INTRODUCTION The objective of this randomized, single use, single blind, single center, 4-group parallel clinical study was to evaluate the plaque removal efficacy of three power toothbrushes and a manual toothbrush. METHODS One hundred forty-four (144) subjects completed the study. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of four toothbrush groups: Sonicare Elite, Oral-B Sonic Complete, Waterp...

Competition for land resources is forcing rubber (Hevea brasiliensis Müll. Arg.) production into more agroclimatically vulnerable zones, which are likely to be affected by drought. It therefore of interest determine whether there particularly drought resistant genotypes. Established plant drought-resistance indicators include xylem resistance embolism under water stress (P50, potential at 50% c...

where u ∼ N(0, G) and 2 ∼ N(0, R) with u and 2 independent. This model can be interpreted as Y |β, u ∼ N(Xβ+Zu,R), u ∼ N(0, G), yielding (on integrating out u) the marginal model Y |β ∼ N(Xβ,ZGZ + R). Let V = ZGZ + R. Then the maximum penalized likelihood estimates of β and u given G and R are given by θ̂ = [ β̂ û ] = (CTR−1C + B)−1CTR−1y (A.2) where C = [X Z] and B is the block diagonal matrix w...

Longitudinal studies, where data are repeatedly collected on one subject over a period, are common in medical research. When effect of a time-varying exposure on an outcome of interest is measured at different time points, standard statistical methods fail to give robust estimate in the presence of time-dependent confounders. There is alternative method avoid, that is, inverse probability weigh...

A concept known as ‘marginal gains’, an approach to performance improvement in elite sport came to prominence during the London 2012 Olympics when Team GB cycling won a record eight gold medals. Since National Lottery funding was awarded in 1997 to develop British cycling, the ethos of making aggregated small gains in many areas to improve overall performance has been central to its success. Th...

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Metal free ceramic restorations have increased in demand due to their superior esthetics and more resemblance to the natural teeth, more so now that metal-free biocompatible options are preferred. Although porcelain fused to metal crowns are also used owing to less tooth structure loss in their preparation, the metal portion shows through the marginal area giving a blue-gray, cyanotic appearanc...

When small explants from early gastrulae of Xenopus laevis are allowed to develop in a buffered salt solution there is a considerable difference between the patterns of differentiation obtained from different dorsoventral levels of the marginal zone. These patterns of differentiation correspond to the fates of the different regions in the course of normal development. They are not altered if se...

Marginal populations are expected to provide the frontiers for adaptation, evolution and range shifts of plant species under the anticipated climate change conditions. Marginal populations are predicted to show genetic divergence from central populations due to their isolation, and divergent natural selection and genetic drift operating therein. Marginal populations are also expected to have lo...