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Trust in highly automated driving increased by intuitive dialogue between the driver and driver assistance systems. Predestined are augmented reality head‐up displays (AR HUD) able to display virtual images in large projection distances in front of the driver in context to the environment. A volume optimized mirror‐less AR HUD solution, based on a disruptive holographic waveguide technology with first results from a first real demonstrator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In some clinical studies patient survival beyond a specific point in time, t0$$ {t}_0 $$, say, may be of special interest as it may for instance indicate patient cure. To analyze the t0$$ {t}_0 $$‐year risk for such patients may be accomplished using logistic regression with appropriate weights (IPWCC) that may further be augmented (AIPWCC) to improve efficiency. In this paper, we derive the most efficient estimator for this problem, which is different from the AIPWCC based on the full data efficient influence function. We first give the result for a survival endpoint and then generalize to the competing risk setting. The proposed estimators superior behavior is illustrated using simulations as well as applying it to some real data concerning the survival of blood and marrow transplanted patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental implants have been a routine part of dental practice for many years and are performed by a variety of practitioners with different backgrounds and training. This paper will outline the principles and practical surgical aspects of 'simple' implant placement against a background of our current understanding of the literature that informs our surgical procedures. Implants need to be placed in a restoratively suitable position surrounded by sufficient bone, draped in adequate keratinised soft tissue and sufficiently separated from one another and the adjacent teeth. Practically, while the above principles apply, there are nuances based on the local situation, adjacent teeth and restorative needs which will be considered in this paper. Surgery for the placement of implants needs a practitioner with adequate surgical training and experience and who understands the biological aspects and restorative needs of each clinical situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess whether the use of a graft and/or membrane post-tooth extraction improves healing of the site dimensionally, radiographically, and/or histologically. Materials and Methods: MEDLINE and EMBASE and the Cochrane Central register of controlled trials (CENTRAL) were searched up until August 2011. Randomized controlled trials that included and compared healing post-tooth extraction between a control (no intervention) and a graft and/or membrane (test) were selected. Results: Titles and abstracts of 2,861 papers were screened. A total of 42 papers were selected for full text reading. Nine papers met the eligibility criteria and were selected for further analysis. Because of the varying graft materials used and the different methods of investigation, as well as the variation in follow-up times, a meta-analysis was not possible. The present review found that clinically, there was a range in loss of width in the control sites of 2.46 mm (SD 0.4 mm) to 4.56 mm (SD 0.33 mm) compared to 1.14 mm (SD 0.87 mm) to 2.5 mm (SD 1.2 mm) in the test sites. The range in loss of height in control sites was 0.9 mm (SD 1.6 mm) to 3.6 mm (SD 1.5 mm) compared to a gain of 1.3 mm (SD 2 mm) to a loss of 0.62 mm (SD 0.51 mm) in test sites. Radiographically a range of change in bone height of between 0.51 mm (No SD) to 1.17 mm (SD 1.23 mm) was noted in control sites compared to a change of between 0.02 mm (SD 1.2 mm) and 1 mm (SD 1.4 mm) in test sites. Conclusion: There is limited data regarding the effectiveness of alveolar ridge preservation therapies when compared to the control. Overall the socket intervention therapies did reduce alveolar ridge dimensional changes post-extraction, but were unable to prevent resorption. Histology did demonstrate a large proportion of residual graft material that may account for some of the difference in alveolar ridge dimensions at follow up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The advent of osseointegration and advances in biomaterials and techniques have contributed to increased application of dental implants in the restoration of partial and completely edentulous patients. Often, in these patients, soft and hard tissue defects result from a variety of causes, such as infection, trauma, and tooth loss, These create an anatomically less favorable foundation for idea] implant placement. For prosthetic-driven dental implant therapy, reconstruction of the alveolar bone through a variety of regenerative surgical procedures has become predictable; it may be necessary prior to implant placement or simultaneously at the time of implant surgery to provide a restoration with a good long term prognosis. Regenerative procedures are used for socket preservation, sinus augmentation, and horizontal and vertical ridge augmentation. Methods: A broad overview of the published findings in the English literature related to various bone augmentation techniques is outlined. A comprehensive computer-based search was performed using various databases that include Medline and PubMed. A total of 267 papers were considered, with non-peer-reviewed articles eliminated as much as possible Results: The techniques for reconstruction of bony defects that are reviewed in this paper include the use of particulate bone grafts and bone graft substitutes, barrier membranes for guided bone regeneration, autogenous and allogenic block grafts, and the application of distraction osteogenesis. Conclusions: Many different techniques exist for effective bone augmentation. The approach is largely dependent on the extent of the defect and specific procedures to be performed for the implant reconstruction. It is most appropriate to use an evidenced-based approach when a treatment plan is being developed for bone augmentation cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pigmented skin lesions (PSLs) pose medical and esthetic challenges for those affected. PSLs can cause skin cancers, particularly melanoma, which can be life‐threatening. Detecting and treating melanoma early can reduce mortality rates. Dermoscopic imaging offers a noninvasive and cost‐effective technique for examining PSLs. However, the lack of standardized colors, image capture settings, and artifacts makes accurate analysis challenging. Computer‐aided diagnosis (CAD) using deep learning models, such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs), has shown promise by automatically extracting features from medical images. Nevertheless, enhancing the CNN models' performance remains challenging, notably concerning sensitivity. Materials and methods: In this study, we aim to enhance the classification performance of selected pretrained CNNs. We use the 2019 ISIC dataset, which presents eight disease classes. To achieve this goal, two methods are applied: resolution of the dataset imbalance challenge through augmentation and optimization of the training hyperparameters via Bayesian tuning. Results: The performance improvement was observed for all tested pretrained CNNs. The Inception‐V3 model achieved the best performance compared to similar results, with an accuracy of 96.40% and an AUC of 0.98. Conclusion: According to the study, classification performance was significantly enhanced by augmentation and Bayesian hyperparameter tuning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining whether an autonomous self‐driving agent is in the middle of an intersection can be extremely difficult when relying on visual input taken from a single camera. In such a problem setting, a wider range of views is essential, which drives us to use three cameras positioned in the front, left, and right of an agent for better intersection recognition. However, collecting adequate training data with three cameras poses several practical difficulties; hence, we propose using data collected from one camera to train a three‐camera model, which would enable us to more easily compile a variety of training data to endow our model with improved generalizability. In this work, we provide three separate fusion methods (feature, early, and late) of combining the information from three cameras. Extensive pedestrian‐view intersection classification experiments show that our feature fusion model provides an area under the curve and F1‐score of 82.00 and 46.48, respectively, which considerably outperforms contemporary three‐ and one‐camera models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Traditionally, wind turbine dynamics are analyzed using computationally efficient but geometrically coarse aeroelastic models. With ever larger offshore turbines being installed in deeper waters, the wind industry is gradually moving toward more complex foundation types such as jackets and tripods. Even the simplest models of such structures have many more degrees of freedom (DoFs) than the complete wind turbine model, leading to excessive computation times. To cope with this, we can employ reduced 'superelement' modeling of the support structure. However, since these structures are subjected to hydrodynamic loading at a large portion of their DoFs, traditional reduction methods fail to properly describe the response to this excitation. In this paper, we therefore propose to combine superelement modeling with the concept of modal truncation augmentation, which consists in extending the reduction basis by adding 'residual vectors'. Furthermore, we use principal component analysis to find the predominant hydrodynamic loading on the support structure. A case study is performed on a reference wind turbine model on a jacket structure, revealing both the need for coupled dynamic analysis and the shortcomings of traditional superelement models for offshore support structures. Most importantly, this case study shows that the proposed augmented superelement approach allows to create very compact yet accurate models of the complex support structure, thereby enabling efficient integrated simulation of offshore wind turbines.Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have investigated several factors affecting the augmentation of the aphidophagous syrphid Episyrphus balteatus in Mediterranean sweet pepper greenhouses. First, the effectiveness of releases has been assessed by recording the larva and pupa number. The abundance of E. balteatus varied between greenhouses, which was not observed to be a release effect. Second, two experiments were performed to assess the effect of three biological control management strategies on the release residence time. In the first experiment, the greenhouse ventilation was shown to have a significant influence on the adult population residence time, which was higher when the side walls were closed rather than open. The introduction of additional floral resources (sweet alyssum and coriander) did not have a significant effect on the release residence time. In the second experiment, the age of the released adults was assessed, and 2-day-old adults stayed longer in the greenhouse than 7-day-old adults, but the 7-day-old adults had more time to lay eggs. Although syrphids are effective aphid natural enemies, the release methodology of introducing pupae appears not to be effective in Mediterranean greenhouses. In this paper, we propose changing the methodology of releasing E. balteatus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Atypical antipsychotics (AAPs) have been hypothesized to be beneficial in treatment-resistant depression (TRD). This paper will review a biochemical rationale and will summarize the data regarding the effectiveness of AAPs in TRD. Method: Studies were identified using searches of Pubmed/Medline, EMBase and the Cochrane databases by cross-referencing the term ‘depression’ with each of the six AAPs. Results: After initial positive, short case reports and clinical trials, larger studies failed to show the effectiveness of AAPs combined with antidepressants for TRD. More recently, larger scale clinical trials have supported the effectiveness of at least some of these medications. While AAPs have gained in popularity for TRD, there are nagging concerns regarding risks such as metabolic syndrome and tardive dyskinesia. Conclusion: The existing research provides some support for the beneficial effects of AAPs when combined with SSRI’s in TRD. These medications pose significant risks that must be considered in their use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The study documented facility-based obstetric practices for normal labor in Egypt for the first time, to determine their relationship to evidence-based medicine. This paper describes the labor augmentation pattern observed.Methods: 176 cases of normal labor were observed by medically-trained observers using a checklist. Ward activities were also documented. Observed women were interviewed postpartum and all findings were shared with the providers for their feedback.Results: Labor was augmented in 91% (165) of the labors observed; this was inappropriate for 93% or 154 women. Reasons for inappropriateness were: oxytocin ordered at the first vaginal exam (41%); in spite of intact membranes (36%), at the time of membrane rupture (42%), in spite of good progress (24%), or a combination of these. The monitoring of oxytocin-receiving women and their babies was inadequate.Conclusions: Labor augmentation and monitoring deviated from evidence-based guidelines. Obstacles to implementing protocols need to be explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The purpose of the present paper was to investigate the efficacy of augmentation of clomipramine (CMI) by tandospirone in 36 untreated outpatients with major depressive disorder. Twelve patients were treated with CMI and tandospirone (T group), 12 with CMI and diazepam (D group) and 12 with CMI alone (C group) for 6 weeks. No statistically significant differences in the percentage improvement of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (17 items; HDRS-17) and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (14 items; HARS-14) scores were shown among the three treatment groups. However, at 2 weeks, the percentage improvement of HDRS-17 score in the T group tended to be higher than that in the D and C groups, although there was no statistically significant difference among the three treatment groups. No change in plasma prolactin level or adverse events was induced by the addition of tandospirone. These results suggest that 6 weeks of treatment with tandospirone or diazepam was not effective for augmentation of CMI in major depressive disorder patients. However, augmentation of antidepressants by tandospirone administration for a few weeks might induce early expression of antidepressive effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A problem with augmenting predatory bugs through mass release is the logistical difficulty of delivering nymphs onto the foliage of field crops. In this paper we examine postrelease establishment and dispersal of the nymphs of the predatory bug Pristhesancus plagipennis on soybean, cotton and sunflower in an effort to devise an appropriate strategy for field release. The effects of predator stadia and release rates on field establishment and within-crop-canopy dispersal after hand release were recorded in soybean, cotton and sunflower. Field establishment improved with the release of more-developed nymphs, with third instars providing the most appropriate compromise between field hardiness and rearing cost. Increased nymphal density at the point of release had little effect on nymphal dispersal throughout the crop canopy. The patterns of nymphal dispersal observed on the three crops suggest that crop-canopy architecture may have an effect on the ability of nymphs to spread out postrelease, as nymphs dispersed poorly in cotton and sunflower compared to soybean. To overcome poor dispersal of nymphs after release, a mechanical release method, where nymphs were mixed with vermiculite and delivered onto a target crop through a spinning disk fertiliser spreader, was tested, and provided similar nymph establishment rates and dispersal patterns as releasing nymphs individually by hand. The implications of nymph dispersal and field hardiness in regard to inundative field release techniques are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various femoral augmentation designs have been investigated over the past decade for the prevention of geriatric hip fracture. The experimental methods used to evaluate the efficacy of these augmentations have not been critically evaluated or compared in terms of biofidelity, robustness, or ease of application. Such parameters have significant relevance in characterizing future clinical success. In this study we aimed to use a scoping review to summarize the experimental studies that evaluate femoral augmentation approaches, and critically evaluate commonly applied protocols and identify areas for concordance with the clinical situation. We conducted a literature search targeting studies that used experimental test methods to evaluate femoral augmentation to prevent geriatric fragility fracture. A total of 25 studies met the eligibility criteria. The most commonly investigated augmentation to date is the injection of bone cement or another material that cured in situ, and a popular subsequent method for biomechanical evaluation was to load the augmented proximal femur until fracture in a sideways fall configuration. We noted limitations in the clinical relevance of sideways fall scenarios being modeled and large variance in the concordance of many of the studies identified. Our review brings about recommendations for enhancing the fidelity of experimental methods modeling clinical sideways falls, which include an improved representation of soft tissue effects, using outcome metrics beyond load‐to‐failure, and applying loads inertially. Effective augmentations are encouraging for their potential to reduce the burden of hip fracture; however, the likelihood of this success is only as strong as the methods used in their evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurotechnologies offer both therapeutic and enhancement potential. In this article, we demonstrate how ethics guidelines can help with critical reflection on their potential for enhancement. We do this through the case of the hippocampal cognitive prosthesis. This prothesis developed in the US, has primarily therapeutic ends, with scope for enhancement. This technology raises several ethical issues, including as related to identity and memory, autonomy and authenticity. In the first section, we outline what we mean by enhancement, and introduce neurotechnologies generally and the hippocampal cognitive prosthesis specifically, with an introduction to generally relevant ethical issues. In the second section, we outline ethical issues pertinent to the hippocampal cognitive prosthesis and explore how ethics guidelines can help to promote essential critical reflection on a technology like this. Through all this, our emphasis is to balance between technological optimism and caution, especially where technologies have enhancement potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Translocated populations often show vigorous initial dynamics but eventually collapse. Modeling tools that incorporate basic ecological knowledge and allow for propagation of uncertainty can help identify potential risks. Here, we use Bayesian Integral Projection Models to estimate population growth rates (λs), associated elasticities, and extinction risks for the endangered Dicerandra christmanii. Our study compared natural populations in gaps (open areas) within the shrub matrix and roadsides, unoccupied gaps augmented with transplants, and introduced populations. These populations experienced different management, including prescribed fires, and had different initial conditions. Augmented gaps showed lower means but similar variation in λs as natural gaps. Yet, simulations indicate that augmentations can delay quasi‐extinction (40% of simulations) by 4 years at the population level. Introduced populations showed higher means and variation in λs as wild gaps. While vital rate estimates suggested initial translocation success, time to quasi‐extinction was projected to be 7 years shorter for introductions in gaps than for natural gap populations. These contradictory results are partially explained by the lack of established seed banks in introduced populations, which affected the response of early life stage transitions to a prescribed fire. This study highlights the need to account for site‐specific information in models of population dynamics, including initial conditions and management history, and especially cryptic life stages such as dormant seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species translocations are increasingly common in rare plant conservation. Wild populations can provide basic ecological knowledge to improve their chance of success. In the heavily fragmented Florida scrub, USA, many listed species require translocations to persist, including Dicerandra christmanii. In 1994, we began monitoring the only protected population of D. christmanii growing both in gaps (open areas) within the shrub matrix and on roadsides. In 2010, we augmented this population by adding plants and seeds to unoccupied gaps. In 2012, we introduced plants to a separate protected site to create a new population. We evaluated early translocation success using generalized linear mixed‐effect models of vital rate variation among habitat types. Survival probability increased with size, peaking at 0.6–0.8, and was lowest in augmentations and highest in introductions. Growth increased with plant size across all habitat types, except for the largest adults which experienced senescence. Naturally recruited plants in gaps showed the highest reproduction probability and fecundity at smaller sizes, but larger plants in translocations had the highest fecundity. Yearling recruitment was higher in translocated plants relative to naturally recruited plants in gaps during the initial years following outplanting. Experimental components of translocations also affected outplanting performance with positive effects of fire. These analyses suggest a high potential for translocations to become established and contribute to species recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce a formal framework for the study of augmenting networks in the plane for disaster‐resilience, where a disaster is modeled by a straight‐line segment. We generalize various graph structures from classical 2‐edge‐connectivity, including minimal cuts and blocks. The key concept that we introduce is that of an l$$ l $$‐leaf, which builds on the fundamental "leaf‐block" concept from classical augmentation. We present a number of algorithms for constructing the above‐mentioned graph structures, including a sweep‐line algorithm that finds all edge‐cuts that can be destroyed by a single disaster. We also present an algorithm which optimally adds a single edge between a pair of l$$ l $$‐leaves or blocks while avoiding certain disaster regions. Finally, we present a number of heuristic schemes for solving the disaster‐resilient network augmentation problem and perform extensive experiments to demonstrate the power of the l$$ l $$‐leaf concept within heuristic design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Translocation is a management strategy that can be used to augment and reestablish populations or increase a species' range by establishing new populations. Gambel's quail (Callipepla gambelii) are the only native upland game birds in many desert areas of the American Southwest. Drought may be a driver in Gambel's quail population declines; however, quail in urban environments may remain abundant because these areas may contain more reliable sources of food, water, and cover. We hypothesized that translocation of urban quail following a wet winter, when resources are plentiful in their native habitat, might allow us to increase the rate at which extant populations are able to recover following drought by capitalizing on the high reproductive capacity of quail. To assess translocation as a management tool for augmentation of populations of Gambel's quail, we translocated 370 quail from 2019 to 2021 to augment 2 sites in the Altar Valley in Arizona, USA: King's Anvil Ranch (KA) and Santa Margarita Ranch (SM). We radiotracked 155 female quail on 2 study areas (KA: n = 77, SM: n = 78) to estimate 200‐day post‐release survival. Release site had the most impact on demographic rates. Quail in KA had higher survival (63.4–70.9%) than quail in SM (19.3–33.1%); however, quail in SM had higher nesting effort and success (nest effort = 63%, nest success = 50%) than quail in KA (nest effort = 33%, nest success: 0%) in the first year. Although this study showed that urban quail can survive and reproduce following translocation, neither site showed both high survival and high reproductive success. Furthermore, although spring call counts indicated augmentation may have had some short‐term benefits due to increased reproductive activity, we are not able to conclude that it increased quail abundance. Given the low annual adult survival rates of Gambel's quail, high spring‐summer survival alone will not be enough to boost wild populations in a measurable way the following year. Therefore, the ability of translocation to augment extant populations may be limited by low and variable reproductive success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is highly prevalent among veterans. Many veterans with PTSD respond well to serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs). Nonresponders may be prescribed augmenting medications, which are not as well‐studied in PTSD. Aims and Objectives: We used Veterans Health Administration electronic records to compare mental health outcomes (PTSD symptoms and rates of mental health hospitalizations and psychiatric emergency room visits) in patients with PTSD who were prescribed four different groups of augmenting medications (atypical antipsychotics, mirtazapine, prazosin or tricyclic antidepressants) in addition to SRIs—from the year before to the year after the start of the augmenting medication. Method: We included data from 169,982 patients with a diagnosis of PTSD (excluding patients with comorbid bipolar or psychotic disorders) seen in Veterans Affairs care from 2007 to 2015 who were taking an SRI and filled a new prescription for one of the four augmenting medications for at least 60 days. Results: Patients evidenced minimal (<2%) reduction in PTSD symptoms and a larger reduction in psychiatric hospitalizations and psychiatric emergency room visits after receiving augmenting medications; this effect was largely similar across the four medication groups. Initiating augmenting medications was preceded by increases in PTSD symptoms, psychiatric hospitalizations and psychiatric emergency room visits. After initiating an augmenting medication, PTSD symptoms/hospitalizations/emergency room visits returned to baseline levels (before the start of the augmenting medication), but generally did not improve beyond baseline. Conclusion: Importantly, these effects could be explained by regression to the mean, additional interventions or confounding. These findings should be further explored with placebo controlled randomized clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Nowadays, artificial intelligence‐based medicine plays an important role in determining correlations not comprehensible to humans. In addition, the segmentation of organs at risk is a tedious and time‐consuming procedure. Segmentation of these organs or tissues is widely used in early diagnosis, treatment planning, and diagnosis. In this study, we trained semantic segmentation networks to segment healthy parotid glands using deep learning. The dataset we used in the study was obtained from Recep Tayyip Erdogan University Training and Research Hospital, and there were 72 T2‐weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images in this dataset. After these images were manually segmented by experts, masks of these images were obtained according to them and all images were cropped. Afterward, these cropped images and masks were rotated 45°, 120°, and 210°, quadrupling the number of images. We trained ResNet‐18/MobileNetV2‐based DeepLab v3+ without augmentation and ResNet‐18/MobileNetV2‐based DeepLab v3+ with augmentation using these datasets. Here, we set the training set and testing set sizes for all architectures to be 80% and 20%, respectively. We designed two different graphical user interface (GUI) applications so that users can easily segment their parotid glands by utilizing all of these deep learning‐based semantic segmentation networks. From the results, mean‐weighted dice values of MobileNetV2‐based DeepLab v3+ without augmentation and ResNet‐18‐based DeepLab v3+ with augmentation were equal to 0.90845–0.93931 and 0.93237–0.96960, respectively. We also noted that the sensitivity (%), specificity (%), F1 score (%) values of these models were equal to 83.21, 96.65, 85.04 and 89.81, 97.84, 87.80, respectively. As a result, these designed models were found to be clinically successful, and the user‐friendly GUI applications of these proposed systems can be used by clinicians. This study is competitive as it uses MR images, can automatically segment both parotid glands, the results are meaningful according to the literature and have software application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In general, diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common ocular disease that causes damage to the retina due to blood leakage from the vessels. Earlier detection of DR becomes a complicated task and it is necessary to prevent complete blindness. Various physical examinations are employed in DR detection but manual diagnosis results in misclassification results. Therefore, this article proposes a novel technique to predict and classify the DR disease effectively. The significant objective of the proposed approach involves the effective classification of fundus retinal images into two namely, normal (absence of DR) and abnormal (presence of DR). The proposed DR detection utilizes three vital phases namely, the data preprocessing, image augmentation, feature extraction, and classification. Initially, the image preprocessing is done to remove unwanted noises and to enhance images. Then, the preprocessed image is augmented to enhance the size and quality of the training images. This article proposes a novel modified Gaussian convolutional deep belief network based dwarf mongoose optimization algorithm for effective extraction and classification of retinal images. In this article, an ODIR‐2019 dataset is employed in detecting and classifying DR disease. Finally, the experimentation is carried out and the proposed approach achieved 97% of accuracy. This implies that our proposed approach effectively classifies the fundus retinal images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Platelet‐rich fibrin (PRF) is a second‐generation platelet concentrate and biomaterial with multiple applications in clinical dentistry. Recent developments in the production of PRF have resulted in several divergent protocols that could be seen to affect the reproducibility and generalisability of the available literature. Additionally, imprecise reporting on PRF production is a further confounding factor with respect to previous trial data. Aims: The primary aim of this review was to assess the recent clinical trial data relating to the use of PRF, irrespective of centrifugal protocol, in clinical dentistry. Methods: A systematic literature review was carried out in PubMed and the Cochrane Library databases to select English language, human clinical trials involving the use of PRF published between July 2018 and July 2021. Results: The 50 included studies demonstrated an overall clinical benefit for the use of PRF in the fields of oral medicine, oral surgery and periodontology, with unclear benefits in the field of endodontology, and no clear benefit in the field of orthodontics. Only 16% of the included studies met published standards for reporting PRF production protocols, and meeting such standards should be an essential requirement for future publications. Conclusions: There was little direct evidence to support one particular PRF protocol over another and this remains an area of controversy. Future research should focus on precise reporting of PRF protocols, and in areas where PRF is of known benefit, the use of different production methods should be compared to assess what, if any, clinical significance is attached to particular centrifugation protocols and tubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tissue fillers are among the most popular cosmetic procedures performed and notably, cases of filler reactions after COVID‐19 vaccination have been reported. Objective: The objective was to determine the characteristics of patients with filler reaction after COVID‐19 vaccination and address several considerations that have to be taken into practice. Methods: A PRISMA compliant systematic search was conducted in Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed/MEDLINE databases for articles published from inception up to October 21, 2021. Results: Out of 106 initially retrieved articles, four of them were included in our study, and a total number of 13 cases were analyzed. In this study, we found that all of the patients who developed delayed‐type reaction (DTR) following COVID‐19 vaccination were middle‐aged women without any known history of allergy to foods or drugs. All patients had a history of hyaluronic acid (HA) filler injection in their head and neck and demonstrated symptoms particularly swelling, from <1 day up to 10 days after the first or second doses of vaccines. Lisinopril, hyaluronidase, and corticosteroids seemed to have good results in management. Conclusion: Although rare, DTR to fillers after COVID‐19 vaccination can happen. Physicians should be aware of the pathogenesis and management of this phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Augmentation is a paradoxical reaction mainly to dopaminergic medication in patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS), but the exact pathomechanism remains unclear. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with augmentation in RLS patients. Methods: RLS patients with and without current or previous augmentation were recruited. Demographic characteristics, history of smoking, questionnaires for depression, alexithymia, and impulsivity, and RLS severity were obtained. Results: We included 122 patients, of whom half had a history of augmentation. Patients with augmentation had a longer disease duration (p = 0.001), had higher RLS severity scores (p = 0.013), had higher levodopa equivalent doses (p < 0.001), had higher scores for alexithymia (p = 0.028), had higher prevalence of impulse control disorders (p < 0.001), more often had a history of smoking (p = 0.039), were more often currently smoking (p = 0.015), and had more average pack‐years (p = 0.016). Conclusions: Here, we describe several factors commonly associated with augmentation in RLS. These may help clinicians to screen and treat patients carefully to avoid the challenging side effect of augmentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation translocations have become an important management tool, particularly for large wildlife species such as the lion (Panthera leo). When planning translocations, the genetic background of populations needs to be taken into account; failure to do so risks disrupting existing patterns of genetic variation, ultimately leading to genetic homogenization, and thereby reducing resilience and adaptability of the species. We urge wildlife managers to include knowledge of the genetic background of source/target populations, as well as species‐wide patterns, in any management intervention. We present a hierarchical decision‐making tool in which we list 132 lion populations/lion conservation units and provide information on genetic assignment, uncertainty and suitability for translocation for each source/target combination. By including four levels of suitability, from 'first choice' to 'no option', we provide managers with a range of options. To illustrate the extent of international trade of lions, and the potential disruption of natural patterns of intraspecific diversity, we mined the CITES Trade Database for estimated trade quantities of live individuals imported into lion range states during the past 4 decades. We identified 1056 recorded individuals with a potential risk of interbreeding with wild lions, 772 being captive‐sourced. Scoring each of the records with our decision‐making tool illustrates that only 7% of the translocated individuals were 'first choice' and 73% were 'no option'. We acknowledge that other, nongenetic factors are important in the decision‐making process, and hence a pragmatic approach is needed. A framework in which source/target populations are scored based on suitability is not only relevant to lion, but also to other species of wildlife that are frequently translocated. We hope that the presented overview supports managers to include genetics in future management decisions and contributes towards conservation of the lion in its full diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halting the global decline of freshwater mussels requires an improved understanding of the restoration approaches currently in use and the identification of shortcomings to inform the development of new ones. This article reviews published evaluations of restoration efforts on the ground and those identified or proposed in the literature.This review found few reports of the effectiveness of restoration measures, and of those reported there was strong temporal and geographical bias. Reports were mostly recent and took place within mussel‐diverse regions of the Global North (i.e. North America, Europe).Efforts focused on population support encompassed relocation, translocation and population augmentation from captive breeding, and potential restoration approaches emphasized planning and prioritization. It was challenging to assess restoration success owing to differences in success metrics and varied lengths of post‐restoration monitoring. Some measures were inherently more species specific, such as population support, but some articles suggested that the use of multiple measures may allow more species to be addressed by restoration efforts.Consistent documentation and reporting of restoration measures – including failed ones – are needed to advance freshwater mussel restoration. In addition, continued work is needed to accelerate and better align the development and use of restoration approaches for freshwater mussels. Reporting of unsuccessful or partially successful attempts does not adequately reflect the long life histories of freshwater mussels.Investigation of the contexts where approaches have been effective (even partially), and concerted efforts to implement combinations of measures at a catchment scale are critical for unionids globally. As such, recommendations are posed to aid integration of research and practice to advance and further develop freshwater mussel restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Despite widespread belief that anxiety causes longer labor, evidence of association is inconsistent. Data gathered as part of a prospective epidemiological longitudinal study were used to investigate associations between antenatal anxiety and pregnancy‐specific stress, and labor progression was assessed by duration and use of augmentation. Material and methods: Pregnant primiparous women completed measures for anxiety and pregnancy‐specific stress at 20 weeks' gestation (n = 1145). Birth outcome data were extracted from medical records. Regression analyses and a path analysis assessed associations between antenatal anxiety and pregnancy‐specific stress, and indices of labor progression (labor duration and augmentation). Results: Anxiety/pregnancy‐specific stress were not directly associated with duration of stage 1 labor (HIGH/LOW anxiety: mean difference = 13.94 minutes, SD = 20.66, 95% CI −26.60 to 54.49, P <.50)/(HIGH/LOW pregnancy‐specific stress: mean difference = 12.05 minutes, SD = 16.09, 95% CI −19.52 to 43.63, P <.45). However, anxiety/pregnancy‐specific stress were associated with epidural use (HIGH/LOW anxiety: 39% vs 31%, P <.042; HIGH/LOW pregnancy‐specific stress: 38% vs 29%, P <.001), which was itself associated with longer labor (mean difference: 158.79 minutes, SD = 16.76, 95% CI 125.89‐191.68, P <.001). Anxiety and pregnancy‐specific stress were associated with increased likelihood of augmentation but these associations were nonsignificant after accounting for epidural, which was itself highly associated with augmentation. However, path analysis indicated an indirect effect linking pregnancy‐specific stress, but not general anxiety, to labor duration and augmentation: elevated pregnancy‐specific stress led to greater use of epidural, which was linked to both increased rates of augmentation, and increased labor duration. Conclusions: Contrary to general belief, general anxiety and specific pregnancy stress were not directly linked to longer duration of stage one labor. However specific pregnancy stress was associated with epidural use, which in turn was significantly associated with risk of augmentation, and longer stage one labor. Identification of pregnancy‐specific stress could help to identify women for whom psychological interventions could improve birth experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of identifying an obstacle (scatterer) in the form of a cavity in a 2D geophysical medium is considered. This is posed as an inverse wave problem, where the location of the cavity is sought based on measurements of the elastic waves recorded by sensors located at certain points in the domain. The sensor measurements are noisy, and are generated synthetically as a first step. The inverse problem is solved by seeking the minimum of a specially designed cost functional, based on a computational time reversal (TR) procedure, where waves are radiated back in time from the sensors. The cost functional is defined to measure, for each scatterer candidate in the search space, the quality of the refocusing of the backward‐propagating waves on the given wave source at the end of the TR process. While the basic idea has appeared in previous publications, here it is applied to a 2D heterogeneous geophysical model (albeit a relatively simple one), and is enhanced by using several auxiliary techniques. These include (a) an "augmentation" technique, which is used to strengthen the coherent information (and thus to weaken the noncoherent information) by solving an elliptic problem at each time step; (b) experimentation with both instantaneous (impact) sources and time‐harmonic sources of finite duration; (c) combining the identification results of several sources and several source wavelengths to enhance identification; (d) reducing the size of the search space by a special "zooming in" technique; and (e) defining a performance index to assess the method's success and to provide a measure of confidence in the identification result in each specific case. Several numerical experiments are presented that demonstrate the performance of the proposed schemes. The sensitivity of the identification process to various parameters of the scatterer, the measurements, and the medium is investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is one of the most common neurological disorders. It describes an irresistible urge to move the legs, mostly manifested in the evening and at night, which can lead to severe sleep disturbance. As part of the European Brain Council (EBC)‐led Value‐of‐Treatment project, this study aimed at capturing the socioeconomic impact of RLS related to the inadequate diagnosis and treatment across different European healthcare settings. The economic burden of RLS was estimated using the published EBC framework of analysis in three separate European Union healthcare systems (France, Germany, and Italy). The RLS care pathway was mapped to identify the unmet needs of patients. Based on specific patient stories, the economic impact of correctly diagnosing RLS and changing between inadequate and target treatment was calculated using appropriate scenario analysis. RLS proved to be a significant personal and social burden, when epidemiological data, high prevalence of RLS, and its need for treatment are combined. By looking at the savings emerging from the provision of optimal care management (timely and correct diagnosis, evidence‐based therapy, avoidance of therapy‐related complications such as augmentation), the authors foresee substantial economic savings with the achievement of adequate diagnosis and treatment of RLS. Education about RLS is urgently needed for all subspecialties involved in RLS patient care as well as the general public. Equally important, the search for new causal treatment strategies should be intensified to reduce suffering and substantial societal cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This survey concerns subspace recycling methods, a popular class of iterative methods that enable effective reuse of subspace information in order to speed up convergence and find good initial vectors over a sequence of linear systems with slowly changing coefficient matrices, multiple right‐hand sides, or both. The subspace information that is recycled is usually generated during the run of an iterative method (usually a Krylov subspace method) on one or more of the systems. Following introduction of definitions and notation, we examine the history of early augmentation schemes along with deflation preconditioning schemes and their influence on the development of recycling methods. We then discuss a general residual constraint framework through which many augmented Krylov and recycling methods can both be viewed. We review several augmented and recycling methods within this framework. We then discuss some known effective strategies for choosing subspaces to recycle before taking the reader through more recent developments that have generalized recycling for (sequences of) shifted linear systems, some of them with multiple right‐hand sides in mind. We round out our survey with a brief review of application areas that have seen benefit from subspace recycling methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aim of this prospective, clinical study was to evaluate the clinical performance and histological outcome of a new equine hydroxyapatite collagenated bone block (eHAC) for horizontal bone grafting prior to implant placement. Materials and Methods: Five patients (two male/three female) with a mean age of 51.6 years (range 22–66 years) and a reduced horizontal bone width of the alveolar ridge (mean 3.5 mm) underwent horizontal bone grafting using eHAC at 10 grafting sites. Reentry was performed 6.9 months after the horizontal grafting procedure. Clinical follow‐up (mean 28.9 month) considered width gain of the alveolar ridge, soft tissue healing, and complications. To evaluate graft incorporation, four additional patients underwent histological assessment of equine blocks adjacent to autologous blocks 3 and 6 months after grafting. Results: The study was terminated after graft failure was observed in four of five patients. Mean horizontal bone width had increased by 3.6 ± 1.22 mm. Three out of nine implants placed had to be removed due to graft failure. Histological evaluation revealed large amounts of soft connective tissue within the grafts (mean 67.3 ± 9.5%). The proportion of new bone formation 3 months after the lateral grafting procedure revealed an average of 8.6%, compared to 11.4% after 6 to 7 months. Conclusion: Lateral ridge grafting using eHAC achieved measurable horizontal width gain but revealed high rates of severe complications. Clinical Implications: Within the limitations of this study, eHAC bone blocks cannot be recommended for horizontal bone grafting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Bemisia tabaci is a notorious agricultural pest that causes serious damage to many crops via herbivory and spread of viral diseases. Effective control measures are, therefore, required. Integrating entomopathogenic fungi into the chemical control system offers promise for B. tabaci management. RESULTS: In‐vitro assays on the augmentative effect of Beauveria bassiana GHA strain with insecticides, and its compatibility with fungicides were tested. Varying egg mortality was observed for most insecticides except for milbemectin. Pyrifluquinazon was less effective against the nymphs. Flonicamid showed no insecticidal effect on either nymphs or adults. However, increased mortality in nymphs and adults was observed when flonicamid was mixed with Beauveria bassiana GHA strain. Furthermore, no significant synergistic effect of mixing pesticides with B. bassiana GHA strain was observed. Most insecticides (when not mixed with B. bassiana) showed high (>80%) mortality against B. tabaci nymphs and adults. Most fungicides tested showed no inhibitory effects on B. bassiana GHA strain against B. tabaci nymphs and adults. Fungistatic effect was observed in the mycelial and spore germination inhibition studies. Weekly rotation of some pesticides with B. bassiana GHA strain in greenhouse conditions yielded significant reduction in different growth stages of B. tabaci. However, no significant difference in viral incidence was observed. CONCLUSION: Laboratory and field tests showed positive effects of augmenting pesticides and B. bassiana GHA strain against B. tabaci nymphs and adults. Therefore, augmentation of pesticides and B. bassiana GHA strain is one prospect towards developing an effective B. tabaci IPM system. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: The addition of a laxative prior to a standard bowel preparation (BP) has shown variable results in efficacy, safety, and tolerability of the BP. This study compared the efficacy and tolerability of a macrogol‐augmented BP (M‐BP) with standard BP for routine colonoscopy in unselected patients. Methods: Adults undergoing outpatient colonoscopy were randomized to either M‐BP (one sachet of macrogol‐based osmotic laxative (MBOL) twice daily for eight doses prior to standard preparation) or BP (split‐dose of polyethylene glycol and sodium picosulfate). Bowel cleansing was assessed using the Ottawa BP scale. Risk factors for poor BP, patient satisfaction, and tolerance were recorded. Results: This randomized trial was stopped due to futility after 14 months; at that point, 92 subjects were randomized to the study arm and 102 to the control arm. M‐BP had a success rate of 71.7% (95% CI: 58.5–82.7%), while the BP had a success rate of 67.7% (95% CI: 54.9–78.8%), with a Pearson χ2 test P‐value of 0.639, which exceeded the cut‐off for futility (0.313). In subgroup analyses, there were statistically significant decreases in the rates of successful BP in patients taking regular opioids and regular laxatives. Both preparations were well tolerated, with no difference between groups (BP – 5.3% and M‐BP – 6.6% P = 0.66). Conclusion: The addition of MBOL prior to a standard BP in unselected subjects does not significantly improve bowel cleanliness at routine colonoscopy. The role of this laxative in patients at high risk of poor preparation warrants further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficiency of local augmentation releases of the egg parasitoid Anaphes nitens to control the Eucalyptus snout‐beetle Gonipterus platensis was tested in Eucalyptus globulus plantations in Galicia (NW Spain). On May–June 2006, at two localities of Pontevedra province, the release of host egg capsules parasitized by A. nitens at a potential rate of 300 adults/ha was compared with a release density of 900 adults/ha, and a control group of eucalypts not subjected to augmentation. Parasitism rate after 1–2 weeks did not significantly increase over the control plots at both localities. The high release rate did not ensure a higher crop protection and therefore could be not economically justified. On March–April 2017, at four localities of Pontevedra province, the test was replicated by releasing 300 parasitoids/ha. Parasitism level did significantly increase over the control just in one locality. Augmentation of A. nitens at small scale generally failed to achieve a higher protection from the pest, possibly due to the large extension of the E. globulus plantations, the magnitude of the G. platensis population and the fluctuations of the established parasitoid population, whose density is in turn affected by host egg availability and density‐dependent dispersal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical trials are widely considered the gold standard for treatment evaluation, and they can be highly expensive in terms of time and money. The efficiency of clinical trials can be improved by incorporating information from baseline covariates that are related to clinical outcomes. This can be done by modifying an unadjusted treatment effect estimator with an augmentation term that involves a function of covariates. The optimal augmentation is well characterized in theory but must be estimated in practice. In this article, we investigate the use of machine learning methods to estimate the optimal augmentation. We consider and compare an indirect approach based on an estimated regression function and a direct approach that aims directly to minimize the asymptotic variance of the treatment effect estimator. Theoretical considerations and simulation results indicate that the direct approach is generally preferable over the indirect approach. The direct approach can be implemented using any existing prediction algorithm that can minimize a weighted sum of squared prediction errors. Many such prediction algorithms are available, and the super learning principle can be used to combine multiple algorithms into a super learner under the direct approach. The resulting direct super learner has a desirable oracle property, is easy to implement, and performs well in realistic settings. The proposed methodology is illustrated with real data from a stroke trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the current review was to update the previous evidence-based medicine review of treatments for restless legs syndrome published in 2008. All randomized, controlled trials (level I) with a high quality score published between January 2007 and January 2017 were reviewed. Forty new studies qualified for efficacy review. Pregabalin, gabapentin enacarbil, and oxycodone/naloxone, which did not appear in the previous review, have accrued data to be considered efficacious. Likewise, new data enable the modification of the level of efficacy for rotigotine from likely efficacious to efficacious. Intravenous ferric carboxymaltose and pneumatic compression devices are considered likely efficacious in idiopathic restless legs syndrome. Bupropion and clonidine were reviewed, but the lack of data determined a rating of insufficient evidence for efficacy. The following interventions continue to be considered efficacious as in 2008: levodopa, ropinirole, pramipexole, cabergoline, pergolide, and gabapentin. Bromocriptine, oxycodone, carbamazepine, and valproic acid are considered likely efficacious. Oral iron is nonefficacious in iron-sufficient subjects, but its benefit for patients with low peripheral iron status has not been adequately evaluated. Restless legs syndrome augmentation has been identified as a significant long-term treatment complication for pramipexole more than pregabalin and possibly for all dopaminergic agents more than α2δ ligands. Therefore, special monitoring for augmentation is required for all dopaminergic medications as well as tramadol. Other drugs also require special safety monitoring: cabergoline, pergolide, oxycodone, methadone, tramadol, carbamazepine, and valproic acid. Finally, we also highlighted gaps and needs for future clinical research and studies of restless legs syndrome. © 2018 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The objective was to examine the association between obstetric synthetic oxytocin use and hyperactivity/inattention problems in offspring.Material and Methods: We identified children born in 2000-2003, enrolled in the Danish National Birth Cohort, with data on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) reported by parents at age seven (n = 33 896) and age 11 (n = 27 561) and the children themselves around age 11 (n = 27 251). Information on oxytocin administration was provided in the Medical Birth Register. We estimated mean differences and odds ratios for childhood hyperactivity/inattention problems according to oxytocin exposure.Results: Synthetic oxytocin was administered in 26% of the deliveries. We did not find the use of synthetic oxytocin during birth to be associated with childhood hyperactivity/inattention problems, whether analyzed in linear or logistic regression models.Conclusions: Our findings do not support any effects of obstetric use of synthetic oxytocin on hyperactivity/inattention problems in children when measured with the SDQ subscale at 7 or 11 years of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent reviews of rare plant reintroduction success indicate that far fewer studies have been conducted with seeds than whole plants, and of these, less than 10% have established or had long‐term population persistence reported. Because seed reintroductions are relatively less expensive than plant reintroductions, determining ways to increase efficacy of using seeds to establish rare populations has conservation benefits. In laboratory trials, we examined seed germination of an endangered legume, Dalea carthagenensis var. floridana, endemic in South Florida, U.S.A. Laboratory treatments confirmed that seeds are hard seeded, remaining viable for 1,452 days even when moist; nicking, heat, and freezing triggered higher and more rapid germination than controls. Field trials begun in 2009, using pretreated (frozen) and untreated seeds within two habitats (natural and novel) revealed that freezing pretreatment increased germination in both habitats. However, plants matured, reproduced, and established seedlings only in natural habitat, not in novel habitat. By 2012, seed treatment plots in natural pine rockland had significantly greater numbers of reproductive plants and seedlings than controls. In a restoration context, using seed pretreatments to stimulate germination can improve establishment success in suitable habitats. When paired with essential vegetation management and a controlled burn, seed augmentation helped rescue the population from the brink of extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant number of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients continue to experience symptoms that interfere with their functioning following cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Providing an additional augmentation treatment following CBT could help reduce these residual symptoms. Mindfulness interventions that facilitate less reactivity to thoughts and feelings may be helpful for patients suffering from residual OCD symptoms. The purpose of the current randomized waitlist control trial was to evaluate the feasibility and impact of providing an 8-week mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) intervention following completion of a CBT intervention to OCD patients who continued to suffer from significant symptoms. Results indicated that compared to the waitlist control group, MBCT participants reported decreases in OCD symptoms ( d = 1.38), depression symptoms ( d = 1.25), anxiety symptoms ( d = 1.02), and obsessive beliefs ( d = 1.20) along with increases in self-compassion ( d = 0.77) and mindfulness skills ( d = 0.77). Additionally, participants reported high levels of satisfaction with the MBCT intervention. The results suggest that the use of MBCT for OCD as an augmentation therapy is acceptable to patients who continue to suffer from OCD symptoms after completing CBT and provides some additional relief from residual symptoms. Key Practitioner Message Mindfulness interventions teach skills that facilitate disengaging from cognitive routines and accepting internal experience, and these skills may be valuable in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), as individuals describe getting 'stuck' in repetitive thoughts and consequent rituals., The results of this study suggest that teaching mindfulness skills using an 8-week mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) intervention provides an added benefit (decreases in OCD, depression, and anxiety symptoms) for patients with OCD who have completed a cognitive behavioural therapy intervention and continued to suffer from significant symptoms., Participation in MBCT was also associated with increases in mindfulness skills including increased ability to be nonjudgmental and nonreactive. By fostering a nonjudgmental stance towards intrusive thoughts, mindfulness may discourage suppression and avoidance of thoughts and this could lead to increased habituation and a decreased reliance on compulsions., The use of MBCT as an augmentation treatment should be further explored to elucidate whether this treatment is beneficial for preventing relapse of OCD and could be compared against further cognitive behavioural therapy to see if offering participants a different and theoretically compelling intervention, such as MBCT, would outperform 'more of the same' for individuals with OCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Operative treatment of sacral insufficiency fractures is frequently being complicated by osteopenic bone properties. Cement augmentation of implanted sacroiliac screws may lead to superior construct stability and prevent mechanical complications. A novel hemi-pelvis test model with dissected symphysis was developed. Five fresh-frozen cadaveric pelvises were vertically osteotomized at the sacrum on both sides and fixed with sacroiliac screws in both corridors of the first sacral vertebral body. One side was randomly augmented with bone cement. Cyclic testing consisting of torsional loading (±2.5 Nm) combined with progressively increasing axial loading (+50 N compression, −10 N traction, ±0,01 N/cycle) was performed until failure; simulated physiological loads derived from inverse dynamic calculations. The fixation was analyzed fluoroscopically quantifying screw migrations and assessing failure mechanisms. Failure modes were cut-out, pull-out, screw-out, and washer penetration. Motion at fracture site was analyzed via optical motion tracking. Unscrewing was provoked four times with non-augmented and twice with augmented screws. When focusing on the sacral region only, cement augmentation significantly improved screw fixation in terms of increased number of cycles to failure ( p = 0.043). However, when considering overall construct stability, there was no significant difference between augmented and non-augmented state due to washer penetration at the iliac bone. The generated hemi-pelvis model was found to be valid due to the reproduction of the clinically observed failure mode (unscrewing). Unscrewing was not fully prevented by cement augmentation. Augmentation effects stability at the screw tip, but particularly in porotic bone, failure may shift to the next weak point. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:1485-1493, 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Levodopa and dopamine agonists have been the main treatment for restless legs syndrome during the past decades. Although their efficacy has been well documented over the short term, long-term dopaminergic treatment is often complicated by augmentation, loss of efficacy, and other side effects. Recent large randomized controlled trials provide new evidence for the efficacy of high-potency opioids and α2δ ligands, and several post hoc analyses, meta-analyses, algorithms, and guidelines have been published, often with a specific focus, for example, on augmentation, or on management of restless legs syndrome during pregnancy. Several new contributions to understanding the pathophysiology of restless legs syndrome have been published, but at this time, whether they will have an impact on treatment possibilities in the future cannot be estimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many educational tests which involve constructed responses, a traditional test score is obtained by adding together item scores obtained through holistic scoring by trained human raters. For example, this practice was used until 2008 in the case of GRE® General Analytical Writing and until 2009 in the case of TOEFL® i BT Writing. With use of natural language processing, it is possible to obtain additional information concerning item responses from computer programs such as e-rater®. In addition, available information relevant to examinee performance may include scores on related tests. We suggest application of standard results from classical test theory to the available data to obtain best linear predictors of true traditional test scores. In performing such analysis, we require estimation of variances and covariances of measurement errors, a task which can be quite difficult in the case of tests with limited numbers of items and with multiple measurements per item. As a consequence, a new estimation method is suggested based on samples of examinees who have taken an assessment more than once. Such samples are typically not random samples of the general population of examinees, so that we apply statistical adjustment methods to obtain the needed estimated variances and covariances of measurement errors. To examine practical implications of the suggested methods of analysis, applications are made to GRE General Analytical Writing and TOEFL i BT Writing. Results obtained indicate that substantial improvements are possible both in terms of reliability of scoring and in terms of assessment reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Implant counseling and information must enable the patient to make his/her own independent decision (informed consent). However, there are indications that patient counseling and information often provides incomplete information. Methods In 40 implant counseling and information sessions, all questions raised by the patients were documented during the session. The patient's decision for or against implant therapy was recorded 3 months later. The influence of the patient's age and gender, the type of insurance, the number of questions asked by the patient, the number of required implants, and the need for augmentation on the patient's decision were determined. Results Sixty-five percentage of the patients decided in favor of implant-prosthetic therapy. One significant factor influencing the patient's decision was the need for augmentation. Fifty-four percentage of the patients who decided in favor of the implant intervention needed augmentation. Eighty-six percentage of the patients who refused the intervention could have been treated only in conjunction with pre-implantological augmentation. The need for augmentation was associated with a higher mean number of questions per counseling and information session (3.7 vs. 2.3) (n.s.). Patients who had opted for implant treatment asked significantly fewer questions (2.5) than patients who refused the treatment (4.4). The patient's age and gender, the type of insurance, or the number of implants required had no influence on decision-making. Conclusion Patients who ask many questions rather tend to refuse the implant treatment. The need for augmentation was also associated with a significantly higher percentage of implant refusal. These results suggest that patients with an indication of augmentation require particularly detailed and comprehensive counseling and information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Translocations have become an increasingly popular tool in threatened macropod conservation in Australia. Although previous evaluations of Australian macropod translocations have been published, the number of contemporary translocation programmes awaiting analysis, and new data regarding historic translocations, required a new assessment of macropod translocation programmes., We aimed to assess trends in the way macropod translocations were conducted during the period 1969-2006, determine the number of successful translocations and identify factors common to successful translocations., Data regarding macropod translocations were obtained from a wide variety of sources, including peer-reviewed journals, 'grey' literature and popular interest publications. Questionnaires were also sent to translocation managers to acquire detailed information. Specific aspects of macropod translocation methodology were analysed, and classification tree analysis was conducted to identify methodological and environmental factors common to successful translocations., We identified 109 macropod translocations for which sufficient data could be collected to permit analysis. Using the presence of a population on 1 January 2007 as a simple criterion, 61% of translocations were successful. Of these translocations, 66% were also considered successful by Short et al.'s criteria (population persisted for five years and is deemed likely to continue to persist); the remainder could not be assessed due to lack of data or insufficient elapsed time since release. Classification tree analysis suggested methodological and environmental factors common to successful translocations; the overriding factor determining success was the absence of cats and foxes at the release site., Although Australian macropod translocation proponents are faced with myriad methodological options when designing a translocation protocol, the primary consideration should be whether or not cats or foxes are present at the release site. Managers should be aware that there may be no safe population level of such predators for some translocation candidate species. Ignoring this fact will inevitably lead to a repeat of past translocation failures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To evaluate the impact of maternal BMI on intrapartum interventions and adverse outcomes that may influence choice of planned birth setting in healthy women without additional risk factors. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Stratified random sample of English obstetric units. Sample 17 230 women without medical or obstetric risk factors other than obesity. Methods Multivariable log Poisson regression was used to evaluate the effect of BMI on risk of intrapartum interventions and adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes adjusted for maternal characteristics. Main outcome measures Maternal intervention or adverse outcomes requiring obstetric care (composite of: augmentation, instrumental delivery, intrapartum caesarean section, general anaesthesia, blood transfusion, 3rd/4th degree perineal tear); neonatal unit admission or perinatal death. Results In otherwise healthy women, obesity was associated with an increased risk of augmentation, intrapartum caesarean section and some adverse maternal outcomes but when interventions and outcomes requiring obstetric care were considered together, the magnitude of the increased risk was modest (adjusted RR 1.12, 95% CI 1.02-1.23, for BMI > 35 kg/m2 relative to low risk women of normal weight). Nulliparous low risk women of normal weight had higher absolute risks and were more likely to require obstetric intervention or care than otherwise healthy multiparous women with BMI > 35 kg/m2 (maternal composite outcome: 53% versus 21%). The perinatal composite outcome exhibited a similar pattern. Conclusions Otherwise healthy multiparous obese women may have lower intrapartum risks than previously appreciated. BMI should be considered in conjunction with parity when assessing the potential risks associated with birth in non-obstetric unit settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Missing covariates often arise in biomedical studies with survival outcomes. Existing approaches for missing covariates generally assume proportional hazards. The proportionality assumption may not hold in practice, as illustrated by data from a mouse leukemia study with covariate effects changing over time. To tackle this restriction, we study the missing data problem under the varying-coefficient proportional hazards model. On the basis of the local partial likelihood approach, we develop inverse selection probability weighted estimators. We consider reweighting and augmentation techniques for possible improvement of efficiency and robustness. The proposed estimators are assessed via simulation studies and illustrated by application to the mouse leukemia data. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY The present work deals with a new approach to frictional large deformation contact problems. In particular, a new formulation of the frictional kinematics is introduced that is based on a specific augmentation technique used for the introduction of additional variables. This augmentation technique substantially simplifies the formulation of the whole system. A size reduction of the resulting system of algebraic equations is proposed. Consequently, the augmentation technique does not lead to an increase in size of the algebraic system of equations to be ultimately solved. The size reduction retains the simplicity of the formulation and preserves important conservation laws such as conservation of angular momentum. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Long-term results of the overlapping sphincter repair (OSR) have been disappointing, attributed to poor tissue quality that deteriorates with time. Biological grafts enforce tissues. The aim was to compare functional outcome and quality of life at 1 year with and without Permacol® reinforcement to evaluate short-term benefit. Method From November 2007 to November 2008, women undergoing OSR using Permacol (group 1, n = 10) under institutional review board approval (safety trial) were age matched with patients from an institutional review board approved database (group 2, n = 10) who underwent the traditional OSR. Permacol mesh was placed under the two overlapped muscles. Group 2 underwent traditional repair. Preoperative and postoperative management of the groups was similar. The Fecal Incontinence Severity Index (FISI), the Cleveland Clinic Incontinence Score (CCFIS) and the Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life (FIQL) scale were used preoperatively and 1 year post-surgery. Results No significant differences in demographics, symptom duration, number of vaginal deliveries, comorbidities and symptom severity were noted. Group 2 underwent concomitant procedures. Group 1 reported no complications. Group 2 reported urinary retention and dehiscence. A significant difference was found in preoperative and postoperative FIQL subscales of coping/behaviour between groups. However, comparing the pre and post scores, significant improvements on FISI ( P = 0.02), the CCFIS ( P = 0.005) and two subscales of FIQL (coping/behaviour, P = 0.02, and embarrassment, P = 0.01) were found in group 1. Patient satisfaction was higher in group 1. Conclusion Biologic tissue enhancers (Permacol) do not add morbidity. Sphincter augmentation results in significant improvement in continence and quality of life scores compared with the preoperative scores in the short term over traditional repair. Long-term studies are needed to determine if this effect is sustained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]