In this paper we present the results of a systematic investigation of an entire population of predominately starless dust cores within a single molecular cloud, the Pipe Nebula. Analysis of ...extinction data shows the cores to be dense objects characterized by a narrow range of density with a median value of alpha (H sub(2)) = 7 x 10t super(3), The nonthermal velocity dispersions measured in molecular emission lines are found to be subsonic for the large majority of the cores and show no correlation with core mass (or size). Thermal pressure is found to be the dominate source of internal gas pressure and support for most of the core population. The total internal pressures of the cores are found to be roughly independent of core mass over the entire (0.2-20 M unk) range of the core mass function (CMF) indicating that the cores are in pressure equilibrium with an external source of pressure. This external pressure is most likely provided by the weight of the surrounding molecular cloud. Most of the cores appear to be pressure confined, gravitationally unbound entities whose fundamental physical properties are determined by only a few factors, which include self-gravity, gas temperature, and the simple requirement of pressure equilibrium with the surrounding environment. The entire core population is found to be characterized by a single critical Bonnor-Ebert mass of approximately 2 M unk. This mass coincides with the characteristic mass of the Pipe CMF suggesting that the CMF (and ultimately the stellar IMF) has its origin in the physical process of thermal fragmentation in a pressurized medium.
Abstract Introduction This study evaluated the disinfecting ability of chemomechanical preparation with rotary nickel-titanium instruments, followed by 2 distinct adjunctive procedures in the root ...canals of extracted mandibular molars by means of a correlative analytical approach. Methods Twenty-two extracted mandibular molars were selected and anatomically matched between groups on the basis of micro–computed tomographic analysis. In the first phase of the experiment, root canals were contaminated with Enterococcus faecalis and subjected to chemomechanical preparation with BT RaCe instruments and 2.5% NaOCl irrigation. Then either XP-Endo Finisher instrument or passive ultrasonic irrigation was used to supplement disinfection. Micro–computed tomography was used to show whether the percentage of unprepared areas correlated to bacterial counts. In the second phase, the same teeth were contaminated once again, and the adjunctive procedures were used. Samples from the isthmus area of mesial roots and the apical 5-mm fragment of distal roots were obtained by cryopulverization. Samples taken before and after treatment steps in both phases were evaluated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and statistically analyzed. Results In phase 1, preparation in both groups resulted in substantial decrease of bacterial counts ( P < .001). The adjunctive approaches led to a further small bacterial reduction, which was significant for XP-Endo Finisher ( P < .05). No significant differences were observed between groups for persisting bacterial counts. Correlative analysis revealed no statistically significant relationship between bacterial reduction and the percentage of unprepared areas ( P > .05). In phase 2, both methods had significant antibacterial effects in the main canal, but none of them could predictably disinfect the isthmus/recess areas. Conclusions Both XP-Endo Finisher and passive ultrasonic irrigation exhibited antibacterial effectiveness, but only the former caused a significant reduction in the bacterial counts after chemomechanical preparation. None of them were effective in predictably disinfecting the isthmus/recess areas.
Animal host defense against infection requires the expression of defense genes at the right place and the right time. Understanding such tight control of host defense requires the elucidation of the ...transcription factors involved. By using an unbiased approach in the model Caenorhabditis elegans, we discovered that HLH-30 (known as TFEB in mammals) is a key transcription factor for host defense. HLH-30 was activated shortly after Staphylococcus aureus infection, and drove the expression of close to 80% of the host response, including antimicrobial and autophagy genes that were essential for host tolerance of infection. TFEB was also rapidly activated in murine macrophages upon S. aureus infection and was required for proper transcriptional induction of several proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Thus, our data suggest that TFEB is a previously unappreciated, evolutionarily ancient transcription factor in the host response to infection.
Display omitted
•HLH-30 is a key regulator of the C. elegans transcriptional response to infection•HLH-30 induces autophagy and antimicrobial genes required for tolerance of infection•TFEB, a murine homolog of HLH-30, is activated during infection in macrophages•TFEB is required for proper induction of several cytokines and chemokines
Transcriptional regulators that control host responses to infection are crucially important to the outcome of host-microbe interactions. Visvikis et al. show an evolutionarily-conserved role for the transcription factor TFEB in the induction of the host response to infection in nematodes and in mammalian macrophages.
Scientific evidence reveals a high prevalence of health risk behaviour among university students. This calls for the creation of educational programmes that promote more knowledge about health. ...However, knowledge alone is not enough to change behaviours; other factors should be considered, including attitudes towards health. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to analyse the relationship between knowledge, attitudes and health risk behaviours among university students. For this, a previously validated self-report questionnaire was applied to a stratified sample of 840 students, by year of study (first- and third-year students) and their scientific area. In addition to sociodemographic issues, the questionnaire contains a health-related knowledge scale, an attitudes towards health scale, and questions about health risk behaviours. Students displayed poor knowledge about health, correctly answering 17.77 (SD = 4.59) questions out of a total of 36, and moderate scores concerning attitudes towards health (M = 2.61, SD = 0.48, range: 1–5). Students reported always engaging in, on average, 3.88 (SD = 1.45) of the seven behaviours subject to the analysis. Mediation analyses indicated that knowledge about health and attitudes towards health were statistically significant predictors of risky behaviours. Furthermore, it was indicated that attitudes towards health have a mediating effect between health knowledge and health risk behaviours. Findings from this study indicate that public health and education policies should promote healthy behaviours among university students, taking into account not only the level of knowledge but essentially the development of positive attitudes when facing behaviours which put health at risk.
This study used a multipurpose analytic approach to compare the levels of apically extruded bacterial and hard tissue debris as well as intracanal bacterial reduction after root canal preparation ...with either XP-endo Shaper (FKG Dentaire, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland) or Reciproc (VDW, Munich, Germany) instruments.
Distobuccal canals from extracted maxillary molars were contaminated with Enterococcus faecalis and randomly distributed into 2 groups according to the instrumentation system: the XP-endo Shaper or Reciproc. Teeth were mounted in an apparatus that simulates the apical resistance offered by the periapical tissues and permitted to collect debris extruded during preparation. Saline was used as the irrigant during preparation, and all treatment procedures were performed inside a cabinet under a controlled temperature of 37°C. DNA extracts from samples taken from the canal before and after preparation were subjected to quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction for E. faecalis counting. The volume of extruded debris was evaluated by micro–computed tomographic imaging. DNA was extracted from the extruded hard tissue debris and analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.
Mechanical intracanal bacterial reduction was significantly more pronounced when using the XP-endo Shaper (P < .001). Although both instruments produced a similar volume of extruded debris (P > .05), extruded bacteria counts were significantly lower with Reciproc than the XP-endo Shaper (P < .001). No correlation was observed between the extruded bacterial counts and debris volume.
Although bacterial extrusion was lower with Reciproc, the intracanal bacterial reduction was higher with the XP-endo Shaper. Both techniques produced a similar volume of hard tissue debris extrusion.
•Single-file systems were compared for bacterial reduction and extrusion.•Bacterial extrusion was significantly lower with Reciproc.•There was no difference in the volume of extruded hard tissue debris.•Both techniques produced a similar frequency of bacterial/debris extrusion.•Intracanal bacterial reduction was significantly higher for the XP-endo Shaper.
The presence of external elements is a major limitation of current hearing aids and cochlear implants, as they lead to discomfort and inconvenience. Totally implantable hearing devices have been ...proposed as a solution to mitigate these constraints, which has led to challenges in designing implantable sensors. This work presents a feasibility analysis of a MEMS piezoelectric accelerometer coupled to the ossicular chain as an alternative sensor. The main requirements of the sensor include small size, low internal noise, low power consumption, and large bandwidth. Different designs of MEMS piezoelectric accelerometers were modeled using Finite Element (FE) method, as well as optimized for high net charge sensitivity. The best design, a 2 × 2 mm
annular configuration with a 500 nm thick Aluminum Nitride (AlN) layer was selected for fabrication. The prototype was characterized, and its charge sensitivity and spectral acceleration noise were found to be with good agreement to the FE model predictions. Weak coupling between a middle ear FE model and the prototype was considered, resulting in equivalent input noise (EIN) lower than 60 dB sound pressure level between 600 Hz and 10 kHz. These results are an encouraging proof of concept for the development of MEMS piezoelectric accelerometers as implantable sensors for hearing devices.
This study compared the efficacy of XP‐Endo Finisher R and R1‐Clearsonic insert in removing filling material remnants from oval canals. Twelve pairs of contralateral premolars were treated and ...subsequently retreated with Reciproc 50. A supplementary procedure with XP‐Endo Finisher R or R1‐Clearsonic was performed. Micro‐computed tomography was used to quantify the filling material volume in the full canal and apical segment lengths. Intragroup analyses revealed significant reduction of filling material after both procedures, not only in the full canal but also in the apical segment (P < 0.05). The amount of filling material removed with XP‐Endo Finisher R and R1‐Clearsonic was 47.9% and 52.2% in the apical segment (P > 0.05), and 82.1% and 64.6% in the full canal (P < 0.05). None of the instruments was effective in completely removing the filling material from the apical canal, but better results were obtained with XP‐Endo Finisher R in the total canal length.
Telemedicine services have been increasingly used to facilitate post-treatment cancer survivorship care, including improving access; monitoring health status, health behaviors, and symptom ...management; enhancing information exchange; and mitigating the costs of care delivery, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. To inform guidance for the use of telemedicine in the post-COVID era, the aim of this overview of systematic reviews (SRs) was to evaluate the efficacy of, and survivor engagement in, telemedicine interventions in the post-treatment survivorship phase, and to consider implementation barriers and facilitators.
PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, CINAHL, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched. SRs that examined the use of telemedicine in the post-treatment phase of cancer survivorship, published between January 2010 and April 2021, were included. Efficacy data were synthesized narratively. Implementation barriers and facilitators were synthesized using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.
Twenty-nine SRs were included. A substantive body of evidence found telemedicine to benefit the management of psychosocial and physical effects, particularly for improving fatigue and cognitive function. There was a lack of evidence on the use of telemedicine in the prevention and surveillance for recurrences and new cancers as well as management of chronic medical conditions. This overview highlights a range of diverse barriers and facilitators at the patient, health service, and system levels.
This review highlights the benefits of telemedicine in addressing psychosocial and physical effects, but not in other areas of post-treatment cancer survivorship care. This large review provides practical guidance for use of telemedicine in post-treatment survivorship care.
•Telemedicine interventions can be effective for addressing the psychosocial and physical effects of cancer.•Development of evidence-based guidance for the implementation of telemedicine in survivorship care is urgently required.•Rigorous studies exploring strategies to improve telemedicine accessibility to diverse population groups are warranted.
Objective
To assess apical root canal transportation using Mtwo or Reciproc during retreatment of severely curved canals, using a multi-analytical approach.
Methods
Forty mesial canals from ...mandibular molars (Vertucci type IV) were evaluated before and after endodontic retreatment to compare apical transportation with Mtwo retreatment or Reciproc. The systems were used on the same root but alternating the mesial canals. The analyses were performed by micro-computed tomography. Four evaluations were performed: (a) longitudinal transportation, (b) horizontal transportation, (c) variation in the angle of curvature of the canal, and (d) canal-root width ratio. Horizontal transportation and canal-root width ratio were evaluated in 1-, 3-, and 5-mm levels.
Results
Longitudinal transportation occurred in all samples, with a mean of 0.13 mm for Mtwo and 0.17 mm for Reciproc. Horizontal transportation increased as distant from the apex was the evaluated level, in mean. However, the transport was not observed in all samples. The mean angle of curvature was 4.16 for Mtwo and 3.03 for Reciproc. Canal-root width decreased as distant from the apex was the evaluated level. No significant differences were observed considering all tested variables, independently of the retreatment system or evaluated level (
p
> 0.05).
Conclusion
Mtwo retreatment and Reciproc presented similar apical transportation (horizontal or vertical).
Clinical relevance
Both Mtwo retreatment and Reciproc systems could be considered safe regarding apical transportation.
PDF
