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Duct acoustic network modeling is commonly carried out using the transfer matrix formalism which is limited to the low frequency range. The aim of this work is to extend it to higher frequencies by taking into account the multi-mode acoustic propagation. The first step is to compute, via Finite Element Method (FEM), the multi-port multi-modal scattering matrix of each element. The second step is to transform it into a scattering matrix for the acoustic power, relying on assumptions which are often used for the study of medium-to-high frequency broadband noise. The method is applied to typical elements such as expansion chamber mufflers and air conditioning veins. In all cases, the power-flow model is compared to the FEM solution in terms of Transmission Losses. It is concluded that this simplified model is a reliable tool for the analysis of complex networks encountered in Heat and Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) duct networks.

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires member states to routinely assess the river ecological status using community-based indices. However, there is still a lack of published WFD-compliant methods for the French West Indies, especially using diatom-based indices. Martinique and Guadeloupe exhibit diverse landscapes shaped by their complex geological history and tropical climatic conditions. These strong particularities make the existing indices developed for the European mainland unusable. Based on diatom sampling from to 2013 (607 samples) and through multivariate analyses, we developed the Indice Diatomique des Antilles (IDA). We first identified the key abiotic factors influencing diatom communities on both islands, and then characterized taxon sensitivity by considering their presence probability along a pressure gradient.. The index was based on the presence and relative abundance of these taxa in each sample. The last step consisted of using new data from the 2014-2022 sampling surveys (457 samples) as a validation dataset to verify IDA accuracy. Our results suggest that the IDA methodology is well designed to assess the ecological status of rivers in the West Indies., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: The administration of illicit drugs by injection is associated with considerable harm, including an increased risk of overdose. The chemical analysis of used syringes can enhance knowledge on injecting drug consumption beyond traditional data sources (self-report surveys). This additional information may be useful during significant global events like the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to examine a snapshot of the drugs injected at the Medically Supervised Injecting Centre (MSIC) in Sydney, Australia, in 2019-2020., Methods: Used syringes were collected from MSIC across three periods throughout 2019 and 2020 (February 2019, March-April 2020 and June-September 2020). Drug residues were extracted from used syringes using methanol before detection by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The chemical analysis results were compared to self-report data obtained from MSIC clients., Results: Heroin (46-53%), methamphetamine (24-34%) and pharmaceutical opioids (15-27%) were the most common drug residues detected. The chemically detected drugs had declining coherence with the drugs self-reported by MSIC clients across the time periods examined., Discussion and Conclusions: There was no significant change in the drugs injected (heroin, methamphetamine and pharmaceutical opioids) across the three periods collected throughout varying COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Changes in the frequency of other drugs injected and discrepancies between chemical analysis and self-report were potentially related to regulatory changes, degradation or misinformed sales. Routine chemical analysis of used syringes has provided an alternative information source to promote awareness of current drug trends and aid harm reduction., (© 2023 The Authors. Drug and Alcohol Review published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs.)

Statement of Problem: Gingival displacement is used in prosthodontics to obtain an accurate impression. However, randomized clinical trials to analyze the performance of different gingival displacement products are lacking., Purpose: The purpose of this prospective, comparative randomized clinical trial was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of 3 gingival displacement techniques: Racegel cordless, Racegel with a cord, and Racestyptine with a cord., Material and Methods: A prospective, multicenter randomized, open label, 3-arm parallel group study was carried out in private dental practices. Patients with prepared teeth with healthy gingiva were recruited to make impressions before and after gingival displacement, which were digitized. Lateral and vertical gingival displacements were measured with computer-aided 3-dimensional analysis performed by a single operator who was blinded to the technique and the patient. For mean lateral gingival displacement, each gingival displacement method was compared with a required clinical value of 200 µm with the Student t test. The comparison of means among the 3 groups was performed using an ANOVA. Periodontal indices were recorded immediately and 7 to 14 days after gingival displacement. The percentages were compared with the chi-squared test or the Fisher exact test (α=.05 for all tests)., Results: Eighty-eight participants were enrolled. The mean lateral gingival displacement obtained by Racestyptine with a cord (253 ±59 µm, P<.001) and by Racegel with a cord (247 ±61 µm, P<.001) were significantly higher than 200 µm. Lateral displacement observed with Racegel cordless was 207 ±57 µm (P=.53). For vertical gingival displacement, no difference among the 3 techniques was found. The astringent effect of these products was confirmed by the absence of crevicular fluid or bleeding. No periodontal damage was observed immediately or 7-14 days after displacement., Conclusions: The study showed that cord impregnated with Racestyptine and Racegel with or without a cord provided a sufficient sulcus opening before impression making in prosthodontics, consistent with the clinical requirements for lateral displacement., (Copyright © 2023 Editorial Council for The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Ticks are amongst the most important zoonotic disease vectors affecting human and animal health worldwide. Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) are rapidly expanding geographically and in incidence, most notably in temperate regions of Europe where ticks are considered the principal zoonotic vector of Public Health relevance, as well as a major health and economic preoccupation in agriculture and equine industries. Tick-borne pathogen (TBP) transmission is contingent on complex, interlinked vector-pathogen-host dynamics, environmental and ecological conditions and human behavior. Tackling TBD therefore requires a better understanding of the interconnected social and ecological variables (i.e., the social-ecological system) that favor disease (re)-emergence. The One Health paradigm recognizes the interdependence of human, animal and environmental health and proposes an integrated approach to manage TBD. However, One Health interventions are limited by significant gaps in our understanding of the complex, systemic nature of TBD risk, in addition to a lack of effective, universally accepted and environmentally conscious tick control measures. Today individual prevention gestures are the most effective strategy to manage TBDs in humans and animals, making local communities important actors in TBD detection, prevention and management. Yet, how they engage and collaborate within a multi-actor TBD network has not yet been explored. Here, we argue that transdisciplinary collaborations that go beyond research, political and medical stakeholders, and extend to local community actors can aid in identifying relevant social-ecological risk indicators key for informing multi-level TBD detection, prevention and management measures. This article proposes a transdisciplinary social-ecological systems framework, based on participatory research approaches, to better understand the necessary conditions for local actor engagement to improve TBD risk. We conclude with perspectives for implementing this methodological framework in a case study in the south of France (Occitanie region), where multi-actor collaborations are mobilized to stimulate multi-actor collective action and identify relevant social-ecological indicators of TBD risk., Competing Interests: None., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Statement of Problem: Information regarding the rotational freedom of internal connection implants is sparse., Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the rotational freedom of different internal conical and internal nonconical connections., Material and Methods: Thirty implants, 30 straight manufactured standard abutments, and 30 standard abutment screws were obtained for each of the 5 implant systems tested. Three implant systems had indexed internal conical connections with different antirotational geometries: hexagon (Naturall+), cam-groove (ID CAM M), and octagon (Bone Level). Two implant systems had internal nonconical connections with hexagonal antirotational geometry (Tapered Screw-Vent and Seven). The implants were mounted in a steel plate, and a metal reference arm was attached to the abutment. Before tightening the standard abutment screw, a modified torque wrench was used to rotate the abutment clockwise until reaching the clockwise rotational endpoint. This modified torque wrench was connected to the abutment's outer surface. It allowed free access to the standard abutment screw for a second torque wrench, specific to each implant system. The modified torque wrench applied a controlled torque of 5 Ncm, which held the abutment at the clockwise rotational endpoint. The standard abutment screw was then tightened to the manufacturer's specified torque value with the second torque wrench. Angle value corresponding to the clockwise endpoint was measured microscopically between a fixed reference point on the steel plate and the reference arm. The abutment was then unscrewed and removed. The same procedure was carried out to rotate the abutment counterclockwise and measure the angle value corresponding to the counterclockwise rotational endpoint. The rotational freedom was finally determined from the differences in the angles between the clockwise and counterclockwise rotational endpoints. Rotational freedom angle values were summarized as descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations). The normality test (Kolmogorov-Smirnov) was applied, and the Kruskal-Wallis test was performed. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to isolate the implant system differences from each other (α=.05)., Results: The lowest mean rotational freedom angles were obtained for Bone Level (conical connection, 0.17 degrees) and Tapered Screw-Vent (nonconical connection, 0.05 degrees). These systems were followed in increasing order by ID CAM M (conical connection, 0.50 degrees), Seven (nonconical connection, 1.98 degrees), and Naturall+ (conical connection, 2.49 degrees). Compared with each other, all implant systems had significant statistical differences in rotational freedom angles (P<.05)., Conclusions: Significant differences were found among the 5 implant systems. The lowest mean rotational freedom angles were obtained both with a conical connection (Bone Level) and a nonconical connection (Tapered Screw-Vent)., (Copyright © 2021 Editorial Council for the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)