknesses labeled as [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] accordingly. Surprisingly, the tube with a 0.4 wave surface had significantly higher average Nusselt numbers (Nu) compared to the other tubes, indicating superior performance. The ideal tube design was found based on three main metrics: The performance evaluation criterion (PEC), the global performance criterion (GPC) and the average Nu. The performance metrics encompassed the PEC, GPC and the Colburn factor [Formula: see text]. The average Nu of the wavy_0.4 tube was higher than that of the SM by 31.66–32.54%, higher than that of the wavy_0.2 tube by 19.76–20.74%, and higher than that of the wavy_0.1 tube by 9.38–16.58%. According to the statistics, a heat exchanger that cools and has a wave with an amplitude of 0 is the most efficient choice for offshore energy systems. The smooth bundle tube (SBT) demonstrated the most significant increase in GPC, with values of 9.3–12.7% and 20.3–28.3% higher than those of wavy tubes with amplitudes of 0.1 and 0.2, respectively. In addition, correlations for the Nu are given, with results verified using empirical data from Balabani et al.

Transformation risk and associated survival outcome of marginal zone lymphoma: A nationwide study.

Histological transformation into an aggressive B-cell lymphoma indicates a poor survival outcome for patients with indolent marginal zone lymphoma (MZL), which has been less studied. Large-scale data with long-term follow-up to investigate MZL transformation is limited. Here, by reporting a US-Nationwide cohort of 30,619 MZL patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2019, we found that transformation occurred in 2.08% (N = 624) of MZL cases, with the transformation incidence of 3.1 per 1,000 person-years. Advanced Ann Arbor stage, nodal MZL (NMZL) and splenic MZL (SMZL) were associated with an elevated risk of transformation. Certain subtype-specific characteristics, such as non-gastric extra-nodal MZL (vs. gastric, HR, 1.51, 95%CI 1.13-2.04; p = 0.006), and receiving splenectomy for SMZL (HR, 2.04, 95%CI 1.28-3.26; p = 0.003), also indicated a higher risk of transformation. Besides, transformation independently increased the overall mortality risk (HR, 1.38, 95%CI 1.24-1.53, p < 0.001), especially the higher lymphoma-caused mortality risk (HR, 3.21, 95%CI 2.81-3.67, p < 0.001). Transformation was also associated with a higher percentage of lymphoma-caused deaths. The post-transformation prognostic analyses demonstrated that female gender and age ≥ 65 years independently affected patients' mortalities. These findings, based on the largest cohort to date, contribute to a better understanding of transformed MZL, and provide valuable reference points for guidelines and patient counseling.

Mutuality between nurses and patients with chronic illnesses: A cross-sectional descriptive study.

Mutuality is a process in which the patient participates and is involved in decision-making and care interventions. The aim of this study was to measure mutuality in the relationship between nurses and chronic illness patients. This study had a cross-sectional design; the sample included 249 patients and 249 nurses. Mutuality was measured with the Nurse-Patient Mutuality in Chronic Illness scale. Patients had higher scores in almost all items (p < 0.001). Patients demonstrate high reciprocity towards nurses and the ability to express and share their emotions. Patients consider nurses their point of reference and share with them their health goals. Nurses show more difficulty in being mutual with the patient, especially in the aspects related to the sharing of emotions, objectives, and planning. The egalitarian relationship score was low in both patients and nurses. These findings are important to consider at clinical, educational, organisational, and policy levels. Nurse education and organisation must push towards respect for the wishes of patients, the possibility of expressing their choices, and their involvement in the care plan. In clinical practice, it is necessary to put the patients more at the centre, involving them in the identification of objectives and in making decisions.

Buying a Wealthy Dream: Determinants of Rural Residents' Lottery Purchase Behavior in China.

The expansion of illicit lottery activities has caused significant harm to both agricultural production and the livelihood of rural residents. An analysis of the factors that influence rural residents' participation in underground lotteries can provide crucial insight for regulating the lottery industry's development. This study examines the present state of rural residents' participation in underground lotteries, investigates the factors that impact their participation using the Double-Hurdle model, and further employs the ISM model to evaluate the correlations and hierarchical structure among the factors, using field survey data collected from 603 rural residents in S Province, China. The findings reveal that 53.07% of the respondents have participated in underground lotteries. Risk preference, information acquisition, social networks, age, education, family burden, percentage of agricultural labor, agricultural business scale, and household income significantly affect whether residents purchase lotteries (WPL). All factors, except the percentage of agricultural labor and agricultural business scale, also significantly impact underground lottery spending (LS). Among the significant influencing factors, rural residents' risk preference is the direct surface factor, whereas agricultural business scale, household income, information acquisition, and social networks are the middle indirect factors, and residents' age, education, family burden, and percentage of agricultural labor are the deep-rooted factors. It is recommended to regulate the lottery industry's development can be achieved by enhancing entertainment and cultural activities, expanding economic opportunities, enhancing rural education, increasing law awareness, and improving the public welfare lottery business model. The conclusions offer a valuable reference point for the standardized development of the lottery industry and the promotion of social stability in rural areas.

A Dataset of Benthic Species from Mesophotic Bioconstructions on the Apulian Coast (Southeastern Italy, Mediterranean Sea)

Marine bioconstructions are complex habitats that represent a hotspot of biodiversity. Among Mediterranean bioconstructions, those thriving on mesophotic bottoms on southeastern Italian coasts are of particular interest due to their horizontal and vertical extension. In general, the communities that develop in the Mediterranean twilight zone encompassed within the first 30 m of depth are better known, while relatively few data are available on those at greater depths. By further investigating the diversity and structure of mesophotic bioconstructions in the southern Adriatic, we can improve our understanding of Mediterranean biodiversity while developing effective conservation strategies to preserve these habitats of particular interest. The dataset reported here comprises records of benthic marine taxa from algae and invertebrate mesophotic bioconstructions investigated at six sites along the southern Adriatic coast of Italy, at depths between approximately 25 and 65 m. The dataset contains a total of 1718 records, covering 11 phyla and 648 benthic taxa, of which 580 were recognized at the species level. These data could provide a reference point for further investigations with descriptive or management purposes, including the possible assessment of mesophotic bioconstructions as refuges for shallow-water species.

ORGANIZATIONAL CAPITAL AND EMPLOYEES’ COUNTERPRODUCTIVE WORK BEHAVIOUR IN THE NIGERIAN PUBLIC HEALTH SECTOR

This study was carried out with the view to assessing the impact of organizational capital on employees’ counterproductive work behaviour among some public healthcare organizations in Nigeria using Bayelsa state as a reference point. The study used a sample of two hundred and forty-three (243) employees of the selected organizations and data obtained were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Specifically, the regression results indicated an insignificant but positive influence of organization capital on employees’ counterproductive work behaviour in public healthcare organizations.  On the basis of the findings, it was recommended among others that organizations should regularly assess and monitor employee behaviour including counterproductive work behaviour via appropriate performance management systems and employee feedback mechanisms; this would allow organizations to identify early warning signs and take proactive measures to address any emerging issues.&#x0D; Keywords: Human Capital, Intellectual Capital, Public Health, Stress Facilitation Theory, Structural Capital, Work Overload.

Opinion, uptake and current practice of robot-assisted upper gastrointestinal and oesophagogastric surgery in the UK: AUGIS national survey results.

The uptake of upper gastrointestinal (GI) robotic surgery in the United Kingdom (UK), and Europe more widely, is expanding rapidly. This study aims to present a current snapshot of the practice and opinions of the upper GI community with reference to robotic surgery, with an emphasis on tertiary cancer (oesophagogastric) resection centres. An electronic survey was circulated to the UK upper GI surgical community via national mailing lists, social media and at an open-invitation conference on robotic upper GI surgery in January 2023. The survey included questions on surgeons' current practice or planned adoption (if any) of robotics at individual and unit level, and their opinions on robotic upper GI surgery in general. Priority ranking and Likert-scale response options were used. In total, 81 respondents from 43 hospitals were included. Thirty-four resectional centres responded, including 30 of 31 (97%) recognised upper GI cancer centres in England. Respondents reported performing robotic surgery in 21 of 34 (61.8%) resectional centres, with a median of 65 procedures per centre performed at the time of the survey (range 0-500, interquartile range 93.75). Every centre without a robotic programme expressed a desire or had active plans to implement one. Respondents ranked surgeon ergonomics as the most important reason for pursuing robotics, followed by improvements in patient outcomes and oncological efficacy. Robotic upper GI practice is nascent but rapidly growing in the UK with plans for uptake in almost all tertiary centres. There is growing opinion that this is likely to become the predominant surgical approach in future with benefits to both patients and surgeons. This snapshot offers a point of reference to all stakeholders in upper GI surgery.

From Social Minority to Children’s Rights in Colombia

Abstract This article reviews the institutional concepts associated with child protection in Bogota, Colombia, from the 16th century to the present, and studies how these concepts merged with the neoliberal discourse at the beginning of the 21st century in the care practices that are carried out. The article shows how state institutions in charge of child protection base their activities on ideological representations that involve techniques of control, surveillance and punishment of domestic units, which are presented as dysfunctional insofar as the children are seen as vulnerable. The article concludes that this exercise perpetuates social and spatial segregation in the city to legitimise the governance of child care. Ethnographic work carried out in the period between 2012 and 2017 in the Centro Único de Recepción de Niños (Unique Child Reception Centre) in Bogotá, is taken as a point of reference for the analysis.