The aim of this study was to develop a novel method for evaluating the service life of building coatings. In Stage 1, we assessed existing methods for determining the degree of fungal overgrowth on ...building materials (visual assessment, culture method, luminometric ATP (adenosine-5’-triphosphate) measurement, and spectrophotometric assessment of colour changes). Laboratory tests were carried out for 19 types of facade coating (mineral and silicone with/without primer, silicone paint, biocides) and 7 fungal strains (moulds Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus niger, Aureobasidium melanogenum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Fusarium sp., Penicillium citrinum, and the yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginosa). The number of fungi on the facade coatings after 28 days of incubation was 1.7 × 105–4.6 × 105 CFUs (colony-forming units)/sample. The ATP content was 12 RLUs–30333 RLUs (relative light units). Colour change was ΔE > 5 depending on the coating type and fungal strain. A high or very high correlation was found between the ATP concentration (RLUs), colour change (ΔE), and the results of the culture method (CFUs/sample). In Stage 2, a new methodology for evaluating the protection lifetime of building coatings against fungi was developed, taking into account environmental conditions (impact of ultraviolet radiation, precipitation, presence of organic matter on the surface, quantitative and qualitative composition of bioaerosol). The developed method consists of one research cycle conducted in the laboratory, corresponding to one year under natural conditions. Preliminary verification showed the model to be compatible with long-term observations (3 years) of fungal growth on the facade coatings under real environmental conditions. The novel method could be used to design biodeterioration control and protection strategies for both new and cultural heritage buildings.
To determine the effect of arch coordination on the dentoskeletal jaw base relationship and the mandibular growth pattern in growing skeletal Class II patients.
Leveling, aligning, and upper/lower ...arch coordination were done in 30 Class II/1 growing patients with preadjusted edgewise fixed appliances. After arch coordination was achieved without transverse discrepancy and occlusal interferences, the 6-month experimental passive observation period was started. The records were compared with 30 untreated patients who served as controls. The initial (T0) and post-coordination+observation (T1) cephalograms of two groups were analyzed and compared using standard cephalometric parameters, Pancherz analysis, and cranial base superimposition.
Sagittal maxillary growth in the treated group was slightly restricted, in turn resulting in a decrease in profile convexity. Mandibular sagittal growth did not differ between groups, but the mandible rotated posteriorly in the treated and anteriorly in the control group. The upper incisors were retroclined and retruded in the treated group, resulting in overjet reduction. The lower incisors were intruded in the treated group, leading to overbite reduction. The cephalometric superimposition over the stable structures of the anterior cranial base showed higher prevalence for the forward rotation with forward pogonion position and increased vertical dimension in the control group.
Upper and lower arch coordination alone does not seem to affect mandibular growth; however, because of a posterior rotation of the mandible, it does affect the direction of mandibular growth in some patients, although not in the desired therapeutic direction. (ClinicalTrials.in.th: TCTR20170706003).
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a novel GREY‒ASMAA model for reliability growth evaluation in the large civil aircraft test flight phase.
Design/methodology/approach
As limited data ...are collected during the large civil aircraft test flight phase, which are not enough to meet the requirements of the ASMAA model for reliability growth, four basic GM(1, 1) models, even grey model, original difference grey model, even difference grey model and discrete grey model, are presented. Then both forward and backward grey models GM(1,1) are built to forecast and obtain virtual test data on left and right sides. Then the ASMAA model for reliability growth evaluation can be built based on original and virtual test data.
Findings
Aiming at the background of poor information data during the large civil aircraft test flight phase, first, a novel GREY‒ASMAA model, which was combined by the grey model GM(1,1) with the ASMAA model, has been put forward in this paper.
Practical implications
The GREY‒ASMAA model for reliability growth evaluation can be used to solve the problem of reliability growth evaluation with poor information data during the large civil aircraft test flight phase, and it has been used in reliability evaluation of C919 at the test flight stage.
Originality/value
This paper presents two new definitions of forward grey model GM(1,1) and backward grey model GM(1,1), as well as a novel GREY‒ASMAA model for reliability growth evaluation of large civil aircraft during test flight phase.
To compare skeletal maturation as measured by hand-wrist bone analysis and by cervical vertebral analysis.
A radiographic hand-wrist bone analysis and cephalometric cervical vertebral analysis of 30 ...patients (14 males and 16 females; 7-18 years of age) were examined. The hand-wrist bone analysis was evaluated by the Bjork index, whereas the cervical vertebral analysis was assessed by the cervical vertebral maturation stage (CVMS) method. To define vertebral stages, the analysis consisted of both cephalometric (13 points) and morphologic evaluation of three cervical vertebrae (concavity of second, third, and fourth vertebrae and shape of third and fourth vertebrae). These measurements were then compared with the hand-wrist bone analysis, and the results were statistically analyzed by the Cohen kappa concordance index. The same procedure was repeated after 6 months and showed identical results.
The Cohen kappa index obtained (mean +/- SD) was 0.783 +/- 0.098, which is in the significant range. The results show a concordance of 83.3%, considering that the estimated percentage for each case is 23.3%. The results also show a correlation of CVMS I with Bjork stages 1-3 (interval A), CVMS II with Bjork stage 4 (interval B), CVMS III with Bjork stage 5 (interval C), CVMS IV with Bjork stages 6 and 7 (interval D), and CVMS V with Bjork stages 8 and 9 (interval E).
Vertebral analysis on a lateral cephalogram is as valid as the hand-wrist bone analysis with the advantage of reducing the radiation exposure of growing subjects.
As cancer treatment improves, more young women of reproductive age are surviving, but they suffer from infertility as a consequence of the radiation and chemotherapy. Human ovarian tissue containing ...immature primordial follicles has been successfully cryopreserved. The ultimate aim of this technique is to induce ovarian function by re-plantation of ovarian tissue or, further into the future, by in vitro maturation (IVM) of the oocytes derived from the cryopreserved-thawed ovarian tissue, followed by routine in vitro fertilization. IVM of primordial follicles from young cancer survivors would avoid the risk of cancer re-transmission by the ovarian grafts. The present review discusses the current achievements in IVM of female germ cells and primordial ovarian follicles and the attempts to improve their development by adding various factors to the culture medium. The established methods for the evaluation of survival and growth in culture are also discussed: follicular counts, immunocytochemical methods, transmission electron microscopy, fluorescent viability markers and endocrine assays. Although the development of IVM systems is still in its infancy, researchers need to pursue their approach step-by-step, especially with regard to factors that might be involved in the activation of the ovarian follicles or female germ cells. The final measure of success will be the ability of the in vitro matured oocytes to fertilize and produce healthy offsprings. The availability of such treatment will probably lead to its demand not only by cancer patients but by other women as well.
Facial-type-associated variations in diagnostic features have several implications in orthodontics. For example, in hyperdivergent craniofacial types, growth imbalances are compensated by ...displacement of the condyle. When diagnosis and treatment planning involves centric relation (CR), detailed knowledge of the condylar position is desirable. The present study aimed to measure condylar displacement (CD) between CR and maximum intercuspation in three facial types of an asymptomatic orthodontic population.
The study was conducted in 108 patients classified into three groups of 36 individuals each (27 women and 9 men; mean age, 20.5 years), based on the following facial patterns: hyperdivergent, hypodivergent, and intermediate. To quantify CD along the horizontal and vertical axes, the condylar position was analyzed using mounted casts on a semi-adjustable articulator and a mandibular position indicator. The Student t-test was used to compare CD between the groups.
Vertical displacement was found to be significantly different between the hyperdivergent and hypodivergent groups (p < 0.0002) and between the hyperdivergent and intermediate groups (p < 0.0006). The differences in horizontal displacement were not significant between the groups. In each group, vertical CD was more evident than horizontal displacement was.
All facial types, especially the hyperdivergent type, carried a significantly high risk of CD. Therefore, the possibility of CD should be carefully evaluated and considered in the assessment of all orthodontic cases in order to accurately assess jaw relationships and avoid possible misdiagnosis.
Noninvasive diagnostic tools, such as Trichoscan®, reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), and optical coherence tomography (OCT), are efficient methods of hair shaft and growth evaluation. The aim of ...this study was to carry out a comparative assessment of these three medical procedures by measuring the hair shaft and hair growth after hair removal for a defined period of five days. The application of these techniques was demonstrated by measuring hair growth on the lower leg of six female volunteers. After removal of the hair shaft with a shaving system, the hair follicle infundibula and the length of the growing hairs were measured with the Trichoscan®, RCM, and OCT method. All three methods are reliable hair measuring tools after hair removal. Trichoscan® is best suited in the implementation of hair growth measurement and RCM in the analysis of hair follicles, whereas the OCT system can be consulted as an additional measurement for the evaluation of the hair follicle and length.
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