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Juno has allowed clear, high‐resolution imaging of Io's polar volcanoes using the Jovian Infrared Auroral Mapper (JIRAM) instrument. We have used data from JIRAM's M‐band (4.78 μm) imager from 11 Juno orbits to construct a global map of volcanic flux. This map provides short‐term insight into the spatial distribution of volcanoes and the ways in which high‐ and low‐latitude volcanoes differ. Using spherical harmonic analysis, we quantitatively compare our volcanic flux map to the surface heat flow distribution expected from models of Io's tidal heat deposition (summarized in de Kleer, Park, et al. (2019, https://doi.org/10.26206/d4wc‐6v82). Our observations confirm previously detected systems of bright volcanoes at high latitudes. Our study finds that both poles are comparably active and that the observed flux distribution is inconsistent with an asthenospheric heating model, although the south pole is viewed too infrequently to establish reliable trends. Plain Language Summary: Our study uses data from an infrared camera on Juno called the Jovian Infrared Auroral Mapper (JIRAM) to image Io, the innermost Galilean moon of Jupiter. Io is the most volcanically active body in the Solar System. Io's volcanoes are powered by both the extreme tides from Jupiter and the gravitational interactions between it and Jupiter's other moons. These tides generate friction inside Io. Simulations of Io's interior suggest that, depending on how deep that friction is being generated, the surface heat flow will be higher in certain areas (de Kleer, Park, et al., 2019, https://doi.org/10.26206/d4wc‐6v82). Using JIRAM, we have mapped where volcanoes are producing the most power and compared that to where we expect higher heat flow from the interior models. Our map doesn't agree with any of these models very well. JIRAM observed more volcanic activity at the poles than we expected to see based on previous observations. However, since the south pole was only observed twice, it's possible that these observations don't represent the average volcanic activity of the south pole. Very bright volcanoes that may have been continuously active for decades were also imaged during these Juno fly‐bys, some of which are nearer the poles than the equator. Key Points: We have produced a global volcanic flux map of Io using data from 11 Juno fly‐bysOur flux map doesn't agree well with tidal heat flow models reported in de Kleer, Park, et al. (2019, https://doi.org/10.26206/d4wc‐6v82)The M‐band flux is anti‐correlated with the asthenospheric heating model and has only very weak agreement with the global magma ocean model [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the variability of the power emission of Io's hotspots by using recent Juno/JIRAM infrared observations. The Jovian Infrared Auroral Mapper (JIRAM) is an imaging spectrometer which began observing Jupiter in August 2016. Although observing Jupiter's moons is not its primary objective, JIRAM can use the frequent opportunities to observe Io (up to once per orbit) to gather infrared images and spectra of its surface. The present study uses the data acquired by JIRAM during the last 2 years, including the location and morphology of Io's hotspots, and the temporal variability of the total output. A new photometric model for the hotspots and the dayside surface has been developed, which permits us to disentangle the temporal variability from the changes in the observation geometry. While the latitudinal dependence of the power output is not well constrained, low-latitude hotspots show a significantly more intense temporal variability and greater temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The escalating demand for enhanced cooling systems, particularly in high-power computer processors, necessitates innovative solutions within the spatial constraints of computing environments. This paper introduces a design modification that strategically diverts a portion of the main flow toward and through the porous fin region, creating a "cross flow." The novel approach aims to maximize heat transfer through the fins, harnessing both conduction and convection heat transfer mechanisms. The realization of these flow patterns is achieved through interdigitated blocking of the inlet and outlet reigns of the microchannel, coupled with the utilization of converging and diverging microchannel porous fins in distinct elbow and zigzag geometrical configurations. Numerical simulations using computational fluid dynamics are employed to assess the proposed microchannel heat sink's thermo-hydraulic performance. The proposed design innovation significantly enhances heat dissipation efficiency by augmenting the convection heat transfer mechanism within the porous fins, resulting in a remarkable 17% improvement in Nusselt number compared to conventional parallel microchannel heat sinks with porous fins. This study provides valuable insight into the thermal and hydraulic performance of the proposed design, offering promising prospects for addressing the escalating demand for enhanced cooling systems in high-power computing environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the lifetime of an animal, metabolic processes in the body maintain bone tissues in a dynamic state of equilibrium. After the death of the organism, bone tissues undergo diagenesis, an intense transformation that affects its physicochemical constitution. Although many recent works have greatly contributed to the understanding of the processes surrounding diagenesis, there is still much yet to be understood about this multifaceted phenomena. In this work, XRF and microCT were used to characterize the specimen elemental configuration and investigate the fossilization process of a recovered Puma concolor (cranium, mandible and teeth elements), found submerged in a lake in the Impossível‐Ioiô Cave System (Bahia, Brazil). MicroCT enabled the identification of the density distribution throughout the specimens, which were used as reference to XRF analyses. The XRF spectra of the analyzed specimen showed the presence of 11 elements: P, Cl, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Br, Sr, Y and Hg. Yttrium counts proved to be regular throughout the specimen surface and decreased in the interface between bone surface and interior, evidencing their correspondence to sample environmental exposure. Furthermore, a correlation between fossil surface coloration, element configuration and density is presented. The relatively low presence of Fe and Y in the enamel elicits its elementary and structural preservation. The combined results contribute to the understanding of the physicochemical process of paleomastozoological fossilization, further enriching the comprehension of the process of fossilization in a submerged environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of microplastics (MPs) on the environment is a major concern that affects not only marine life but also the entire ecosystem. MPs are defined as tiny artificial polymer‐based particles, measuring less than 5 mm in length. The impact of these compounds on human health concerns the metabolic alterations, reproductive disorders, neurological disorders, and hormone‐dependent tumors. Due to the problems involved in the improper disposal of this material in nature (in beaches, rivers, lakes, ponds, and oceans), and also, all the risks of MPs both for the ecosystem and for all beings alive, it became extremely important to develop a methodology that makes it possible to quantify this material when present in aqueous media. Therefore, the aim of this study is to present a methodology developed in the laboratory to quantify MP fragments present in an aqueous media. For this, phantoms were developed with plastic fragments from 0.18 to 0.71 mm, in diameter, which were later analyzed using the computed microtomography technique (microCT). The microCT is a non‐invasive imaging technique that uses X‐rays to produce detailed 3D images of the internal structure of an object. The results showed a good contrast pattern, and the quantitative analysis represented satisfactory results for all samples, with relative error below 20%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The return to sport is one of the main goals following Achilles tendon tear repair. Several psychological factors influence the return to sport after a sports injury. The traditional tools to assess the return to sport do not take into account psychological factors. The ankle ligament reconstruction-return to sport injury (ALR-RSI), validated for ankle instability, is a score to evaluate psychological readiness to return to sport. The goal of this study was to validate the ALR-RSI score for the assessment of the readiness to return to sport after Achilles tendon repair. Methods: The ALR-RSI score, adapted from the anterior cruciate ligament-return to sport injury (ACL-RSI) score used following knee ligament reconstruction, was validated according to the international COSMIN methodology. Patients operated for Achilles tendon repair responded to the questionnaire during the rehabilitation period. The EFAS, FAAM and VISA-A scores were used as reference questionnaires. Results: A total of 50 patients were included. The ALR-RSI score was strongly (r > 0.5) correlated to the EFAS score: r = 0.68 [0.50–0.80] the FAMM sport score: r = 0.7 [0.52–0.84] the FAAM AVQ score (r = 0.6 [0.35–0.78]), and the VISA-A score (r = 0.54 [0.26–0.76]). The discriminant validity was good with the ALR-RSI, which was significantly lower in the patients that did not return to sport: 60.7 (40–81.4) compared to those that did: 83.2 (64.3–100) p = 0.001. Reproducibility was excellent with an intra-class correlation coefficient ρ of 0.99 [097–1.00]. The internal consistency was excellent (alpha coefficient = 0.95). Conclusion: The ALR-RSI score provides a valid, reproducible assessment of the psychological readiness to return to sport in patients who undergo surgical Achilles tendon suture repair. Level of evidence: III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Veterinarska Stanica is the property of Croatian Veterinary Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) are a frequent cause of pain in young patients and a new CT arthrographic classification system of OLT was recently proposed to help guide the choices of and standardize the indications for surgical treatment. The primary hypothesis was that this algorithm would result in a postoperative AOFAS score of ≥ 80/100. The secondary hypothesis was to identify the preoperative factors of successful surgery. Methods: This was a prospective observational multicenter study. Eighty-six patients who underwent surgery for OLT after at least 6 months of unsuccessful conservative management were included for a mean follow-up of 15 months (12–36). Forty-nine patients with stage 1 OLT underwent microperforation, 2 patients with stage 2 OLT underwent a lift, drill, fill, and fix graft procedure with screw fixation, and 35 patients with stage 3 OLT were treated with mosaicplasty. Results: After a follow-up of at least 1 year, 56 patients (65%) had an AOFAS score > 80 and the mean AOFAS score was 82 (16–100). A lower BMI (p = 0.038), a higher preoperative range of motion in the ankle (p = 0.033), higher preoperative AOFAS and FAOS scores (p = 0.001 and p = 0.011), and the presence of a preoperative bone bruise on MRI (p = 0.020) were good prognostic factors on univariate analysis. The presence of grade 1 osteoarthritis on the Van Dijk classification was predictive of a poor prognosis (p = 0.044). Multivariate analysis showed that a good preoperative range of motion (OR = 1.080 [1.020–1.150] p = 0.01) was predictive of a positive outcome, while grade 1 osteoarthritis was predictive of a poor outcome (OR = 0.147 [0.036–0.603] p = 0.008). The postoperative AOFAS decreased in six patients and 17 patients had at least one complication: six dysthesias of the superficial fibular nerve, two of the sural nerve, and nine stage 1 complex regional pain syndromes. Conclusion: The new algorithm for OLT resulted in a postoperative AOFAS score of ≥ 80/100 in 65% of cases. The positive predictive factors of a successful postoperative outcome were the presence of a good preoperative range of motion and the absence of preoperative osteoarthritis. Level of evidence: Level II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we present the most updated catalog of Io hot spots based on Juno/JIRAM data. We find 242 hot spots, including 23 previously undetected. Over the half of the new hot spots identified, are located at high northern and southern latitudes (>70°). We observe a latitudinal variability and a larger concentration of hot spots in the polar regions, in particular in the North. The comparison between JIRAM and the most recent Io hot spot catalogs listing power output (Veeder et al., 2015, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2014.07.028; de Kleer, de Pater, et al., 2019, https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/ab2380), shows JIRAM detected 63% and 88% of the total number of hot spots, respectively. Furthermore, JIRAM observed 16 of the 34 faint hot spots previously identified. JIRAM data revealed thermal emission from 5 dark pateræ inferred to be active from color ratio images, thus confirming that these are hot spots. Plain Language Summary: We mapped the hot spot distribution on Io's surface by analyzing the images acquired by the JIRAM instrument onboard the Juno spacecraft. We identified 242 hot spots, including 23 not present in other catalogs. A large number of the new hot spots identified are in the polar regions, specifically in the northern hemisphere. The comparison between our work and the most recent and updated catalog reveals that JIRAM detected 82% of the most powerful hot spots previously identified and half of the intermediate‐power hot spots, thus showing that these are still active. JIRAM detected 16 out of the 34 faint hot spots previously reported. The resolution of JIRAM may not have been sufficient to detect these faint hot spots, or activity might have faded or stopped. Key Points: We produced a new Io hot spot map based on Juno/JIRAM dataWe identified 242 hot spots, including 23 previously undetectedThe latitudinal hot spot distribution is uneven with a larger concentration at the poles [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We mapped the Soi crater region at 1:800,000 scale and produced a geomorphological map using methodology presented by Malaska, Lopes, Williams, et al. (2016), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2016.02.021 and Schoenfeld et al. (2021), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2021.114516. This region spans longitude 110° to 180°W and latitude 0° to 60°N and is representative of the transition between the equatorial, mid‐latitude, and high‐latitude northern regions of Titan. We used Cassini Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) as our primary mapping data set. For areas where SAR was not available, we used lower resolution data from the Imaging Science Subsystem, the Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer, radiometry, and high‐altitude SAR for complete mapping coverage of the region. We identified 22 geomorphological units, 3 of which have been discussed in existing literature but have not yet been incorporated into our mapping investigations. These include sharp‐edged depressions (bse), ramparts (brh), and bright gradational plains (pgh). All six major terrain classes are represented in this region: Craters, Labyrinth, Hummocky/mountainous, Plains, Dunes, and Basin and Lakes. We find that plains dominate the surface of the Soi crater region, comprising ∼73% of the mapped area, followed by dunes (∼14%), mountains/hummocky terrains (∼12%), basin and lakes (∼0.7%), labyrinth terrains (∼0.5%), and crater terrains (∼0.4%). We also observe empty lakes as far south as 40°N. The Soi crater region largely has the same collection and proportion of geomorphological units to other mapped regions on Titan. These results further support the hypothesis that surface processes are, broadly speaking, the same across Titan's middle and equatorial latitudes, with the exception of Xanadu. Plain Language Summary: Titan is the largest moon of Saturn and was studied by the Cassini‐Huygens mission for 13 years. The mission revealed this moon to be a geologically interesting world, with Earth‐like features such as lakes, dunes, rivers, and depositional plains. However, the chemistry of the moon is based on organic molecules at cryogenic temperatures, as opposed to silicate rock and water. We prepare a geomorphology map of a particular region, known as the Soi crater region, in order to classify and catalog the terrain of this region. We use data from Cassini's RADAR, Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer, and Imaging Science Subsystem instruments, but map primarily with Synthetic Aperature Radar. In doing so we make interpretations about the geology of Titan's equatorial and mid‐latitudes areas, which the Soi crater region encompasses. We find that broadly speaking, the Soi crater region follows trends for other equatorial and midlatitude regions of Titan, but do find a few surprises, such as mid‐latitude lake features typically associated with Titan's polar regions. Key Points: Units are described in greater detail as part of the evolving Titan geomorphology mapping schemaEmpty lakes may reach latitudes as equatorial as 40°N on TitanThe Soi crater region is consistent with the narrative of Titan's equatorial and mid‐latitudes being dominated by organic depositional materials [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Over the past few years, Psychiatry has undergone a significant transformation with the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This shift has been driven by the increasing demand for mental health services, as well as advances in AI technology. AI analyzes extensive datasets, including text, voice, and behavioral data, aiding in mental health diagnosis and treatment. Consequently, a range of AI-based interventions has been developed, including chatbots, virtual therapists and apps featuring cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) modules. Notably, chatbots, as conversational agents, have emerged as valuable tools, assisting users in monitoring emotions and providing evidence-based resources, well-being support, psychoeducation and adaptive coping strategies. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the impact of AI chatbots on improving mental health, evaluate their strengths and weaknesses and explore their potential for early detection and intervention in mental health issues. Methods: A literature review was conducted through PubMed and Google Scholar databases, using keywords 'artificial intelligence', 'chatbot' and 'mental health'. The selection focused on the most relevant articles published between January 2021 and September 2023. Results: Mental health chatbots are highly personalized, with a primary focus on addressing issues such as depression or anxiety within specific clinical population groups. Through the integration of Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques and rule-based AI algorithms, these chatbots closely simulate human interactions and effectively instruct users in therapeutic techniques. While chatbots integrating CBT principles have gained widespread use and extensive research attention, some also incorporate alternative therapeutic approaches, including dialectical behavior therapy, motivational interviewing, acceptance and commitment therapy, positive psychology or mindfulness-based stress reduction. AI chatbots provide substantial advantages in terms of accessibility, cost-effectiveness and improved access to mental health support services. Nonetheless, they also exhibit limitations, including the absence of human connection, limited expertise, potential for misdiagnosis, privacy concerns, risk of bias and limitations in risk assessment accuracy. Conclusions: AI-based chatbots hold the potential to enhance patient outcomes by enabling early detection and intervention in mental health issues. However, their implementation in mental health should be approached with caution. Further studies are essential to thoroughly evaluate their effectiveness and safety. Disclosure of Interest: None Declared [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Involuntary admission rates differ between gender across various countries. In several European Union countries, men are more frequently involuntarily admitted, while an opposite trend, associating women with involuntary care, has been observed in countries like Switzerland, Brazil, and China. Objectives: Considering the contradictory evidence about gender and involuntary care in the literature, we aim to analyze the gender patterns of involuntary care in Centro Hospitalar Médio Tejo's Psychiatric Acute Unit, exploring the gender differences in diagnosis among involuntary patients. Methods: We stored and analyzed the data using Microsoft Excel and IBM SPSS Statistics. We studied psychiatry admissions at Centro Hospitalar Médio Tejo, Portugal over 2 years. The Acute Psychiatric Unit, located within a general hospital, has 24 beds, and offers acute mental healthcare services to adults aged 18 and above, serving a coverage area of approximately 251,000 residents. As part of our data collection process for all admissions to the Acute Psychiatry Unit, we recorded information such as gender, age, diagnosis at discharge, treatment type (voluntary or involuntary), and length of stay. Results: From January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022, there were 686 psychiatry admissions at Centro Hospitalar Médio Tejo, of which 125 (18,2%) were involuntary. The admission rates were approximately 136.6 per 100,000 people annually, with 24.9 being involuntary admissions per 100,000 people annually. In our analysis of involuntary admissions, women had a lower rate of such admissions, making up 6.4%, while men had a higher rate at 11.8%. No other gender identity was mentioned. Schizophrenia-related disorders were the primary cause for involuntary admissions for both genders, with 67.9% for men and 50% for women. Mood disorders were the second most common reason for involuntary admission, accounting for around 40.9% of cases for women and a significantly lower 16% for men. Involuntarily hospitalized patients exhibited longer lengths of stay independently of the gender. Men hospitalized involuntarily tended to be younger, whereas for women, involuntary hospitalizations were associated with older ages. Conclusions: In conclusion, our study reveals gender differences in psychiatric involuntary admissions, with more men being involuntarily admitted than women. Schizophrenia group disorders were the most common diagnoses among male and female involuntary patients. Furthermore, all hospitalized women exhibited a higher prevalence of mood disorders, a trend that was more pronounced among those admitted involuntarily. These gender trends match the overall patterns seen in the epidemiology of schizophrenia and mood disorders. Additionally, women with schizophrenia generally exhibit better social functioning than men, which may explain the lower needs of involuntary hospitalization. Disclosure of Interest: None Declared [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the scientific literature evaluating the efficacy and comparative efficacy of antimicrobials (AMs) for the treatment of diarrhea in calves. Eligible studies were non- and randomized controlled trials evaluating an AM intervention against a positive and negative control, with at least one of the following outcomes: fecal consistency score, fever, dehydration, appetite, attitude, weight gain, and mortality. Four electronic databases were searched. Titles and abstracts (three reviewers) and full texts (two reviewers) were screened. A total of 2899 studies were retrieved; 11 studies met the inclusion criteria. The risk of bias was assessed. Most studies had incomplete reporting of trial design and results. Eight studies compared AMs to a negative control (placebo or no treatment). Among eligible studies, the most common outcomes reported were diarrhea severity (n = 6) and mortality (n = 6). Eligible studies evaluated very different interventions and outcomes; thus, a meta-analysis was not performed. The risk of bias assessment revealed concerns with reporting of key trial features, including disease and outcome definitions. Insufficient evidence is available in the scientific literature to assess the efficacy of AMs in treating calf diarrhea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Nondestructive Evaluation is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In Spain, 90% of companies are small- or medium-sized and are usually located in industrial areas, in warehouses with particular characteristics. This paper presents a methodology for the environmental assessment of this type of construction with water and carbon footprint indicators. A database was developed for the identification of typologies and common construction elements based on a sample of 87 projects in the province of Seville. Based on this, the paper proposes a methodology for comparative analysis that merges the data obtained from the research survey with environmental and economic data. The work proposes a systematic classification of the construction units of industrial buildings in order to improve the sustainability of the decision-making process by introducing environmental information on construction materials and machinery. First, the most impactful elements were identified, and then the technical solutions were adjusted using solutions already in the sample of 87 industrial projects. Reductions of up to 74% in the carbon footprint and 54% of the water footprint were found, as well as 14% reduction in construction costs in the most favorable case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Patient-tailored contrast delivery protocols strongly reduce the total iodine load and in general improve image quality in CT coronary angiography (CTCA). We aim to use machine learning to predict cases with insufficient contrast enhancement and to identify parameters with the highest predictive value. Methods: Machine learning models were developed using data from 1,447 CTs. We included patient features, imaging settings, and test bolus features. The models were trained to predict CTCA images with a mean attenuation value in the ascending aorta below 400 HU. The accuracy was assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) and precision-recall curves (AUPRC). Shapley Additive exPlanations was used to assess the impact of features on the prediction of insufficient contrast enhancement. Results: A total of 399 out of 1,447 scans revealed attenuation values in the ascending aorta below 400 HU. The best model trained using only patient features and CT settings achieved an AUROC of 0.78 (95% CI: 0.73–0.83) and AUPRC of 0.65 (95% CI: 0.58–0.71). With the inclusion of the test bolus features, it achieved an AUROC of 0.84 (95% CI: 0.81–0.87), an AUPRC of 0.71 (95% CI: 0.66–0.76), and a sensitivity of 0.66 and specificity of 0.88. The test bolus' peak height was the feature that impacted low attenuation prediction most. Conclusion: Prediction of insufficient contrast enhancement in CT coronary angiography scans can be achieved using machine learning models. Our experiments suggest that test bolus features are strongly predictive of low attenuation values and can be used to further improve patient-specific contrast delivery protocols. Key Points: • Prediction of insufficient contrast enhancement in CT coronary angiography scans can be achieved using machine learning models. • The peak height of the test bolus curve is the most impacting feature for the best performing model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study evaluates the use of the needle arthroscopy in anatomical reconstruction of the lateral ankle. We hypothesized that the needle arthroscopy would allow anatomical reconstruction to be performed under arthroscopy. Methods: Three patients underwent treatment of chronic ankle instability. The comparative procedure was performed in the following four steps: 1) anteromedial articular exploration (medial/lateral gutter/anterior chamber/syndesmosis); 2)creation of the talar tunnel via the anteromedial arthroscopic approach; 3) anterolateral fibular tunneling; and 4) positioning of the graft by the anteromedial arthroscopic approach. For each of these steps, the planned procedure using the needle arthroscope was compared to the standard arthroscope. For each step, the planned procedure using the needle arthroscopy was compared to the standard arthroscope and the act was classified based on level of difficulty: facilitated, similar, complicated and impossible. Results: The exploration of the medial and lateral gutter, the creation of the tunnel of the talus and graft positioning were not accomplished using the needle arthroscope. While the syndesmosis visualization was facilitated by the needle arthroscope in comparison to the standard arthroscope. Conclusion: The anatomical reconstruction of the lateral ankle, using the needle arthroscopy-only approach, was impossible in all three cases, regarding: ankle joint exploration, creation of the tunnel of the talus and graft positioning. The needle arthroscope should not be considered as a "mini arthroscope" but as a new tool with which it is necessary to rethink procedures to take advantage of the benefits of this instrument. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sustained alcohol intake, when combined with incomplete treatment, can result in chronic structural changes in the Central Nervous System, including generalized cortical and cerebellar atrophy, amnesic syndromes like Korsakoff's syndrome, and white matter disorders such as Central Pontine Myelinolysis and Marchiafava-Bignami syndrome. It is crucial to prevent these complications due to their potential for irreversible and debilitating consequences. For Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, early recognition and thiamine administration for prevention are paramount, as it arises from thiamine deficiency due to malnutrition caused by persistent alcohol use. In the case of Central Pontine Myelinolysis, which is caused by abrupt fluctuations in serum osmolality, controlled sodium correction is essential. Objectives: Through a clinical case and a review of published literature, this study aims to reflect on the importance of preventing neurological injuries associated with chronic alcohol consumption, specifically Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome and Central Pontine Myelinolysis. Methods: A literature review was conducted by searching for articles on PubMed using the terms "Alcohol Use Disorder," "Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome," and "Central pontine myelinolysis." A clinical case is presented, featuring a 50-year-old patient with alcohol use disorder who developed Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and Central Pontine Myelinolysis. Considering this case, we reflect on the primary approaches that could have been beneficial in preventing these complications and propose a straightforward method for doing so. Results: A 50-year-old patient presented with poor general condition, characterized by low weight, significant loss of strength in the limbs and arms, and incoherent speech with anterograde amnesia and confabulation. This condition had progressed to a point where the patient could no longer walk, perform basic self-care tasks such as bathing, dressing, and eating independently, underscoring the severity of his condition. The diagnoses of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and Central Pontine Myelinolysis were established based on clinical manifestations and the presence of hyperintense lesions observed in the central pons on T2/FLAIR axial MRI scans. This clinical case highlights the importance of proper and precocious prevention of complications in patients with alcohol use disorder. The foremost step in preventing these complications is to treat alcohol dependence effectively, even when faced with patient resistance. It's vital to remain vigilant about potential complications and implement suitable prophylactic measures. Conclusions: The devastating effects of complications arising from Alcohol Use Disorder, such as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and Central Pontine Myelinolysis, underscore the importance of enhanced attention that clinicians should provide when approaching these patients at all clinical interactions. Disclosure of Interest: None Declared [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to environmental stressors, an increasingly recurring event in natural communities due to anthropogenic-induced environmental change, profoundly impacts disease emergence and spread. One mechanism through which this occurs is through stress-induced immunosuppression increasing disease susceptibility, prevalence, intensity and reactivation in hosts. We experimentally evaluated how exposure to stressors affected both the physiology of avian hosts and the prevalence of the zoonotic bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), in two model species—the blackbird Turdus merula and the robin Erithacus rubecula captured in the wild, using xenodiagnoses and analysis of skin biopsies and blood. Although exposure to stressors in captivity induced physiological stress in birds (increased the number of circulating heterophils), there was no evidence of increased infectivity to xenodiagnostic ticks. However, Borrelia detection in the blood for both experimental groups of blackbirds was higher by the end of the captivity period. The infectivity and efficiency of transmission were higher for blackbirds than robins. When comparing different methodologies to determine infection status, xenodiagnosis was a more sensitive method than skin biopsies and blood samples, which could be attributed to mild levels of infection in these avian hosts and/or dynamics and timing of Borrelia infection relapses and redistribution in tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robotic abdominoplasty to correct abdominal wall lateral bulging in adult PBS patients using longitudinal plication sutures to reinforce the fascial defect, followed by the application of a mesh, is feasible and presents good functional and cosmetic results. Prune belly syndrome (PBS) is defined by three major findings: deficiency of the abdominal musculature, bilateral undescended testicles and genitourinary tract anomalies [[1]]. There are several abdominal wall plication techniques for abdominoplasty in PBS patients, including open and laparoscopic techniques [[1], [3]]. [Extracted from the article]

Rationale: Donepezil is a potent, noncompetitive, reversible, clinically effective acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. The effects of this drug on healthy brains have seldom been investigated. Objectives: The primary objective of the present study was to identify possible functional connectivity markers of the effect of donepezil in healthy young adult volunteers. Methods: The study had a double-blind, randomized, crossover design. 30 healthy adult volunteers underwent resting-state MRI scans during 15 days of donepezil or placebo treatment, in accordance with the design. Results: Results showed significant differences in intrinsic functional connectivity between donepezil and placebo, mainly in the right executive control network (RECN). More specifically, we found a decrease in the connectivity of the right inferior parietal node with other RECN nodes. Analysis using the cingulate cortex and parahippocampal regions as seeds also revealed complex modulation of functional connectivity in the donepezil condition. Conclusions: In conclusion, donepezil treatment for 15 days may result in reorganization of resting-state networks, compared with placebo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of cactus pear as a moistening additive on fermentative and microbiological characteristics, aerobic stability (AS), chemical composition and in situ rumen degradability of corn grain silage at different opening times. A completely randomized experimental design was adopted in a 4 × 3 factorial scheme with four levels of dry matter (DM) (50; 60; 70 and 80% of DM) and three opening times (30; 60 and 120 days after ensiling), with four replications. There was an effect of interaction (P < 0.05) between the DM levels and opening times on silage yeast population, effluent losses, gas losses, dry matter recovery (DMR), AS of the silage and on lactic acid bacteria, mould and yeast populations after AS trial. The 60% DM level presented DMR values above 930 g/kg of DM. However, the lowest AS time (96.52 h) was observed in silages with 60% DM at 60 days after ensiling, although all silages have shown high AS. The DM in situ degradability of the ensiled mass increased after the ensiling process at all DM levels and opening times, with the 60% DM content showing the best result. When using cactus pear as a corn grain moistening additive, the 60% DM level is recommended when the opening time is up 120 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skin cancer represents the most common malignancy worldwide and it is imperative that we develop strategies to ensure safe and sustained delivery of cancer care which are resilient to the ongoing impact of COVID-19. This study prospectively evaluates the COVID-19 related patient risk and skin cancer management at a single tertiary referral centre, which rapidly implemented national COVID-19 safety guidelines. A prospective cohort study was performed in all patients who underwent surgery for elective skin cancer service management, during the UK COVID-19 pandemic peak (April–May 2020). 'Real-time' 30-day hospital database deceased data were collected. Random selection was undertaken for patients who either underwent operative (surgery group) management or remained on the waiting list (control group); these groups were also prospectively followed-up within a controlled cohort study design and telephoned at the end of June 2020 for the control group or 30 days post-operatively. Of the 767 patients who had operations, there were no COVID-19 related deaths. Both the surgery (n = 384) and control (n = 100) groups were matched for age, sex, ethnicity, BMI, presence of comorbidities, smoking and positive COVID-19 contact. There were no differences in post-operative versus any symptom development (1.3%, 5/384 vs. 4%, 4/100, p = 0.093), or proportion of positive tests (8.6%, 33/384 vs. 8%, 8/100; p = 0.849), between the surgery and control groups. These data support continued and safe service provision, and no increased risk to skin cancer patients who require surgical management, which is vital for continuation of cancer treatment in the context of a pandemic. II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a strategy to compute a suboptimal solution to the finite-horizon linear-quadratic control problem for Markov jump linear parameter-varying systems. The system parameters depend not only on a Markov chain but also on linear parameter-varying elements that take values in convex polytopic sets. The suboptimal approach represents an attempt towards solving the optimal control problem that remains unsolved in the literature. Illustrating that such a suboptimal approach can be of interest when solving practical control problems. Experimental results on the control of an automotive throttle valve subject to failures driven by a Markov chain are discussed, thus supporting the usefulness of the theoretical findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the influence of ultraconservative access cavities (UltraAC) on canal shaping and filling ability and load capacity of mandibular molars after root canal preparation with XP‐endo Shaper (XP) or Reciproc (RC), under simulated clinical conditions. Traditional access cavities (TradAC) were used for comparison. Methodology: Forty extracted mandibular molars were scanned by micro–computed tomographic and, based on similar anatomical features, were divided into four groups (n = 10), according to the type of access cavity and canal instrumentation protocol: TradAC/RC, TradAC/XP, UltraAC/RC and UltraAC/XP. All root canal procedures were performed with the teeth placed in a dental mannequin. Teeth were scanned after root canal instrumentation and filling. Unprepared canal area, dentine removed, accumulated hard tissue debris (AHTD), canal transportation, presence of voids and filling material remnants within the pulp chamber were analysed. After restorative procedures, the teeth were subjected to thermomechanical cycling and to a load capacity test. Statistical analyses were performed using two‐way anova test, considering the randomized blocks design (P < 0.05). Results: The percentage of unprepared canal area was significantly lower in TradAC groups when compared to UltraAC groups (P < 0.05), regardless of the instrument used. The UltraAC/XP group had significantly lower percentage of root dentine removed when compared to other groups (P < 0.05). UltraAC/XP and TradAC/XP groups had significantly lower percentages of AHTD than UltraAC/RC and TradAC/RC groups (P < 0.05). Regarding canal transportation, in the MB root canals, the TradAC/XP group had significantly lower values than other groups (P < 0.05). In general, in ML and distal root canals, TradAC/XP and UltraAC/XP groups had significantly lower values of canal transportation when compared to other groups (P < 0.05). Moreover, the UltraAC/RC had the greatest canal transportation values in MB and distal canals. The UltraAC groups had significantly greater percentages of voids and volume of remaining root filling material within the pulp chamber after cleaning procedures than TradAC groups (P < 0.05). There was no difference in the load capacity amongst groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The UltraAC/XP and UltraAC/RC groups had significantly greater areas of unprepared canal walls, significantly more voids and volume of root filling material remnants within the pulp chamber after canal filling. UltraAC/XP was associated with significantly less root dentine removal and significantly more AHTD whilst TradAC/XP had overall significantly less canal transportation. No differences were observed in the load capacity amongst groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prebiotic supplementation has been studied as a means to enhance growth and health in dairy calves; however, results seem to be inconsistent across studies. The first objective of the future review is to identify, summarize, appraise, and discuss the current literature on the prebiotic supplementation for dairy calves. The second objective is to evaluate the effect of prebiotic supplementation on growth and health of dairy calves. Eligible studies will be non-randomized and randomized controlled trials in English, Spanish, or Portuguese that examined the supplementation of prebiotics to dairy calves (up to 6 months of age) and reported growth or health outcomes. The main growth outcomes will be average daily gain, feed efficiency, and main health outcomes will be fecal score and diarrhea incidence. A search will be conducted in Biosis, CAB Abstracts, Medline, Scopus, and the Dissertations and Theses Database with the support of a UC Davis librarian. Two reviewers independently will screen the titles and abstracts of retrieved studies. The screening of full manuscripts will be performed by one reviewer. The data extraction will be executed based on pre-tested forms. Risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool. If feasible, a random-effects meta-analysis will be conducted. Heterogeneity will be evaluated with I2 statistic. If possible, publication bias will be investigated by using funnel plots, Begg's adjusted rank correlation, and Egger's test. The certainty of the evidence will be determined using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations) approach. The proposed review will contribute to the current knowledge on prebiotic supplementation for dairy calves; this information may guide management decision at the farm level and identify gaps of knowledge to be addressed in future research. The protocol is registered in Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/ar5g2/) and available in the Systematic Reviews for Animals and Food (http://www.syreaf.org/contact/). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the correlation between the volume of dental hard tissues removed and the fracture resistance of mandibular molar teeth with ultraconservative (UltraAC) or traditional (TradAC) access cavity preparations. Methodology: Sixty recently extracted and intact mandibular first molars were scanned in a microcomputed tomographic (micro‐CT) device, anatomically matched and assigned at random to 2 groups (n = 30), according to the access cavity type: UltraAC or TradAC. After access preparation, mesial and distal canals were prepared using Reciproc instruments and a new scan was taken. The volumes of pulp chamber and dental hard tissues in each specimen were measured before and after the experimental procedures, and the percentage volume reduction of hard tissues calculated for the entire tooth and for the crown separately. Teeth were then root filled, restored and subjected to fracture resistance tests in an universal testing machine. The force required to fracture was recorded in Newtons (N). The adherence of the variables to a Gaussian curve was verified using a Shapiro–Wilk test. Skewed data were analysed with nonparametric Wilcoxon signed rank or Spearman correlation tests, whilst the normally distributed data were analysed with a dependent samples Student t‐test. Level of significance was set at 5%. Results: Pre‐operatively, no difference was observed between groups regarding the volume of pulp canal space or dental hard tissues (P > 0.05). After access preparation, volumes of the removed hard tissues from the entire tooth and from the crown were significantly greater in teeth prepared with TradAC than with UltraAC (P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed in the fracture resistance values between TradAC (902.9 ± 347.8 N) and UltraAC (948.7 ± 405.7 N) groups (P = 0.975). The Spearman test was unable to identify a correlation between fracture resistance and percentage volume of removed dental hard tissues in the entire root (P = 0.525, r = −0.084) or only in the crown (P = 0.152, r = −0.187). Conclusion: The volume of hard dental tissues removed, although greater in teeth with TradAC compared to UltraAC, did not correlate with the fracture resistance results, indicating that a minimally invasive access cavity did not increase the resistance of restored mandibular first molars to fracture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The robust adjustment of nonlinear models to data is considered in this paper. When data comes from real experiments, it is possible that measurement errors cause the appearance of discrepant values, which should be ignored when adjusting models to them. This work presents a low order-value optimization (LOVO) version of the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm, which is well suited to deal with outliers in fitting problems. A general algorithm is presented and convergence to stationary points is demonstrated. Numerical results show that the algorithm is successfully able to detect and ignore outliers without too many specific parameters. Parallel and distributed executions of the algorithm are also possible, allowing the use of larger datasets. Comparison against publicly available robust algorithms shows that the present approach is able to find better adjustments in well known statistical models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this letter, we propose a Voronoi shaping method for shaping lattices, Λ s, and coding lattices, Λc, satisfying Λs ⊆ K Zn ⊆ Λc ⊆ Zn, with K being an integer diagonal matrix. This assumption is easily satisfied for lattices obtained from error-correcting codes. For these lattices, using the proposed strategy, lattice encoding complexity is reduced to the encoding complexity of the underlying error-correcting code. Our proposal is illustrated for Construction-D lattices with Gosset (E8) and Leech (Λ24) lattices as shaping lattices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To validate a new method for the evaluation of pulp tissue debridement in the root canals of extracted teeth using an impregnation protocol involving potassium triiodide, a radiocontrast solution known as Lugol's, combined with micro‐computed tomographic (micro‐CT) imaging. Methodology: The impact of NaOCl on the radiopacity of Lugol's solution was assessed using a two‐fold dilution series of Lugol in distilled water and 5.25% NaOCl, which were then pipetted into transparent dishes and radiographed. To verify the influence of Lugol on the proteolytic effect of NaOCl, a dissolution test was performed using fresh bovine meat. Ten slices did not undergo any tissue processing, whilst twenty slices were fixed in formaldehyde for 24 h. After that, 10 of them were immersed in Lugol for another 24 h. Then, all specimens were placed in NaOCl and the time required for a complete tissue dissolution was recorded. For the last experiments (histological validation and micro‐CT assessment), 8 extracted mandibular premolars with formerly vital pulps were immersed in buffered formalin, scanned in a micro‐CT device, accessed, immersed in Lugol for 7 days and scanned again. Then, the root canals of 5 teeth were prepared and scanned, and the volume of remaining pulp tissue identified and quantified, whilst 3 teeth were histologically processed. The same specimens were subjected to histological assessment, and the images of the histologic sections were registered with the corresponding micro‐CT images to verify whether the pulp tissue in the histological sections matched its counterpart in the Lugol‐impregnated tissues identified in the micro‐CT slices. Results: There was no discernible effect on radiopacity when NaOCl was mixed with Lugol's solution. Tissue processing did not affect the time required for the complete dissolution of fresh bovine meat. Histological evaluation revealed a correlation between micro‐CT and histological images confirming the identification of Lugol‐impregnated pulp tissue in micro‐CT images. Conclusions: The radiocontrast Lugol's solution was unaffected by NaOCl and did not interfere with its soft tissue dissolution capability. The impregnation protocol using Lugol's solution allowed the visualization of pulp tissue on the micro‐CT images and the identification of pulp remnants after chemical–mechanical canal procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Aim: To evaluate the use of a reduced taper endodontic instrument system (Bassi Logic™.03 taper) and expandable heat‐treated system (XP‐endo Shaper) on the ability to shape canals in mandibular molars, by means of microcomputed tomography (micro‐CT) analysis. The Reciproc system was used as the reference for comparison. Methodology: Twenty‐four mandibular molars were scanned in a micro‐CT, matched based on similar anatomical features and sorted into three groups (n = 8 per group), according to root canal preparation system: Bassi Logic™.03, XP‐endo Shaper and Reciproc. The teeth were mounted onto a mannequin and the pulp chambers were accessed with traditional access cavities. In Bassi Logic™.03 and Reciproc groups, mesial canals were prepared with size 25,.03 taper or R25 (size 25,.08v taper) instruments and the distal root canal with size 25,.03 taper and size 40,.03 taper or R25 and R40 (size 40,.06v taper), respectively. In XP‐endo Shaper groups, all root canals were prepared with XP‐endo Shaper (size 30,.04v taper). After root canal preparation, the teeth were rescanned. The percentage of untouched canal areas and the percentage of removed dentine were evaluated separately for mesial and distal root canals. The data were analysed using one‐way anova and Tukey tests (P < 0.05). Results: The Bassi Logic™.03 group was associated with a greater percentage of untouched canal areas when compared to XP‐endo Shaper and Reciproc groups for mesial and distal root canals (P < 0.05), but no differences were found between XP‐endo Shaper and Reciproc groups (P > 0.05). No significant difference was observed in the percentage of dentine removed amongst the groups for mesial and distal root canals (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The use of a reduced taper system (Bassi Logic™.03) during root canal preparation resulted in a greater percentage of untouched canal areas when compared to XP‐endo Shaper and Reciproc instruments. No differences were observed amongst the systems regarding the percentage of dentine removed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface composition of Io is dominated by SO2 frost, plus other chemical species identified or proposed over the past decades by combining Earth‐based and space‐based observations with laboratory data. Here we discuss spectroscopic data sets of Io obtained by the Jovian InfraRed Auroral Mapper (JIRAM) spectro‐imager onboard Juno in nine orbits, spanning a 3‐year period. We display average spectral profiles of Io in the 2–5 μm range, and we use band depths derived from those profiles to map the geographic distribution of SO2 frost and other spectral features. This data set allows for an ~22% surface coverage at 58 to 162 km/px and in a broad range of latitudes. Our results confirm the broadly regional SO2‐frost trends already highlighted by Galileo/NIMS. Io's average spectral profiles as well as the mapping of the 4.47‐μm band also confirm that SO2 exists in the 32S16O18O isotopic form. Surprisingly, the mapping performed by JIRAM shows that the absorption band at 2.1 μm is unrelated to SO2 frost, while we map for the first time the depth of the 2.65‐μm band, highlighting regions enriched in this absorber, possibly H2S. JIRAM data confirm that the 3.92‐μm band, likely due to Cl2SO2, is largely related to the SO2 distribution. The correlation between Cl2SO2 and ClSO2, possibly revealed at 4.62 μm, is not equally clear. The simultaneous presence of two very weak spectral features at 4.55 and 4.62 μm suggests that nitrile compounds or tholins may also be present on the surface. Plain Language Summary: The surface of Io is mainly covered by sulfur dioxide (SO2) frost and by other chemical species. The Jovian InfraRed Auroral Mapper (JIRAM) instrument onboard the NASA Juno spacecraft, in orbit around Jupiter, can occasionally observe the Galilean satellites through its slit spectrometer (2–5 μm range). We show average spectral profiles of Io obtained by JIRAM in a 3‐year period, mapping the geographic distribution of SO2 frost and other spectral features. Our results confirm the broadly regional SO2‐frost trends already highlighted in the past. Our data confirm that SO2 exists in multiple isotopic forms. Surprisingly, the mapping performed by JIRAM shows that the absorption band at 2.1 μm is unrelated to SO2 frost. We map for the first time the depth of the 2.65‐μm band, which might be related to hydrogen sulfide (H2S). We also highlight regions enriched in this absorber. We confirm that the 3.92‐μm band, ascribed to sulfuryl chloride (Cl2SO2), is largely correlated with the SO2 distribution. The correlation between Cl2SO2 and ClSO2, possibly revealed at 4.62 μm, is not equally clear. The simultaneous presence of two very weak spectral features at 4.55 and 4.62 μm suggests that nitrile compounds or tholins may also be present on the surface. Key Points: We use spectra acquired by Juno/JIRAM in the range 2–5 μm over a 3‐year period, covering ~22% of Io, to map its surface compositionThe 2.1‐μm band and the 2.65‐μm band are unrelated with SO2 frost but display trends possibly related to the transport of volatilesWe confirm that the 4.47‐μm band is diagnostic of 32S16O18O, and we show that ClSO2 is not everywhere linked to the abundance of Cl2SO2 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate a potential cause–effect relationship between dentinal microcracks and fracture resistance of mandibular incisors that had not been endodontically treated. Methodology: Sixty mandibular incisors with circular‐shaped canals were selected based on micro‐computed tomographic scans to create a homogeneous sample. The cross‐sectional images of the specimens were screened to identify and quantify the presence of dentinal microcracks. Then, teeth were embedded in polystyrene resin and subjected to axial compressive loading using a universal testing machine. After fracture, the roots were re‐scanned and fractography analysis was performed by inspection of 3D models to verify crack propagation. Spearman's rank correlation was used to assess the correlation between the number of microcracks and force required to fracture. Results: Dentinal microcracks were detected in 79% of the specimens (n = 44). The incidence of microcracks varied between teeth from 6% to 42% of the total slices per sample (average of 14 ± 17%). The number of microcracks per sample varied from 0 to 1605, with an average of 412 ± 484 (median = 221 and IQR 25% = 15/75% = 658). The load at failure values varied from 227 to 924 N, with an average of 560.3 ± 168.1 N (median = 561 and IQR 25% = 458/75% = 694). The Spearman correlation coefficient (rho) equalled 0.065. Conclusions: There was no cause–effect relationship between the number of dentinal microcracks and the fracture resistance of nonendodontically treated mandibular incisors. The presence and quantity of microcracks did not make these roots more prone to fracture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the viability of the electrochemical dissolution of fragments of fractured NiTi instruments in root canals of extracted human maxillary molars, using two electrodes and the solution restricted to a small reservoir coupled to the pulp chamber. The primary hypothesis was that this method enables the reduction of fragment volume and re‐establishment of the root canal path with a size 08 K‐file, both in simulated canals and in extracted human maxillary molars. Methodology: Fragments of F1 ProTaper instruments were polarized in simulated root canals and in distobuccal root canals of extracted maxillary molars using a new method, with the solution restricted to a small acrylic microcell coupled to each resin block or pulp chamber. Two electrodes were used, where one was kept in contact with the intracanal fragment and another was positioned in the solution present in the acrylic microcell. After the tests, a size 08 K‐file was used passively to verify the possibility of bypassing the fragment, which was also confirmed by radiographic analysis. Micro‐CT analysis of the teeth was used before and after fragment dissolution to evaluate the volume, length and porosity of the fragments. The D'Agostino–Pearson normality test was used to verify the distribution of the data. A paired t‐test (P < 0.05) was used to compare the volume, length and porosity of the fragments before and after the dissolution tests. Results: After dissolution, all fragments could be bypassed with a size 08 K‐file in both simulated canals and in extracted teeth. The dissolution process did not result in significant reduction of neither the fragment length nor the fragment porosity. However, it resulted in a significant reduction of fragment volume (paired t‐test, P < 0.05). Conclusion: The electrochemical dissolution of fragments of NiTi files in root canals of extracted human maxillary molars using two electrodes, and the solution restricted to a small reservoir coupled to the pulp chamber resulted in a significant reduction of fragment volume. The re‐establishment of the root canal path with the passive insertion of size 08 K‐files was possible in all samples after the tests, both in simulated canals and in extracted teeth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper models age replacement and block replacement when there is the possibility of defaulting on the planned maintenance. A default occurs when a planned preventive replacement is not executed, and we discuss how defaults can arise in practice. Our aim is to study the robustness of block replacement and age replacement, bearing in mind that (a) these policies are frequently used in practice, (b) in the standard scenario (no defaulting) age replacement has a lower economic cost rate than block-replacement and (c) block replacement is simple to manage because component age does not have to be monitored. We model defaults as independent Bernoulli trials. We prove that a cost-minimizing critical age for replacement in the age policy with defaulting exists if the time to failure distribution has an increasing failure rate. A numerical study of the policies indicates that: age replacement is effective if maintenance control is good, that is, when there is only a small chance of defaulting; block replacement is relatively robust to defaulting (postponement), but less so to lack of knowledge about component reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the spectral behavior of nine Titan impact craters in order to constrain their composition. Past studies that have examined the chemical composition of impact craters on Titan have either used qualitative comparisons between craters or combined all craters into a single unit, rather than separating them by geographic location and/or degradation state. Here, we use Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) data and a radiative transfer code to estimate the atmospheric contribution to the data, extract the surface albedos of the impact craters, and constrain their composition by using a library of candidate Titan materials, including essentially water ice, tholin, a dark component, and other possible ices at different grain sizes. Following a general characterization of the impact craters, we study two impact crater subunits, the "crater floor" and the "ejecta blanket". The results show that the equatorial dune craters – Selk, Ksa, Guabonito, and the crater on Santorini Facula – appear to be purely composed of organic material (mainly an unknown dark component). Titan's midlatitude plain craters – Afekan, Soi, and Forseti – along with Menrva and Sinlap, are enriched in water ice within an organic-based mixture. This follows the geographic pattern observed in our previous work with VIMS data, where the uppermost layers of the midlatitude alluvial fans, undifferentiated plains, and labyrinth terrains were found to consist of a mixture of organics and water ice, while the equatorial plains, hummocky terrains, and dunes were found to consist of a mixture of dark material and tholins. Furthermore, we found that the addition of some form of ice improves the fit in the ejecta spectra of Afekan and Sinlap craters. We find no indication for the presence of either NH3 or CO2 ice. Our main results agree with an existing Titan surface evolution scenario, wherein the impact cratering process produces a mixture of organic material and water ice, which is later "cleaned" through fluvial erosion in the midlatitude plains. This cleaning process does not appear to operate in the equatorial regions, which are quickly covered by a thin layer of sand sediment (with the exception of the freshest crater on Titan, Sinlap). Thus, it appears that active processes are working to shape the surface of Titan, and it remains a dynamic world in the present day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since nutritional requirements are increased at the end of gestation to meet the demands of the pregnant uterus, pregnant beef cows are susceptible to mobilization of body reserves (mainly fat and amino acids (AAs)) and to alter the metabolism of nutrients in the liver and muscle to support such demands. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of CP supplementation on maternal nutrient metabolism in the late gestation of beef cows grazing a low-quality pasture. Forty-three pregnant Nellore cows gestating male fetuses (average age = 6 years; average weight = 544 kg) at 193 ± 30 (mean ± SD) days (d) of gestation were divided into eight groups (experimental units, with four to five cows each). Treatments were (1) control (CON, n = 4): pasture-based (PB) diet without CP supplementation and (2) supplemented (SUP, n = 4): PB diet daily supplemented with 2 g/kg of BW of a 43.5% CP supplement. Liver and skeletal muscle biopsies were performed at 265 days of gestation and samples were collected for mRNA expression. On day 280 of gestation, blood samples were collected to assess plasma levels of AA. The CON-fed cows tended to have greater (P = 0.057) total circulating AA than SUP-fed cows. The circulating glycogenic AA was greater (P = 0.035) in CON than in SUP cows. CON cows was greater for histidine (P = 0.015), methionine (P = 0.007) and alanine (P = 0.036) than SUP cows. The CON- and SUP-fed showed no differences for gluconeogenesis, fatty acid transport and signaling axis markers in the liver. The mRNA expression of markers for skeletal muscle synthesis, p7056k (P = 0.060) and GSK3B (P = 0.096), tended to be greater in cows from CON than SUP group. No differences were found for mRNA expression of markers for skeletal muscle degradation. We conclude that CP supplementation to CP-restricted late-pregnant beef cows reduces the maternal tissue mobilization and changes the profile of plasma circulating AA and the mRNA expression of markers for the synthesis of skeletal muscle tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Portable devices for energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis and X and γ-ray transmission measurements were employed to analyze pre-Columbian metals from the North of Peru. Gold and silver are generally composed of gold, silver, and copper and silver, copper, and gold (and more rarely lead), respectively. Besides gold and silver, artisans from these cultures also produced artifacts with gilded copper, gilded silver, tumbaga (gold alloys enriched at the surface by depletion gilding), silvered copper, and silvered gold. Furthermore, "strange" elements like arsenic, bromine, and mercury were also sometimes detected by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence, rarely in gold alloys (mercury) and more frequently in silver alloys (arsenic, bromine and mercury). Arsenic is associated with copper, always present in silver alloys, while bromine and lead are typically associated to silver. Finally, mercury, in form of cinnabar powder, was employed to cover gold masks, and, possibly in form of liquid mercury, for a process called "mercury amalgam" to sold together gold and silver sheets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the incidence of root dentinal microcracks after two extraction techniques through micro‐computed tomographic (micro‐CT) analysis. Methodology: Thirty pairs of premolars, extracted for orthodontic reasons, were assigned to two experimental groups, following a split‐mouth design (n = 30): traumatic technique group (TTG) – teeth extracted following a conventional protocol using forceps, and an atraumatic technique group (ATG) – teeth extracted following an atraumatic technique protocol in which the root was gently detached from the periodontal ligament using a periotome. All teeth were immediately immersed in distilled water and scanned in a micro‐CT device within 72 h following the extraction. The assessment of the images was completed on cross‐section images by two masked evaluators. The Mann–Whitney test was used to assess the significant differences between the groups regarding the number of cross‐sections displaying microcracks whilst the Fischer's exact test was used to assess differences in the frequency of specimens with defects (P < 0.05). Results: A total of 52 750 micro‐CT cross‐sectional images were evaluated. A total of 352 cross‐sections had at least one dentinal defect. Microcracks were observed in five teeth of the TTG group (n = 352 slices) and in two teeth of the ATG group (n = 103 slices). The statistical analysis used was unable to detect a significant difference between the groups in terms of the number of dentinal microcracks (P = 0.233) and in the frequency of teeth displaying microcracks (P = 0.424). Conclusion: A small number of sound teeth without endodontic treatment had dentinal microcracks regardless of the extraction technique applied. No difference was noticed between the traumatic and atraumatic techniques in the incidence of microcracks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the shaping and cleaning performance of the Clearsonic ultrasonic tip as a supplementary tool during the preparation of long oval‐shaped root canals through micro‐computed tomographic (micro‐CT) imaging technology. The Reciproc M‐Wire R40 instrument was used as a reference instrumentation technique for comparison. Methodology: Twenty mandibular incisors with single, straight and long oval‐shaped canals were selected and pair‐matched by micro‐CT scanning. The root canals were prepared with Reciproc R25 and R40 instruments, scanned again in a micro‐CT device and randomly allocated into one of the two experimental groups (n = 10), according to the supplementary debridement protocol used: Clearsonic or Reciproc R40 used in a brushing motion against buccal and lingual walls. Noninstrumented canal areas, accumulation of hard‐tissue debris (AHTD) and volume of removed dentine were assessed using micro‐CT imaging following the supplementary debridement protocols. Data were analysed statistically in two phases using a t‐test with a significance level of 5%. Results: In phase‐1, there was a significant similarity between the samples regarding the evaluated micro‐CT baseline parameters (P > 0.05), validating the anatomical similarity between the tooth pairs. In phase‐2, there was a significant difference between the groups for canal volume, surface area, noninstrumented root canal walls and the amount of removed dentine for both absolute and percentage values (P < 0.05), but not for AHTD (P = 0.759). Conclusions: The Clearsonic tip outperformed the Reciproc R40 instrument as a supplementary debridement protocol as it was associated with significantly greater reduction of noninstrumented root canals walls and consequently a larger amount of removed dentine. Both groups performed similarly regarding the AHTD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal sediment redeposition after resuspension events may change the sediment capacity to sequester pollutants after the formation of new sediment-water interfaces. To test this hypothesis, radiotracer experiments were performed to evaluate zinc (65Zn) and cadmium (109Cd) removal kinetics by redeposited mangrove sediments. After 24-h experiments, average inventories within redeposited sediments were close to those from control sediments (~ 20% lower in redeposited sediments), while average decreases of 41% (109Cd) and 27% (65Zn) in the half-removal times (t1/2) from overlying water were promoted by redeposited sediments in comparison with control sediments. High variability in metal removal rates, however, implied in no statistically significant differences between t1/2 values, suggesting a low influence of sediment redeposition on the metal removal capacity of mangrove sediments. More limited depth diffusion of metals was observed within redeposited sediments, always within the uppermost centimeter. Possible benefits to water quality by a slightly faster metal diffusion into redeposited sediments may be less effective due to this trend since the metal retention very close to the sediment top can facilitate new remobilization to the overlying water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine echocardiographic parameters of left ventricle (LV) mechanics in obese patients before and after sleeve gastrectomy (SG). Design and Methods: Twenty-five obese individuals submitted to laparoscopic SG were enrolled in this study. Echocardiography was performed before and after the procedure, and left ventricle mechanics were evaluated by speckle tracking imaging. Results: Before surgery, altered global longitudinal strain (GLS) values were present in 56% of the patients. In a mean follow-up of 3.6 ± 0.5 months after surgery, there was an increase in GLS values (from 17.4 ± 3.2 to 19.3 ± 2.7%, P = 0.01). There was an inverse correlation between the absolute values of GLS in the preoperative period and the variation in the GLS at follow-up (r = 0.577, P = 0.002). Measurements of global circumferential strain (GCS), global radial strain (GRS), and LV twist were normal preoperatively and did not change after surgery. Conclusions: Altered global longitudinal strain values were common in young obese patients. Sleeve gastrectomy increased global longitudinal strain even in the early postoperative phase without promoting changes in global radial strain, global circumferential strain, and left ventricle twist measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the influence of ultraconservative endodontic cavities (UEC) on canal shaping and filling ability, cleaning of the pulp chamber, time required to perform root canal treatment and fracture resistance of 2‐rooted maxillary premolars in comparison with traditional endodontic access cavities (TEC) in extracted teeth placed in a phantom head to simulate clinical conditions. Methodology: Twenty extracted intact 2‐rooted maxillary premolars were scanned in a micro‐computed tomographic device, matched based on similar anatomical features of the canals and assigned to UEC or TEC groups (n = 10). Then, teeth were mounted on a mannequin head and their pulp chamber accessed. After canal preparation, filling and cavity restoration, the time required to perform root canal treatment was recorded and the specimens were loaded to fracture in a universal testing machine. The maximum load at fracture was recorded. The sample was scanned after root canal instrumentation, filling and restoration procedures. Untouched canal areas, accumulation of hard‐tissue debris (AHTD), voids in root fillings and cleaning of the pulp chamber were analysed. Data were analysed statistically using Shapiro–Wilk and Student's t‐tests with a significance level of 5%. Results: The percentage of untouched canal area did not differ significantly between UEC and TEC groups (P > 0.05). However, UECs were associated with a greater percentage of AHTD after canal preparation (P < 0.05). No differences were observed in terms of voids in root fillings between the groups (P > 0.05). Nonetheless, UEC had a greater percentage of root filling remnants in the pulp chamber after cleaning procedures (P < 0.05). The time required to perform root canal treatment was significantly longer in the UEC group (P < 0.05). There was no difference regarding the mean load at fracture between the groups (P > 0.05). Unrestorable fractures were observed in all specimens of both groups. Conclusions: There was no true benefit associated with ultraconservative endodontic cavities. UEC resulted in more AHTD remaining inside the root canals. UEC did not influence the quality of root fillings; however, UEC made the cleaning procedure of the pulp chamber more difficult, thus increasing the total time required to perform root canal treatment. Moreover, UEC were not associated with an increase in fracture resistance of root filled 2‐rooted maxillary premolars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]