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Introduction: Approximately 70% of diarrheal cases in Kenya are attributed to ingestion of contaminated food and water and costs an estimated $ 1 billion USD due to morbidity and cost of treatment. This study aimed to assess the levels of microbiological contamination of meat sold in selected butcheries in Nairobi and the handling practices of butcher shop attendants. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used during which 200 meat samples were collected, and meat handling practices were observed. Total coliforms and Escherichia coli were enumerated using 3M™ Petrifilm® count plates. Additionally, quantification of tetracycline- and cefotaxime-resistant Enterobacteriaceae was done on agar plates containing the respective antibiotics. Bacterial species were confirmed by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time of Flight mass spectrometry. Results and discussion: Seventy two percent and 84% of the samples had E. coli and total coliforms respectively above the acceptable regulatory limits (i.e. E. coli >100 CFU/g, Total coliforms >361 CFU/g,) respectively as per the Kenya Bureau of Standards South African microbiological standards the European Union. Enterobacteriaceae resistant to tetracycline and cefotaxime were detected in 35% and 9.5% of the samples respectively. Eighty-five percent of the butcher shop attendants neither washed their hands before nor after handling the meat, 91% handled money while selling meat concurrently, and 99% did not wear gloves while handling meat. These poor meat handling practices coupled with the presence of microbial loads above the regulatory acceptable limits imply an increased risk of foodborne illness to consumers. Therefore, there is an urgent need for education of butcher shop attendants on appropriate handling of meat, highlighting the importance of good hygienic practices and their relationship to food safety, and provision of incentives for behavior change. This study is important and serves to inform policymakers in the identification of key control points for designing meat safety intervention(s). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hypertension among persons with childbearing potential is on the rise. Maintaining proper blood pressure during pregnancy is vital to prevent maternal and neonatal complications. Yet, limited evidence on the risk-benefit of various antihypertensives presents challenges for informed decision-making during this critical period. This study aimed to examine the utilization patterns of different classes of antihypertensives among persons with pre-existing hypertension before, during, and after pregnancy. Methods: We used MarketScan® Commercial Database 2011−2020 to analyze antihypertensive utilization among pregnant persons aged 12 to 55 identified via a validated algorithm. Pre-existing hypertension was defined as ≥1 inpatient or ≥2 outpatient encounters for hypertension within the 180 days preceding the LMP. Antihypertensive utilization was described during target periods: 0–3 months (0-3M) before pregnancy, 1st/2nd/3rd trimester (T1/2/3), 0-3M, and 4-6M after pregnancy. Results: We identified 1,950,292 pregnancies, of which 20,576 (12,978 live and 7,598 non-live) had pre-existing hypertension. Both groups had similar antihypertensive use (80.1% and 81.0%, respectively) during the 6 months before pregnancy (baseline). For live-birth pregnancies, 13.9% of baseline users discontinued treatment during pregnancy, while 28.9% of non-users initiated antihypertensives during pregnancy, and 17.2% started postpartum. Before pregnancy, the predominant antihypertensives included thiazide diuretics (21.9%), combined α- and β-blockers (18.4%), and dihydropyridines (16.2%). During pregnancy, thiazide diuretics, cardioselective β-blockers, and ACE inhibitors declined (T3: 3.0%, 4.2%, and 0.8%). Dihydropyridine use was steady during pregnancy, but preference shifted from amlodipine to nifedipine in T3 (2.2.% vs.10.8%). Central α2‐agonists increased during pregnancy (up to 15.2% in T3) compared to both pre- (9.8%) and post-pregnancy (5.7%). ARBs mirrored ACE inhibitors, with less than 1% utilization in later trimesters. Combination agents dropped from 10.8% pre-pregnancy to 0.8% in T3, then rebounded to 7.3% post-pregnancy. Conclusion: Research is warranted to evaluate the choice of antihypertensives and optimal timing to switch to safer alternatives, considering maternal and fetal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The main purpose of this study was to investigate the cleanliness and microbial burden of a veterinary hospital to establish the extent of cross-contamination with faecal bacteria as an aid to reducing nosocomial infections. Enterococci and Escherichia coli were used as faecal indicator organisms as they can survive on inanimate surfaces for months and pose a threat to animal health. The study consisted of several elements: (i) a cross-sectional study to identify sites currently contaminated with faecal organisms that could be usefully included in a longitudinal study, (ii) a 3-week longitudinal study to identify sites from which faecal bacteria were repeatedly recovered, (iii) once-off monitoring of hand hygiene, (iv) a review of all hospitalised cases with confirmed E. coli or enterococcal infection during the 8-week study period to investigate possible hospital-acquired (HAI) infection and relationship with environmental contamination. Environmental surface and hand hygiene were assessed using 3M™ Clean-Trace™ ATP test, 3M™ Petrifilm™ plates and bacteriological culture of Enterococcus species and E. coli. Cross contamination was assessed using results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Results In the cross-sectional study, 26 of 113 (24.5%) of sites sampled exceeded the accepted microbial threshold (2.5 CFU/cm²) and Enterococcus species were isolated from 31 (27.4%) and E. coli from 9 (7.9%) of 113 samples. Organic residue and microbial levels were high in the dog kennels even after cleaning and faecal organisms were also recovered from sites such as the dispensary, a student computer and staff common room. Four of 51 (7.8%) hand samples were contaminated with faecal bacteria. Nine sites were monitored on three occasions in the longitudinal study and a total of 23 Escherichia coli and 6 Enterococcus species were recovered. Seven of the nine sites were positive for faecal organisms on more than one occasion. There was no change in cleanliness or microbial burden over 3 weeks. Twentyone of the 73 isolates (28.8%) recovered during all parts of the study were multi-drug resistant. Enterococci and E. coli isolates with similar resistance patterns were recovered from the environment in the large and small animal hospitals and from a small number of patients during the same timeframe, suggesting possible hospital acquired infections. Conclusions Results suggested that movement between the small and large animal hospital areas may have been responsible for cross-contamination and possible hospital-acquired infections. The data show that cross-sectional and longitudinal monitoring of faecal contamination across all hospital areas can play an important role in informing review of infection control protocols in veterinary hospital settings. Changes in practices in the hospital based on results generated are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) is considered as an ideal artificial muscle with soft and light in nature, widespread application in soft robotics and sensors. Dielectric elastomer (DE), the core component of DEA, with high output force and large actuation strain under relatively low driving electric field is critical for high‐performance DEA. However, the widely used VHB series (3M) DE suffered from very large pre‐strain and high driving voltage to get their high actuation performance, limiting their scope of application. In this work, the DEs with good mechanical and dielectric properties were prepared via UV curing method consisting of acrylic acid (AA) with strong polar groups as functional monomer, n‐butyl acrylate (BA) as soft monomer and urethane acrylate as cross‐linker (c‐p(BA‐AA)). The c‐p(BA‐AA) DE films obtained the simultaneous increasing of dielectric constant and breakdown strength with the increasing content of AA, which guaranteed the good actuation performance. The c‐p(BA‐AA) film exhibited excellent actuating performance (44.11% actuation strain at 45 kV/mm) without pre‐strain. Besides, a simple linear actuator based on the c‐p(BA‐AA) film could easily output weight that is tens of times of its own active weight (654.1 mN/g at 30 kV/mm). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: The most important part of an orthodontic attachment (bracket or tube) is the tube or slot for the insertion of the orthodontic wire. Aligning teeth along the archwire according to angular values preadjusted in the bracket slots (or tubes) requires a very precise size accordance between the archwires and slots. The aim of this study was to perform a nanotomographic analysis of the geometric features of molar tubes for direct bonding in terms of their dimensions and angles of their inner walls and analyze the presence of metallurgic imperfections. (2) Methods: Orthodontic tubes (n = 100) for upper right first molars from five different manufacturers (3M-Victory Series, Adenta-Bond Sing, Dentaurum-Ortho Cast M, GC-L LP, and ORMCO-Accent), 20 tubes each, were subjected to nanotomographic analysis. Measurements of the inner channel of the tubes, angles between the walls, and analysis of metallurgic imperfections were performed using high-resolution computed tomography. (3) Results: height measurements differed by 4–14% from ideal values declared by manufacturers, whereas the angles ranged from reducing by a maximum 1% comparing to values declared (hypodivergent walls) to increasing by a maximum 4.5% (divergent walls). (4) Conclusions: 1. The sizes of channels measured were slightly larger than those declared by manufacturers. 2. Slight deviations in wall parallelism and angles between the walls were found. 3. Some tubes were characterized by manufacturing defects of the metal. 4. Efforts should be made to further improve the production process of orthodontic attachments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Evaluate the efficacy of sponge wipe sampling at recovering potential bacterial surrogates for Category A and B non-spore-forming bacterial bioterrorism agents from hard, nonporous surfaces. Methods A literature survey identified seven nonpathogenic bacteria as potential surrogates for selected Category A and B non-spore-forming bacterial agents. Small (2 × 4 cm) and large (35.6 × 35.6 cm) coupons made from either stainless steel, plastic, or glass, were inoculated and utilized to assess persistence and surface sampling efficiency, respectively. Three commercially available premoistened sponge wipes (3M™, Sani-Stick®, and Solar-Cult®) were evaluated. Results Mean recoveries from persistence testing indicated that three microorganisms (Yersinia ruckeri, Escherichia coli , and Serratia marcescens) demonstrated sufficient persistence across all tested material types. Sampling of large inoculated (≥107 CFU per sample) coupons resulted in mean recoveries ranging from 6.6 to 3.4 Log10 CFU per sample. Mean recoveries for the Solar-Cult®, 3M™ sponge wipes, and Sani-Sticks® across all test organisms and all material types were ≥5.7, ≥3.7, and ≥3.4 Log10 CFU per sample, respectively. Mean recoveries for glass, stainless steel, and ABS plastic across all test organisms and all sponge types were ≥3.8, ≥3.7, and ≥3.4 Log10 CFU per sample, respectively. Conclusions Recovery results suggest that sponge wipe sampling can effectively be used to recover non-spore-forming bacterial cells from hard, nonporous surfaces such as stainless steel, ABS plastic, and glass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed to create and characterize some new bioactive chelates of bis azodye ligand, 5‐((2‐hydroxy‐4,6‐dioxo‐1,4,5,6‐tetrahydropyrimidin‐5‐yl)diazenyl)naphthalen‐1‐yl)diazenyl) pyrimidine 2,4,6 (1H,3H,5H)‐trione. Except for the Sm(III) chelate, which exhibited a (3M:1L) molar ratio, all chelates had a (2M:1L) stoichiometry. According to Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), azo groups were not included in chelating with all ions except Sm(III), where just one azo group was coordinated. With the Ni(II) and Zn(II) ions, the ligand behaved as OON‐tridentate moiety; with the Co(II) and Cu(II) ions, it behaved as ON‐bidentate moiety. Co(II) and Cu(II) chelates had square planar structure, and Ni(II) and Zn(II) chelates had square pyramidal geometry. The chelates had greater thermal stability than the uncoordinated ligand due to the chelate's structure. [Sm3(H4L)(OH)7(NO3)2.H2O].4.5EtOH exhibited the maximum thermal stability, which may be due to the large number of solvent molecules and the high number of chelate rings. With the exception of the Sm(III) chelate, all of the examined chelates were more cytotoxic against MCF‐7 and Hep‐G2 cells than their parent ligand. With the exception of the Zn(II) chelate, which demonstrated activity on Hep‐G2 rather than MCF‐7, the effects of each metal chelate on the two cells were nearly equivalent. All of the studied chelates, especially Zn(II) and Co(II), were potent as antioxidants more than the native ligand. To support experimental findings, density functional theory (DFT) studies were performed via the CAM‐B3LYP/LanL2DZ method, and the geometry of the ligand and its chelates had been validated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim of this prospective study was to assess full mouth rehabilitation of severe tooth wear patients using minimally invasive CAD/CAM resin-based composite (RBC) restorations and direct veneers by evaluating restoration survival up to 5.5-years. Twenty-two patients with generalized severe tooth wear with functional and/or esthetic problems were included. Following minimally invasive preparation, CAD/CAM RBC restorations (LAVA Ultimate,3M) were adhesively luted, direct RBC veneers (Filtek Supreme XTE, 3M) were applied in the aesthetic region. Patients were recalled after 1m,1y,3y,5y and seen in between recalls by their general dentists or at the clinical study center if complaints occurred. Failures were categorized as F1 (severe deficiencies requiring replacement/extraction), F2 (localized deficiencies requiring re-cementation/repair) and F3 (small chippings requiring refurbishment/monitoring). Survival of indirect restorations was evaluated using lifetables and Kaplan-Meier-graphs, distinguishing between failure categories and tooth type (front teeth=FT, premolars=PM, molars=M). F1 + F2 and F1 + F2 + F3 failures were analyzed using Cox regression on the variables tooth type/ location, age, gender and VDO increase (p < 0.05). 568 indirect restorations and 200 direct veneers in 21 patients evaluated for up to 5.5-years. For indirect restorations, 96 failures were recorded (F1:6;F2:41;F3:49) and annual failure rates were 0.29%(FT), 1.56%(PM), 2.93%(M) for F1 +F2 and 0.53%(FT), 2.42%(PM), 6.11%(M) for F1 + F2 + F3. Reasons for failure were chipping fracture (48), adhesive fracture (32), complete debonding (7), caries (4), endodontic treatment (1) and reasons unknown (documentation general dentists, 4). Molar tooth type had a statistically significantly increased probability of failure compared with front teeth and premolars for F1 + F2 + F3 (p < 0.006). Direct veneer restorations showed 18 failures (F1:2;F2:9;F3:7). Minimally invasive CAD/CAM RBC restorations combined with direct RBC veneers showed an acceptable clinical mid-term survival for restorative rehabilitation of severely worn dentitions. • Minimal-invasive CAD/CAM RBC restorations can protect severely worn dentitions. • Restorations on molars exhibited higher failure probability than those on other tooth types. • Refurbishment and repair of RBC restorations should be considered before replacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of materials for space exploration is one of the most interesting targets of international space agencies. An essential tool for realizing light junctions is epoxy adhesive (EA), which provides an elastic and robust material with a complex mesh of polymeric chains and crosslinks. In this work, a study of the structural and chemical modification of a commercial two-part flexible EA (3M™ Scotch-Weld™ EC-2216 B/A Gray), induced by 60Co gamma radiation, is presented. Combining different spectroscopic techniques, such as the spectroscopic Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), the THz time-domain spectroscopy (TDS), and the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), a characterization of the EA response in different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum is performed, providing valuable information about the structural and chemical properties of the polymers before and after irradiation. A simultaneous dissociation of polymeric chain and crosslinking formation is observed.The polymer is not subject to structural modification at an absorbed dose of 10 kGy, in which only transient free radicals are observed. Differently, between 100 and 500 kGy, a gradual chemical degradation of the samples is observed together with a broad and long-living EPR signal appearance. This study also provides a microscopic characterization of the material useful for the mechanism evaluation of system degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the awareness and practice of income tax deductions among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the food service industry in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan, focusing on ordinary itemized deductions, special deductions, and income exclusions. Using a qualitative and descriptive research approach, 108 SMEs were surveyed via convenience sampling based on the list provided by the Business Permits and Licensing Office. Findings showed that SMEs, predominantly operating as corporations with 4-6 years of business tenure and capitalization ranging from ₱3M to ₱15M, were generally aware of and compliant with ordinary deductions and income exclusions. However, there was a lower level of awareness and implementation observed concerning special deductions. Thus, an extension program with targeted information, education, and communication materials was proposed to enhance SMEs' understanding and utilization of special income tax deductions in the food service industry in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Model-based health economic evaluations of ischemic stroke are in need of cost- and utility estimates related to relevant outcome measures. This study aims to describe societal cost- and utility estimates per modified Rankin Scale (mRS)-score at different time points within 2 years post stroke. Included patients had a stroke between 3 months and 2.5 years ago. mRS and EQ-5D-5L were scored during a telephone interview. Based on the interview date, records were categorized into a time point: 3 months (3M; 3-6 months), 1 year (Y1; 6-18 months), or 2 years (Y2; 18-30 months). Patients completed a questionnaire on healthcare utilization and productivity losses in the previous 3 months. Initial stroke hospitalization costs were assessed. Mean costs and utilities per mRS and time point were derived with multiple imputation nested in bootstrapping. Cost at 3 months post stroke were estimated separately for endovascular treatment (EVT)-/non-EVT-patients. 1106 patients were included from 18 Dutch centers. At each time point, higher mRS-scores were associated with increasing average costs and decreasing average utility. Mean societal costs at 3M ranged from €11 943 (mRS 1, no EVT) to €55 957 (mRS 5, no EVT). For Y1, mean costs in the previous 3 months ranged from €885 (mRS 0) to €23 215 (mRS 5), and from €1655 (mRS 0) to €22 904 (mRS 5) for Y2. Mean utilities ranged from 0.07 to 0.96, depending on mRS and time point. The mRS-score is a major determinant of costs and utilities at different post-stroke time points. Our estimates may be used to inform future model-based health economic evaluations. • Model-based health economic evaluations of acute ischemic stroke are in need of cost- and utility estimates related to relevant outcome measures, such as the modified Rankin Scale. • Using prospectively collected data, this cross-sectional study provides cost and utility estimates per modified Rankin Scale score at 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years post stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the effect of different adhesives and veneering resins on the shear bond strength (SBS) of polyetheretherketone (PEEK). Methods: A total of 138 PEEK specimens were randomly divided into 6 groups according to adhesive material application: Control (C, no application), Adhese Universal (A) (Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein), Gluma Bond Universal (G) (Heraeus Kulzer, South Bend, IN, USA), G-PremioBOND (P) (GC Corporation, Tokyo, Japan), Single Bond Universal (S) (3M, Saint Paul, MN, USA) and visio.link (V) (Bredent, Senden, Germany). Each adhesive group was divided into two subgroups according to the type of veneering material: Estenia direct composite (D) and Gradia Plus indirect composite (IN) (both GC Corporation). After the veneering process, the specimens were aged by thermal cycling. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for SBS analysis (P < 0.05). Results: The highest SBS results were obtained in the VIN group, followed by the VD, PD, GIN, AIN, AD, SIN, SD, PIN, GD, CIN and CD groups, respectively (P = 0.001). There were no significant differences in terms of the type of veneering composite when the same adhesive was applied (P > 0.05), except for Gluma Bond Universal (P = 0.009). All the adhesives tested showed clinically acceptable SBS results. Conclusion: Visio.link offered the highest adhesion to PEEK, whereas the tested universal adhesives may be used as an alternative to visio.link in clinical settings. It was determined that changing the veneer type has no statistical difference when the same adhesive material is used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than six years after the case was tried, the Tax Court issued its voluminous, reviewed decision in 3M Company & Subsidiaries v. Commissioner, in which it concluded, by a razor-thin 9-8 margin, that the Service had the authority, under Regulation section 1.482-1(h)(2), to reallocate foreign income that was allegedly restricted under Brazilian law. In reaching that conclusion, the Tax Court upheld both the substantive and procedural validity of that regulation, which was issued in 1994 and is often referred to the "blocked income" regulation. The various opinions in the case, totaling 346 pages, consist of a 274-page opinion of the Tax Court, to which six other judges joined, two concurring opinions, and three separate dissenting opinions. Not surprisingly, the 3M Company s contentious opinions have raised a host of thought-provoking questions. In this author's opinion, the taxpayer in 3M Company should have prevailed on its argument that Regulation section 1.482-1 (h)(2) is substantively invalid under the Chevron step one test. This Article explains the reasoning for that conclusion and leaves to others to comment on the additional challenges -- primarily focused on various Administrative Procedure Act (APA) challenges to the promulgation of that regulation -- that the taxpayer made in that case. I base this conclusion on the Supreme Court's 1972 decision in First Security Bank of Utah. Irrespective of the correctness of that decision -- and there are a fair amount of critics in this regard -- the Supreme Court's decision there clearly held that section 482 does not permit the Service to allocate income to someone who is prohibited by law from receiving it. While not entirely free from doubt, there is a strong argument that the Court's decision in First Security Bank was based on the statute and did not rely on a regulation in reaching its decision. In the absence of a statutory change, lower courts are bound to follow it, and the Treasury Department should not be permitted to usurp that authority through regulations or otherwise. While sound tax policy mandates that the Service should vigorously enforce arms-length transfer pricing between related parties, including the robust use of the commensurate-with-income amendment to section 482 to address abuses in this area, there are no compelling reasons, from a judicial standpoint at least, to limit the holding of First Security Bank to domestic -- as opposed to foreign -- legal restrictions. This was the conclusion of the courts in Procter & Gamble, Exxon and Texaco. The Tax Court in 3M Company should have followed that precedent absent a statutory amendment that limited the scope of First Security Bank. Although an argument could be made that the Chevron step one test was satisfied in 3M Company, either because the First Security Bank holding was based on regulations no longer in effect or because the fact-pattern in that case was so different from 3M Company that the former decision should not be deemed binding, the more persuasive view is to the contrary. Furthermore, there is a convincing case that the plain text of the commensurate-with-income amendment to section 482 did not constrain the First Security Bank holding, and there is no evidence in the legislative history that this was the Congressional intention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The ability to merge the two retinal images to perceive depth (stereopsis) plays an important role in human vision. Its proper development requires binocular alignment and good visual acuity in both eyes during childhood. Because treatments are more effective when applied early, early diagnosis is important. Unfortunately, assessing stereo deficiencies in infants and young children remains challenging. Recently, it has been shown that ocular-following responses (OFRs; reflexive, short-latency eye movements induced by the sudden motion of a large textured pattern) are sensitive to changes in interocular correlation, making them potentially useful for stereo deficiency assessments. To test this hypothesis, we measured OFRs elicited by dichoptic stimulation in children with normal and compromised stereopsis (due to amblyopia). Methods: Two groups of six children (age- and sex-matched: 3M/3F aged 7–12 yo), one with compromised stereopsis and one with normal stereopsis, were included. OFRs were recorded using a custom high-resolution video eye-tracking system. The relative differences between eye displacement induced by correlated stimuli (up-correlated–down-correlated) and anticorrelated (up-anticorrelated–down-anticorrelated) were compared. Results: We found significant differences between OFRs induced by two dichoptic conditions (correlated and anticorrelated stimuli) in most children with normal stereopsis, whereas no differences were observed in children with compromised stereopsis, indicating a lack of disparity detectors. Conclusions: OFRs might thus be exploited as a diagnostic tool for the objective identification of stereo deficiencies in children. This might lead to improved early diagnosis and treatment outcomes for conditions like amblyopia and strabismus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnesium Potassium Phosphate Cements (MKPCs) are considered a good alternative for the immobilization of aluminium radioactive waste. MKPC composition and moisture curing conditions are relevant issues to be evaluated. The corrosion of pure aluminium (A1050) and AlMg alloys (AA5754) with 3.5% of Mg is studied in MKPC systems prepared with different MgO/KH2PO4 (M/P) molar ratios (1, 2, and 3M) and moisture curing conditions (100% Relative Humidity (RH) and isolated in plastic containers (endogenous curing)). The Al corrosion potential (Ecorr) and corrosion kinetic (icorr and Vcorr) are evaluated over 90 days. Additionally, the pore ion evolution, the matrix electrical resistance, the pore structure, and compressive strength are analysed. The corrosion process of Al alloy is affected by the pH and ion content in the pore solution. The pore pH increases from near neutral for the 1M M/P ratio to 9 and 10 for the 2 and 3M M/P ratio, increasing in the same way the corrosion of pure Al (AA1050) and AlMg alloys (AA5754). The effect of Mg content in the alloy (AA5754) becomes more relevant with the increase in the M/P ratio. The presence of phosphate ions in the pore solution inhibits the corrosion process in both Al alloys. The MKPC physicochemical stability improved with the increase in the M/P ratio, higher mechanical strength, and more refined pore structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the accuracy of five intraoral scanners for digitizing fully dentate unprepared maxillae and mandibulae in vitro. Materials and Methods: One maxillary and one mandibular reference model with acrylic teeth, an industrial grade reference scanner, 3D evaluation software and the intraoral scanners CS 3500, iTero HD2.9, Planmeca PlanScan, TRIOS Standard and 3M True Definition were used. Scans of the entire arches, one front and two side segments of each arch scan of maxilla and mandibula were evaluated separately for trueness and precision. In addition, visual analyses of deviation patterns, surface properties and approximal areas were performed with the aid of 3D evaluation software. Results: The intraoral scanners CS 3500, TRIOS Standard and iTero HD2.9 showed a similar level of trueness. The True Definition scanner showed lower full arch trueness compared to the TRIOS Standard and to the iTero HD2.9 (p < 0.05). Full arch trueness of the PlanScan was lower compared to the other scanners. Video-based systems showed higher numbers of datapoints per scan (127,300–169,730) compared to single image-based systems (64,115–88,124). The acquisition of interproximal areas was insufficient across all scanners. Limitations: The intraoral scanners were not tested under clinical conditions in this study. Conclusions: Apart from interproximal areas, clinically acceptable full arch trueness was achieved by the CS 3500, the iTero HD2.9 and the TRIOS Standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three liquid selective electrodes were synthesized based on particle pair to selective dopamine chloride. The construction electrodes consist of phosphomolybdic acid (dopamine), di-n-butyl phosphate, Di-n-butyl phthalate, and di-octylphenylphosphonate as plasticizers materials. The construction of preparing probes was examined potentially with successes Nernstain response around 52.50 and 50. 50 mV/decade for electrodes on both DBPH and DOPH were as plasticizers, respectively. The most direct ranges concentrations of dopamine in drug form were found to be around 2.5×10-5-1.0×10-2 for DBPH and 4.30×10-5 -1.0×10-1 M for DOPH. The detection limits were reached to 2.31×10-6 in DBPH and 5. 63×10-6 M in DOPH electrode type. While third electrode relied on di-n-butyl phosphate (DPH), a non-Nernstain equivalent of around 19.10 mV/decade with a range of concentration about 2.2×10-5 -1.0×10-1 with a detection limit equivalent to 6.35×10-6. The pH values in the experimental application were asses to obtain the best determination of dopamine concentration at 10-3M. The optimisation of both electrodes DBPH and DOPH achieved good agreements to lifetime, selectivity, potentiometric techniques and accuracy of measurements. At the same time the standard expansion, various standard expansions and potentiometric titration result in an immediate strategy for the assurance of dopamine in drug form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the article is to present an assessment of the economic effects of replacing the WIBOR rate with the WIRON rate for preferential credits in Polish agriculture. The study is an in-depth case study and uses the simulation analysis method. The introduction of the WIRON 3M rate will result in a reduction in the interest rate on preferential credits granted in the future, and the nominal scale of the discount will depend on the phase of monetary policy in the country and the level of the applicable interest rates set by the National Bank of Poland (NBP). However, in the case of credits granted according to the currently applicable mechanism (interest rate based on WIBOR 3M) or the promissory note rediscount rate, the change will most likely be neutral. The largest part of the interest rate reduction in all phases of the monetary policy cycle is obtained by borrowers (farmers) using credit lines: RR (credits for investments in agriculture and inland fishing, Z (credits for the purchase of agricultural land) and most activities financed under the PR line (credits for investments in the processing of agricultural products, fish, crustaceans and molluscs, as well as the purchase of stocks and shares). In the case of disaster loans granted to insured borrowers, the only beneficiary of the index change will be the State Treasury. Quantifying the potential savings for borrowers in the agricultural sector related to changes in reference rates is not easy due to the scarcity of the available detailed data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a multifaceted metabolic disorder influenced by biomechanical, inflammatory, and immune system factors. Although autologous protein solution (APS) and extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) have shown promise for treating mild-to-moderate knee OA, their efficacy for severe cases remains limited when administered individually. Thus, we examined the combination effects of APS and ESWT for severe knee OA. Twenty-four cases (33 knees) of Kellgren–Lawrence grade 4 knee OA with bone marrow lesions and synovitis detected via magnetic resonance imaging from December 2019 to November 2022 were included. All patients underwent an ESWT session before the APS injection. The study included 20 knees in the APS + ESWT group, which underwent an average of 4.5 ESWT sessions, and 13 in the APS-alone group. We evaluated both groups' Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores (KOOSs) before the APS injection at 3 and 6 months. Additionally, we compared the mean KOOS changes between the APS + ESWT and APS-alone groups at 3 months (Pre-3M) and from 3 to 6 months (3–6M). Pre-3M showed no significant difference in the KOOSs between the two groups; however, there was a significant change in 3–6M (p < 0.05). Combining APS therapy with ESWT in severe knee OA was more effective and durable than APS alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultra‐thin atomic crystals are promising for fabricating next‐generation photonic and optoelectronic devices. Wafer‐scale characterization techniques are highly desired for efficient and accurate thickness identification of these crystals and their heterostructures. Optical contrast between atomic crystals and substrates based on Fresnel theory is a key technique for the identification of thicknesses. Both RGB color information and spectroscopic information have been explored for layer number counting and implemented with machine learning algorithms based on large amounts of data for feature extraction. In this work, a multispectral microscopic method combining the hardware design and deep‐learning algorithms is developed. Multispectral image restoration during large‐area scanning caused by optical imaging modality drifts and automated layer number identification based on multispectral grayscale images are studied using deep learning models: generative adversarial network (GAN) and 3D U‐Net. These models are trained using custom‐built multispectral data sets and evaluated quantitatively with indicators (Dice coefficient, confusion matrix, structural similarity). After these models are trained and tested, they are integrated into a graphic user interface for on‐site identification use. The developed method provides a framework using multispectral images for 3D data reconstruction and segmentation and can be implemented for wafer‐scale characterization of heterostructures containing different species of ultra‐thin atomic crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most deleterious variants are recessive and segregate at relatively low frequency. Therefore, high sample sizes are required to identify these variants. In this study we report a large-scale sequence based genome-wide association study (GWAS) in pigs, with a total of 120,000 Large White and 80,000 Synthetic breed animals imputed to sequence using a reference population of approximately 1,100 whole genome sequenced pigs. We imputed over 20 million variants with high accuracies (R2>0.9) even for low frequency variants (1–5% minor allele frequency). This sequence-based analysis revealed a total of 14 additive and 9 non-additive significant quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for growth rate and backfat thickness. With the non-additive (recessive) model, we identified a deleterious missense SNP in the CDHR2 gene reducing growth rate and backfat in homozygous Large White animals. For the Synthetic breed, we revealed a QTL on chromosome 15 with a frameshift variant in the OBSL1 gene. This QTL has a major impact on both growth rate and backfat, resembling human 3M-syndrome 2 which is related to the same gene. With the additive model, we confirmed known QTLs on chromosomes 1 and 5 for both breeds, including variants in the MC4R and CCND2 genes. On chromosome 1, we disentangled a complex QTL region with multiple variants affecting both traits, harboring 4 independent QTLs in the span of 5 Mb. Together we present a large scale sequence-based association study that provides a key resource to scan for novel variants at high resolution for breeding and to further reduce the frequency of deleterious alleles at an early stage in the breeding program. Author summary: In this study we investigated the effect of over 20 million genetic variants on the growth rate and backfat thickness of approximately 140,000 pigs across two commercial breeds, with specific focus on recessive harmful variation. We identified 14 regions with a significant additive effect and 9 regions with a significant recessive effect on these traits. By looking at recessive effects we identified several rare deleterious variants with high impacts on animal fitness. These include a deletion on chromosome 15 in the OBSL1 gene, which leads to a growth reduction of 100 grams a day on average. Interestingly, loss-of-function mutations in OBSL1 are associated with short stature in humans. Looking at additive effects with this high-resolution dataset allowed us to gain more insight into the locus around the MC4R gene on chromosome 1. Here we found a small complex region containing several independent variants affecting both growth rate and backfat. With this study we have shown that by using several gene models and a large dataset, we can identify novel genetic variants at high resolution (<0.01 frequency) with significant impact on animal fitness and production. These results can help us in further eradicating deleterious genetic variants from pig populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Older adults living alone in rural areas frequently experience health declines, social isolation, and limited access to services. To address these challenges, our medical academic university supported a quality improvement project for developing and evaluating the Visiting Neighbors program in two rural Appalachian counties. Our Visiting Neighbors program trained local volunteers to visit and guide rural older adults in healthy activities. These age-appropriate activities (Mingle, Manage, and Move– 3M's) were designed to improve the functional health of older adults. The program includes four in-home visits and four follow-up telephone calls across three months. Purpose: The purpose of this paper was to describe the 3M's Visiting Neighbors protocol steps guiding the quality improvement procedures relating to program development, implementation, and evaluation. Methods and materials: This Visiting Neighbors study used a single-group exploratory quality improvement design. This program was tested using quality improvement standards, including collecting participant questionnaires and visit observations. Results: Older adults (> 65 years) living alone (N = 30) participants were female (79%) with a mean age of 82.96 (SD = 7.87) years. Volunteer visitor participants (N = 10) were older adult females. Two volunteer visitors implemented each visit, guided by the 3M's activities manual. All visits were verified as being consistently delivered (fidelity). Enrollment and retention data found the program was feasible to conduct. The older adult participants' total program helpfulness ratings (1 to 5) were high (M = 51.27, SD = 3.77). All volunteer visitor's program helpfulness ratings were also high (M = 51.78, SD = 3.73). Discussion: The Visiting Neighbors program consistently engaged older Appalachian adults living alone in the 3M's activities. The feasibility and fidelity of the 3M's home visits were verified. The quality improvement processes included engaging the expert advisory committee and rural county stakeholders to ensure the quality of the program development, implementation, and evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cement film thickness may have an impact on the shear bond strength (SBS) of lithium disilicate dental ceramics luted to human enamel with resin cement. The objective of this study was to evaluate SBS of lithium disilicate ceramics adhered to enamel using resin cement at different thicknesses. In total, 50 ceramic specimens (3 × 3 × 3 mm) and 50 premolar teeth were prepared and randomly assigned to 5 groups (n = 10 each). Ceramic specimens were designed with five cement film thicknesses (50 μm; 100 μm; 150 μm; 200 μm; and 300 μm). Teeth surfaces (4 × 4 mm) were prepared with a high-speed handpiece mounted on a dental surveyor. Ceramic specimens were cemented to teeth with resin cement (3MTM RelyXTM U200, Resin-Self-Adhesive-Cement). The specimens were then thermocycled for 6000 cycles with a 30 s dwell time and a 5 s transfer time in water (5 °C and 55 °C). A Universal-Testing-Machine was used to measure SBS (MPa). Statistical analysis in SPSS included Anova and Tukey's tests. The SBSs of ceramics adhered to teeth revealed significantly different values across all test groups (p = 0.000). The findings showed that as cement layer thickness increased, so did the SBS. The cement spaces at 50 and 300 μm had the lowest SBS (9.40 + 1.15 MPa) and maximum SBS (21.98 + 1.27 MPa), respectively. The SBS of the lithium disilicate ceramic luted to natural human enamel increased along with the cement layer thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kepler published Mysterium Cosmographicum in 1597 constructing his cosmological model based on the five regular polyhedra. Such a creative but weird idea was almost consistent with empirical evidence. Furthermore, following the Pythagorean belief about the connection between music and astronomy, Kepler delved into looking for what things having to do with the planetary movements have the harmonic consonances. This article claims that Kepler's model is a 3M (mathematical, musical, and metaphysical) model and demonstrates how it had been constructed. Furthermore, I explore the reasons behind Kepler's departure from the 3M model and his subsequent consideration of a non-circular orbit, ultimately presenting the Three Laws of Planetary Motion as a consequential outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tempranillo red wines were partially dealcoholized (-3 v/v%) by osmotic distillation (OD) with membranes. First, polypropylene (PP) Iiqui-Cel3M (3M) hollow fiber membrane modules were applied at 11 and 15 °C to study the effect of the removal of ethanol on the aroma of a certain wine. The influence of both temperatures was evaluated in terms of ethanol flux and aroma losses. Afterwards, two additional wines with different compositions were dealcoholized. The impact of the initial concentration of aromas on achieving a final product with an appealing aroma profile was studied, displaying the three wines a comparable aroma retention. Membrane OD was carried out with two additional hollow fiber membrane modules: another PP module (Zena) with a higher pore size, and a superhydrophobic PVDF module (Polymem). The latter gave rise to a partial dealcoholized wine with an aroma profile very similar to that of the pristine wine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to (1) comparatively analyze properties of Sr‐ and Mg‐substituted hydroxyapatite (HAP)‐based dental inserts; (2) evaluate insert bonding to restorative materials, and (3) evaluate the effect of doped HAP inserts on fracture resistance (FR) of human molars with large occlusal restorations. By ion‐doping with Sr or Mg, 3 insert types were obtained and characterized using XRD, SEM, Vickers hardness and fracture toughness. Shear bond strength (SBS) was determined between acid etched or unetched inserts and following materials: Maxcem cement (Kerr); Filtek Z250 (3M) bonded with Single Bond Universal (SBU; 3M) or Clearfil Universal (Cf; Kuraray). Modified Class I cavities were prepared in 16 intact molars and restored using insert + composite or composite only (control) (n = 8/group). FR of restored molars was determined by static load until fracture upon thermal cycling. Fracture toughness was similar between Sr/Mg‐doped inserts (0.94–1.04 MPam−1/2p =.429). Mg‐doped inserts showed greater hardness (range 4.78–5.15 GPa) than Sr6 inserts (3.74 ± 0.31 GPa; p <.05). SBS for SBU and Cf adhesives (range 7.19–15.93 MPa) was higher than for Maxcem (range 3.07–5.95 MPa) (p <.05). There was no significant difference in FR between molars restored with insert‐containing and control restorations (3.00 ± 0.30 kN and 3.22 ± 0.42 kN, respectively; p >.05). HAP‐based inserts doped with Mg/Sr had different composition and mechanical properties. Adhesive bonding to inserts resulted in greater bond strength than cementation, which may be improved by insert acid‐etching. Ion‐doped HAP inserts did not affect FR of restored molars. In conclusion, HAP‐based dental inserts may potentially replace dentin in large cavities, without affecting fracture resistance of restored teeth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the adhesion of veneering composite to metal-free computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) materials with different compositions after surface conditioning and application of adhesive resins. A total of one hundred and sixty specimens were divided into four groups (n = 40) manufactured either from polyetheretherketone (PEEK; KERAstar PEEK), polyetherketoneketone (PEKK; Pekkton), fiber-reinforced composite (FRC; Trinia), or high-impact polymer composite (COMP; Bredent HIPC) CAD/CAM discs. Each group was then randomly subdivided into four different subgroups of adhesive systems (n = 10) as Visiolink (Bredent), Single Bond Universal (3M), G-Premio BOND (GC), and OptiBond Universal (Kerr). The shear bond strength (SBS) of each specimen with veneering composite material was tested with a universal testing machine following thermocycle aging (5000 times). The modes of failure resulting from the tests were determined with scanning electron microscope (SEM), dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and analytical imaging. The data were statistically analyzed with two-way ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc tests (alpha = 0.05). The highest SBS values among all groups were found for the COMP material (20.28 ± 2.08 MPa) with OptiBond Universal adhesive, while the lowest for the PEEK material (10.33 ± 2.47 MPa) with G-Premio BOND. The most common failure mode for the PEEK and PEKK specimens was adhesive failure, for the FRC and COMP groups mixed failures were common. Bond strength values of at least 10 MPa were achieved for all tested between metal-free CAD/CAM materials and adhesive resin application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By using the ranks of the generalized Schur complement, the equivalent conditions for reverse order laws of the {1, 3M}- and the {1, 4N}- inverses of the multiple product of matrices are derived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study evaluated dentin bond strength, failure mode, interface morphology, adhesive infiltration into dentin, and marginal adaptation of bulk-fill composites used with different adhesives. Materials and Methods: Third molars received occlusal class I cavities (4 mm x 4 mm x 4 mm) that were bulk-filled with Admira Fusion x-tra (Voco) or SonicFill 2 (Kerr) using four adhesives (Scotchbond Multipurpose, 3M Oral Care; Clearfil SE Bond, Kuraray Noritake; OptiBond All-In-One, Kerr; Futurabond U, Voco). Scotchbond was used with acidetching, while the remaining adhesives were applied in self-etch mode. Sixty-four teeth were selected for the microtensile bond strength test (n = 8). Failure modes were analyzed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Interface morphology and adhesive infiltration (n = 3) were investigated using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Marginal adaptation (n = 3) was also evaluated using SEM. Bond strength, failure mode, and adhesive infiltration data were analyzed for distribution and homocedasticity, followed by appropriate statistical analyses (α= 0.05). Results: Regarding bond strength, no differences were found among adhesives for SonicFill; Clearfil showed a significantly lower mean value than did Scotchbond (p ≤ 0.05) for Admira; the two composites did not differ. Adhesive and mixed failures were observed for all groups. Scotchbond led to thicker hybrid layers with deeper adhesive infiltration as opposed to Futurabond. The groups Admira+Futurabond, SonicFill+Clearfil, and SonicFill+Futurabond presented the highest marginal discontinuity. Conclusion: The tested bulk-fill composites did not affect dentin bonding. Scotchbond and Clearfil seem to be reliable for bonding SonicFill 2 to dentin. The performance of Futurabond was questionable, given its poor-quality interface and higher percentages of marginal gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study evaluated whether active application of self-etching adhesives would influence their microtensile bond strength (µTBS) to dentin cut with burs of different grit sizes. Materials and Methods: Eighty-four human premolars were divided into 12 groups according to 1) two dentin surface preparations with either superfine- or regular-grit diamond burs; 2) three adhesives - Clearfil SE Bond 2 (SE2), Scotchbond Universal (SBU, 3M Oral Care) and G-Premio Bond (GPB, GC); and 3) two application modes of each adhesive (active or passive). Six bonded teeth per group were sectioned into sticks for µTBS testing. Statistical analyses were performed using 3-way ANOVA followed by Duncan's test (p < 0.05). Additional teeth were prepared to observe the interaction between the dentin smear layer obtained from each bur with adhesives under different application modes using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results: Active application significantly increased the dentin bond strength of SE2, irrespective of the kind of bur used (p < 0.05). The highest bond strength of SBU was observed when bonded to superfine-grit diamond bur-cut dentin with the active application. There was, however, no influence of the tested factors on GPB group (p > 0.05). TEM observation showed that active application promoted dentin smear layer dissolution in all adhesive groups. Conclusions: Bond strengths of self-etching adhesives to dentin are influenced by bur-cut smear layers and mainly by application mode of adhesive materials. Active application improves µTBS of self-etching adhesives by enhancing smear layer modification and resin penetration into bur-cut dentin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of different concentrations of ethylene-diamine-tetra acetic acid (EDTA) on bond strength (BS) and nanoleakage (NL) of fiber posts bonded into root canals. Materials and Methods: Seventy-two single roots were endodontically treated and divided into six groups (n = 12), according to the combination of the following factors: surface treatment (no irrigation [control], 17% EDTA, or 24% EDTA), and composite cement applied with an adhesive used in a self-etch mode (Single Bond Universal/RelyX Ultimate [SB], 3M Oral Care; Ambar Universal/Allcem [AM], FGM). After fiber post cementation, six 1-mm-thick disks were obtained for each root. Push-out bond strength (BS) was evaluated using 8 specimens per group, and the other 4 specimens were used to examine nanoleakage (NL). Data from BS and NL of each adhesive were evaluated by two-way ANOVA (surface treatment vs root region) and Tukey's test (a = 0.05). Results: The application of 17% and 24% EDTA did not influence the bond strengths of either adhesive. In general, the application of 17% and 24% EDTA increased NL values for both adhesives. Conclusion: Pre-treatment with different concentrations of EDTA was not able to improve the adhesion of fiber posts into root canals with universal adhesives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This in vitro study evaluated comprehensively the performances of zirconia brackets with varying yttria proportions in manufacturing advanced orthodontic brackets. Three experimental groups of zirconia brackets were fabricated using yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) materials with different yttria proportions—3 mol% yttria (3Y-YSZ), 4 mol% yttria (4Y-YSZ), and 5 mol% yttria (5Y-YSZ) (Tosoh Ceramic, Japan). A polycrystalline alumina ceramic bracket (3M™ Clarity™ Advanced, MBT 0.022-in. slot) was employed as the control group. Morphological properties, including slot surface structure and dimensions, were examined using scanning electron microscopy and surface profiler analysis. Manufacturing accuracy was assessed with root mean square calculations of trueness and precision. Mechanical properties were tested, encompassing static and kinetic frictional resistance (FR) and fracture strength. Optical stability was evaluated through 20,000 cycles of thermocycling and a 7-day immersion in various coloring agents. Within the limitations of this study, zirconia brackets containing 3 to 5 mol% YSZ presented enhanced reliability in terms of dimensional accuracy and demonstrated favorable optical stability. Notably, owing to its advantageous mechanical properties, the 3Y-YSZ variant showed remarkable potential as an advanced material for fabricating orthodontic brackets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smoked fish is a popular product that is widely consumed. Since fish spoil quickly after catching, various methods of processing and preservation have been developed to prevent spoilage. For the safety of fish consumers, this study was conducted to assess the microbial quality of smoked fish. One hundred samples of smoked fish were analyzed for different microbiological parameters, including the aerobic colony count and Enterobacteriaceae counts using the 3M™ Petri film™ technique. The total proteolytic count was determined using skim milk agar medium, while the total lipolytic count was assessed utilizing tributyrin nutrient agar media. Staphylococcus aureus was detected using mannitol salt agar, and its presence was confirmed by Gram staining and biochemical tests. Additionally, the presence of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins was detected. The results showed that the mean values of the total bacterial count were 1.4×104 and 3.0×103cfu/g for hot-smoked and cold-smoked fish, respectively, and the mean total Enterobacteriaceae counts were 1.2×103 and 3.5×102 CFU/g for both types of samples, respectively. The mean values of total proteolytic counts were 8.4×105 and 1.8×104, and the mean values of lipolytic counts were 3.9×104 and 6.6×104cfu/g for hot and cold smoked fish, respectively. The prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus in hot and cold smoked fish was 14/50 (14%) and 12/50 (12%), respectively. Furthermore, out of 26 smoked fish samples tested for the presence of staphylococcal enterotoxins, 10/14 (71%) and 11/12 (92%) were positive in hot and cold smoked fish, respectively. The study revealed that hot and cold smoked fish are often contaminated with zoonotic bacterial agents and enterotoxins. These findings suggest that consuming contaminated smoked fish or food crosscontaminated with zoonotic bacteria may pose a threat to consumer health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Adequate bond strength between orthodontic brackets and enamel is necessary to withstand masticatory forces. Priming involves applying a primer before using the adhesive as a separate step. To reduce bonding time, manufacturers have introduced self-priming adhesives. Aim: To evaluate the Shear Bond Strength (SBS) and Adhesive Remnant Index (ARI) scores of a Bis-GMA based self-priming adhesive (Orthofix SPA, Anabond) and compare it with a 2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate (HEMA) based self-priming adhesive (Aqualine LC, Tomy ortho) and a Bis-GMA containing primer-based orthodontic adhesive (Transbond XT, 3M). Materials and Methods: The present In-vitro study was conducted at the White Lab., Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, from December 2020 to January 2021. A total 54 freshly extracted premolar teeth were collected and divided into three groups (Group A - Orthofix SPA, Group B - Transbond XT, and Group C - Aqualine LC) based on the adhesive used. A 0.022 metal orthodontic brackets were bonded, and SBS and ARI scores of the samples were assessed. The Shapiro-Wilk test for normality was conducted. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the mean and standard deviation of SBS values and ARI scores among the three groups, and a post-hoc Tukey test was performed for inter group comparisons. Results: Significant inter group differences were observed (p=0.004). Group A had lower SBS than Groups B and C. Significant inter group differences (p-value of 0.003) in ARI scores were noted, with Group A having the lowest scores. Conclusion: The Bis-GMA self-priming adhesive (Orthofix SPA) exhibited lower SBS and ARI scores compared to commercially available HEMA-based self-priming adhesive systems and primer-based Bis-GMA adhesive systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemically modified bioadsorbents were prepared using sawdust (Aspidosperma polyneuron) functionalized with urea at different concentrations (BC-1M, BC-3M, and BC-6M) to evaluate their adsorption capacity by the methylene blue method. Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to characterize the surface morphology of the biomaterials. The best adsorption capacity was obtained using the biocarbon modified with urea 6M (BC-6M), displaying a methylene blue index of 12.4 mg/g with a zero-charge point (pHpzc) at 5.5, suggesting the potential application of this chemically modified bioadsorbent for the removal of cationic contaminants in aqueous media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Wilms tumor (WT) is the most common pediatric renal malignancy and bilateral disease (BWT) occurs in 5% of cases and is associated with poor outcomes. Management of BWT includes chemotherapy and oncologic resection while preserving renal function. Previous literature has demonstrated variable approaches in BWT treatment. The aim of this study was to examine a single institution experience and outcomes with BWT. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed for all patients with WT treated at a free-standing tertiary children's hospital between 1998 and 2018. Patients with BWT were identified and treatment courses were compared. Outcomes of interest included need for dialysis post-operatively, need for renal transplantation post-operatively, disease recurrence, and overall survival. Results: Of 120 children with WT, 9 children (6F:3M) of median age 32 months (IQR: 24-50 months) and median weight 13.7 kg (IQR: 10.9-16.2 kg) were diagnosed with and treated for BWT. Pre-operative biopsies were obtained in 4/9 patients, 3 of whom received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and 1 who underwent radical nephrectomy. Of the 5 patients who did not undergo biopsy, 4/5 were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and 1/5 underwent upfront nephrectomy. Post-operatively, 4/9 children required dialysis, of whom 2 subsequently underwent renal transplantation. Two patients were lost to follow-up, and of the remaining 7 patients, disease recurrence occurred in 5/7 children and overall survival was 71% (n=5). Conclusion: Management of BWT varies regarding the use of pre-operative biopsy, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and extent of disease resection. Further guidelines on treatment protocols may optimize outcomes in children with BWT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to help dentists in choosing the right type of cement for implant-based prostheses, the radiopacity of commonly used cements available in the market was investigated by digital radiography with PSP sensor. In the present study, temporary cements of TempBond (Kerr, Germany), TempBond clear (Kerr, Germany), Dycal (Dentsply, USA) and permanent cements of Multilink N (Ivoclar, Brazil), Panavia F 2.0 (Kurrary, Japan), Fuji plus (GC, Japan), RelyX (3M, USA), Durelon (3M, USA) were used. Four pill-like samples with 0.5 mm and 1 mm thickness and 5 mm in diameter inside the silicon index as recommended by the manufacturer were prepared for each cement. Aluminum step wedge (99% aluminum alloy) was used as control. Using digital radiography, cement and aluminum step wedge samples were radiographed. The images of cement tablets were measured by digital radiography using DFW software to check their radiopacity values. Bonferroni test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for comparison of cements. The highest radiopacity between the group of 1 and 0.5 mm thickness was related to Glass ionomer Fujiplus GC (2407±45..99) and TempBond (137.21±22.46) cement, respectively. Whereas, the lowest radiopacity among the groups was related to Clear cement. The difference between the mean radiopacities among the studied groups was statistically significant (p<0.001). Based on the results, among the available cements, Glass ionomer Fujiplus GC and TempBond cement are the most efficient for 1 and 0.5 mm thickness, respectively, and Clear cement is the least efficient cement in both groups in terms of radiopacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the heat generation on yttria‐stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline (Y‐TZP) crowns during polishing with coarse and fine polishing systems at various speeds. Materials and Methods: Two polishers (coarse and fine) at three polishing speeds were investigated. Two simulation models of the first mandibular molars were prepared for full coverage Y‐TZP restorations with different reduction dimensions. Preheated water was pumped into the abutment chamber, to simulate the intrapulpal temperature and blood flow. Twelve Y‐TZP crowns (3M™ Lava™ Esthetic) were milled for each prepared tooth abutment and each cusp (n = 10) was individually ground for 30 s and polished for 2 min. Thermocouple wire was secured to the intaglio surface of the crown and linked to a data logger for recording temperature changes. Selected scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the treated surfaces and polishers were analyzed. The data was statistically analyzed using Prism 9. Results: The highest temperature rise was observed in the 20,000 RPM polishing speed groups for both coarse and fine polishing, and higher than the threshold value of 5.5°C for pulp damage. The Kruskal–Wallis test, revealed statistically significant differences (p <.0001) in heat generation between low (10,000 RPM) and high (20,000 RPM) polishing speeds. Conclusions: High‐speed polishing at 20,000 RPM generated the most heat over the threshold of 5.5°C, which would threaten the dental pulp. The results suggest that a cautionary approach should be taken to high‐speed intraoral polishing. Clinical Relevance: Dental clinicians should be aware of the choice of polishing systems and speeds to avoid pulp damage from intraoral polishing of Y‐TZP restorations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This paper will discuss the management of iatrogenic displacement of the third molar (3M) into the maxillary sinus through a specific case that we have encountered. Observation: This case reports the atypical clinical history of an ectopic intra sinusal 3M of iatrogenic origin, associated with an inflammatory cyst. A 52-year-old man presented with chronic sinusitis and an oral-sinus communication 30 yr after the displacement of his 3M into the maxillary sinus. A minimally invasive multidisciplinary management using endoscopy was proposed to the patient as well as an 18-month follow-up reporting a normalization of his initial sinus symptoms. Discussion: An analysis of the literature concerning intra sinusal teeth was carried out, whatever their etiology, in order to situate our case and to be able to propose the least invasive procedure for these patients. The different surgical approaches are analyzed as well as the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary management. Conclusion: In this case, the simultaneous oral and nasal approach enabled a minimally invasive procedure. The endoscope is now part of the surgeon's therapeutic arsenal, and the training of practitioners in its use could greatly facilitate procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combat soldiers are currently faced with using a hearing-protection device (HPD) at the cost of adequately detecting critical signals impacting mission success. The current study tested the performance of the Perforated-Concave-Earplug (pCEP), a proof-of-concept passive HPD consisting of a concave bowl-like rigid structure attached to a commercial roll-down earplug, designed to improve sound localization with minimal compromising of noise attenuation. Primarily intended for combat/military training settings, our aim was an evaluation of localization of relevant sound sources (single/multiple gunfire, continuous noise, spoken word) compared to 3M™-Combat-Arms™4.1 earplugs in open-mode and 3M™-E-A-R™-Classic™ earplugs. Ninety normal-hearing participants, aged 20–35 years, were asked to localize stimuli delivered from monitors evenly distributed around them in no-HPD and with-HPD conditions. The results showed (1) localization abilities worsened using HPDs; (2) the spoken word was localized less accurately than other stimuli; (3) mean root mean square errors (RMSEs) were largest for stimuli emanating from rear monitors; and (4) localization abilities corresponded to HPD attenuation levels (largest attenuation and mean RMSE: 3M™-E-A-R™-Classic™; smallest attenuation and mean RMSE: 3M™-Combat-Arms™4.1; pCEP was mid-range on both). These findings suggest that the pCEP may benefit in military settings by providing improved sound localization relative to 3M™ E-A-R™-Classic™ and higher attenuation relative to 3M™-Combat Arms™-4.1, recommending its use in noisy environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]