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The assumptions underpinning the adiabatic Born-Oppenheimer (BO) approximation are broken for molecules interacting with attosecond laser pulses, which generate complicated coupled electronic-nuclear wave packets that generally will have components of electronic and dissociation continua as well as bound-state contributions. The conceptually most straightforward way to overcome this challenge is to treat the electronic and nuclear degrees of freedom on equal quantum-mechanical footing by not invoking the BO approximation at all. Explicitly correlated Gaussian (ECG) basis functions have proved successful for non-BO calculations of stationary molecular states and energies, reproducing rovibrational absorption spectra with very high accuracy. In this Article, we present a proof-of-principle study of the ability of fully flexible ECGs (FFECGs) to capture the intricate electronic and rovibrational dynamics generated by short, high-intensity laser pulses. By fitting linear combinations of FFECGs to accurate wave function histories obtained on a large real-space grid for a regularized 2D model of the hydrogen atom and for the 2D Morse potential, we demonstrate that FFECGs provide a very compact description of laser-driven electronic and rovibrational dynamics.

We propose a novel a posteriori error assessment for the single-reference coupled-cluster (SRCC) method called the S -diagnostic. We provide a derivation of the S -diagnostic that is rooted in the mathematical analysis of different SRCC variants. We numerically scrutinized the S -diagnostic, testing its performance for (1) geometry optimizations, (2) electronic correlation simulations of systems with varying numerical difficulty, and (3) the square-planar copper complexes [CuCl 4 ] 2- , [Cu(NH 3 ) 4 ] 2+ , and [Cu(H 2 O) 4 ] 2+ . Throughout the numerical investigations, the S -diagnostic is compared to other SRCC diagnostic procedures, that is, the T 1 , D 1 , max T 2 , and D 2 diagnostics as well as different indices of multideterminantal and multireference character in coupled-cluster theory. Our numerical investigations show that the S -diagnostic outperforms the T 1 , D 1 , max T 2 and D 2 diagnostics and is comparable to the indices of multideterminantal and multireference character in coupled-cluster theory in their individual fields of applicability. The experiments investigating the performance of the S -diagnostic for geometry optimizations using SRCC reveal that the S -diagnostic correlates well with different error measures at a high level of statistical relevance. The experiments investigating the performance of the S -diagnostic for electronic correlation simulations show that the S -diagnostic correctly predicts strong multireference regimes. The S -diagnostic, moreover, correctly detects the successful SRCC computations for [CuCl 4 ] 2- , [Cu(NH 3 ) 4 ] 2+ , and [Cu(H 2 O) 4 ] 2+ , which have been known to be misdiagnosed by T 1 and D 1 diagnostics in the past. This shows that the S -diagnostic is a promising candidate for an a posteriori diagnostic for SRCC calculations.

Children absconding from countries of conflict and war are often not able to document their age. When an age is given, it is frequently untraceable or poorly documented and therefore questioned by immigration authorities. Consequently many countries perform age estimations on these children. Provision of ethical practice during the age estimation investigation of unaccompanied minors is considered from different angles: (1) The UN convention on children’s rights, formulating specific rights, protection, support, healthcare and education for unaccompanied minors. (2) Since most age estimation investigations are based on medical examination, the four basic principles of biomedical ethics, namely autonomy, beneficence, non-malevolence, justice. (3) The use of medicine for non treatment purposes. (4) How age estimates with highest accuracy in age prediction can be obtained. Ethical practice in age estimation of unaccompanied minors is achieved when different but related aspects are searched, evaluated, weighted in importance and subsequently combined. However this is not always feasible and unanswered questions remain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Understanding human tooth structure fluorescence aids clinical and forensic dentistry, enabling tissue/material differentiation and the creation of esthetic restorative materials. Material manufacturers seek to replicate natural tooth fluorescence, necessitating the development of novel techniques to detect them. Procuring human teeth for research is challenging due to ethical and infection control standards, prompting a search for alternative models. Material and Methods: This study compares visible light‐induced fluorescence of porcine and human teeth to assess the value of porcine teeth as human analogs. Using a pulsed laser, an optimal fluorescence‐inducing wavelength was determined, followed by comparing fluorescence spectra between species. Results: Luminescence sensitivity and lifetimes were comparable between species, but spectral geometry differed. Conclusion: Porcine teeth, commonly used for dental material investigations, may not be suitable for dental fluorescence studies due to spectral differences. Accurately mimicking human tooth fluorescence remains complex. Further research is needed to develop reliable alternatives for dental fluorescence investigations that will advance clinical and forensic dentistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Military combat can result in the need for comprehensive care related to both physical and psychological trauma, most commonly chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These conditions tend to co-occur and result in high levels of distress and interference in everyday life. Thus, it is imperative to develop effective, time-efficient treatments for these conditions before they become chronic and resistant to change. We developed and pilot-tested the Pain and Trauma Intensive Outpatient Treatment (PATRIOT) Program, a brief, intensive (3 weeks, six sessions) integrated chronic pain and PTSD treatment. An overview and session-by-session outline of the PATRIOT Program is provided, followed by results from the first pilot evaluation of the PATRIOT Program's feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy in a sample of eight participating Veterans with comorbid chronic pain and PTSD. There were no treatment dropouts. At post-treatment, there were significant reductions in PTSD symptoms based on the Clinician-Administered Assessment of PTSD (CAPS). Pain and catastrophic thinking also decreased from pre- to post-treatment. With continued investigations and support, the PATRIOT Program may offer a brief, cost-effective, and more easily accessible treatment option for individuals who could benefit from learning skills to manage pain and PTSD more effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the real-time evolution of many-electron quantum systems is essential for studying dynamical properties in condensed matter, quantum chemistry, and complex materials, yet it poses a significant theoretical and computational challenge. Our work introduces a variational approach for fermionic time-dependent wave functions, surpassing mean-field approximations by accurately capturing many-body correlations. We employ time-dependent Jastrow factors and backflow transformations, enhanced through neural networks parameterizations. To compute the optimal time-dependent parameters, we employ the time-dependent variational Monte Carlo technique and introduce a new method based on Taylor-root expansions of the propagator, enhancing the accuracy of our simulations. The approach is demonstrated in three distinct systems. In all cases, we show clear signatures of many-body correlations in the dynamics. The results showcase the ability of our variational approach to accurately describe the time evolution, providing insight into quantum dynamical effects in interacting electronic systems, beyond the capabilities of mean-field. Variational parameterization of many-body wavefunctions using neural network quantum states is a powerful technique for studying many-body quantum systems but has been limited to time-independent cases. Nys et al. extend this approach to real-time evolution, providing improved accuracy over traditional methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electron beam irradiation can cause damage to biological and organic samples, as determined via transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) significantly reduces such damage by quickly freezing the environmental water around organic molecules. However, there are multiple hypotheses about the mechanism of cryo-protection in cryo-EM. A lower temperature can cause less molecular dissociation in the first stage, or frozen water can have a "cage" effect by preventing the dissociated fragments from flying away. In this work, we use real-time time-dependent density functional theory molecular dynamics(rt-TDDFT-MD) simulations to study the related dynamics. We use our recently developed natural orbital branching (NOB) algorithm to describe the molecular dissociation process after the molecule is ionized. We find that despite the difference in surrounding water molecules at different temperatures, the initial dissociation process is similar. On the other hand, the dissociated fragments fly away at room temperature, while they remain in the same cage when frozen water is used. Our results provide direct support for the cage effect mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral lichen planus (OLP), a T-lymphocyte-mediated disease of the oral mucosa, has a complex pathogenesis that involves a number of factors. The disease is characterized by recurrent episodes and requires continuous follow up, and there is no curative treatment available. Erosive lichen planus, among others, has a risk of malignant transformation and requires standardized treatment to control its progression. Different clinical subtypes of oral lichen planus require appropriate treatment. Pharmacological treatments are the most widely available and have the greatest variety of options and a number of novel pharmacological treatments are presented as highlights, including JAK enzyme inhibitors. The second is photodynamic therapy, which is the leading physiological treatment. In addition, periodontal treatment and psychological treatment should not be neglected. In this review, we briefly discuss the most recent developments in therapies for oral lichen planus after summarizing the most widely used clinical treatments, aiming to provide different proposals for future clinical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excited states are essential to many chemical processes in photosynthesis, solar cells, light-emitting diodes, and so on, yet how to formulate, quantify, and predict physiochemical properties for excited states from the theoretical perspective is far from being established. In this work, we leverage the four density-based frameworks from density functional theory (DFT) including orbital-free DFT, conceptual DFT, information-theoretic approach and direct use of density associated descriptors and apply them to the lowest singlet and triplet excited states for a variety of molecular systems to examine their stability, bonding, and reactivity propensities. Our results from the present study elucidate that it is feasible to employ these density-based frameworks to appreciate physiochemical properties for excited states and that excited state propensities can be markedly different from, sometime completely opposite to, those in the ground state. This work is the first effort, to the best of our knowledge, utilizing density-based reactivity frameworks to excited state. It should offer ample opportunities in the future to deal with real-world problems in photophysical and photochemical processes and transformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Veterinary Journal / Revue Vétérinaire Canadienne is the property of Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Phenomenological control is the ability to alter experience according to goals, measured by responses to imaginative suggestion. The capacity to create vivid mental imagery has been thought to contribute to generation of experiences following suggestions during hypnosis, but evidence is mixed. Moreover, no study has yet investigated this link outside of hypnosis. Across two studies (n = 639 and n = 66), we tested the relationship between imagery vividness and both non-hypnotic and hypnotic imaginative suggestion scales. Our samples included, for the first time, people lacking voluntary imagery (aphantasics). We also assessed this relationship following commonly used approaches to studying aphantasia (direct recruitment of self-reported aphantasics), versus those designed to minimize demand characteristics effects. We observed a weak positive relationship between imagery vividness and phenomenological control, with aphantasics being slightly lower in this trait than non-aphantasics. However, this effect was exaggerated among self-reported aphantasics, who scored lower on phenomenological control than samples experiencing imagery as well as aphantasics assessed via single-blind procedure. Our results have been certified as computationally reproducible by an independent statistician. We conclude that, while imagery may contribute to responding to imaginative suggestions, it is crucial to follow single-blind recruitment to reduce the effect of demand characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forensic dentistry is still an emerging field in Pakistan. The lack of scientific literature on the topic may lead to difficulties in situations where age estimation has a significant part such as in criminal and civil litigation. In mass disasters such as earthquakes and accidents, the correct investigation of the chronological age can be less troublesome if population-specific evidence is available. This is the rationale that justifies dedicated dental age estimation studies. This cross-sectional study aimed to test the time efficiency, validity and applicability of four dental age estimation methods: two invasive (Bang and Ramm and Lamendin) and two non-invasive (Kvaal and Cameriere) in an adult Pakistani population. A total of 37 teeth collected from a dental hospital in Islamabad, Pakistan, were used. Teeth included the central and lateral incisors, canines, and first and second premolars of males and females. Results were calculated using a Microsoft Office 2007 excel spreadsheet. Overall, Kvaal's method mean absolute error between chronological and estimated ages (MAE: 12.33) showed the highest variation and Bang and Ramm showed more accurate results in comparison with other methods (MAE: 4.80). It was both time-efficient and practical to use. It can be stated that these were preliminary cross-sectional outcomes and that studies with larger samples are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Electrophilicity and nucleophilicity are two vastly important chemical concepts gauging the capability of atoms in molecules to accept and donate the maximal number of electrons. In our earlier studies, we proposed to simultaneously quantify them using the Kullback-Leibler divergence from the information-theoretic approach in density functional theory. However, several issues with this scheme remain to be clarified such as its general validity, predictability, and relationship with other information-theoretic quantities. In this work, we revisit the matter with bigger datasets and deeper theoretical insights. Five information-theoretic quantities including Kullback-Leibler divergence, Hirshfeld charge, Ghost-Berkowitz-Parr entropy, and second and third orders of relative Onicescu information energy are found to be reliable and robust descriptors of electrophilicity and nucleophilicity propensities. Employing these five descriptors, we design a list of new compounds and predict their electrophilicity and nucleophilicity scales. This work should markedly improve our confidence and capability in applying information-theoretic quantities to evaluate electrophilicity and nucleophilicity propensities and henceforth pave the route for more applications of these quantities from information-theoretic approach in density functional theory in the future., Methods: All structures were fully optimized at the M06-2X/6-311 + G(d) level of DFT functional using the Gaussian 16 package (version C01) with integration grids and tight self-consistent-field convergence. The solvent effect was taken into account by using the implicit solvent model (CPCM) in the CH 2 Cl 2 solvent, and all 3D contour surfaces of Fukui function, local temperature, and ITA (information-theoretic approach) quantities were generated by GaussView. The Multiwfn 3.8 program was used to calculate the ITA indexes and atomic charges., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The two-dimensional (2D) transition metal thiophosphates family CdPS3 and CdPSe3 are supposed to explore pressure-relevant structural and electronic behaviors as support to build 2D spintronic devices. The pressure-induced phase transition and electronic properties of CdPX3 are investigated up to 40 GPa using first-principles calculation. CdPS3 undergoes reversible phase transitions at around 1.5 GPa and 25 GPa from C2/m structure to structure and then to P 3 ¯ 1 m structure, while the reversible phase transitions of CdPSe3 are found at approximately 13 GPa from R 3 ¯ structure to P 3 ¯ 1 m structure, reflected in the lattice constant mutation and cell volume collapse. The computed metallization transition is found at about 25 GPa and 13 GPa owing to energy band closure for CdPS3 and CdPSe3, respectively. As anisotropy increases with pressure, the enhanced metallic property is accompanied by the inter- and intra-layer sliding atom pairs induced by phase transition. The paper is conducive to considering the phase transition and metallization of CdPX3-type family under extreme conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We reviewed the time-dependent multiconfiguration self-consistent-field (TD-MCSCF) method and the time-dependent optimized coupled-cluster (TD-OCC) method for first-principles simulations of high-field phenomena such as tunneling ionization and high-order harmonic generation in atoms and molecules irradiated by a strong laser field. These methods provide a flexible and systematically improvable description of the multielectron dynamics by expressing the all-electron wavefunction by configuration interaction expansion or coupled-cluster expansion, using time-dependent one-electron orbital functions. The time-dependent variational principle plays a key role in deriving these methods while satisfying gauge invariance and Ehrenfest theorem. The real-time/real-space implementation with an absorbing boundary condition enables the simulation of high-field processes involving multiple excitation and ionization. We present a detailed, comprehensive discussion of such features of the TD-MCSCF and TD-OCC methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Carbonyl compounds, especially aldehydes, emitted to the atmosphere, may suffer hydration in aerosols or water droplets in clouds. At the same time, they can react with hydroxyl radicals which may add or abstract hydrogen atoms from these species. The interplay between hydration and hydrogen abstraction is studied using density functional and quantum composite theoretical methods, both in the gas phase and in simulated bulk water. The H-abstraction from the aldehydic and geminal diol forms of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, glycolaldehyde, glyoxal, methylglyoxal, and acrolein is studied to determine whether the substituent has any noticeable effect in the preference for the abstraction of one form or another. It is found that abstraction of the H-atom adjacent to the carbonyl group gives a more stable radical than same abstraction from the geminal diol in the case of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and glycolaldehyde. The presence of a delocalizing group in the C α (a carbonyl group in glyoxal and methylglyoxal, and a vinyl group in acrolein), reverts this trend, and now the abstraction of the H-atom from the geminal diol gives more stable radicals. A further study was conducted abstracting hydrogen atoms from the other different positions in the species considered, both in the aldehydic and geminal diol forms. Only in the case of glycolaldehyde, the radical formed by H-abstraction from the -CH 2 OH group is more stable than any of the other radical species. Abstraction of the hydrogen atom in one of the hydroxyl groups in the geminal diol is equivalent to the addition of the • OH radical to the aldehyde. It leads, in some cases, to decomposition into a smaller radical and a neutral molecule. In these cases, some interesting theoretical differences are observed between the results in gas phase and (simulated) bulk solvent, as well as with respect to the method of calculation chosen., Methods: DFT (M06-2X, B2PLYP, PW6B95), CCSD(T), and composite (CBS-QB3, jun-ChS, SCVECV-f12) methods using Dunning basis sets and extrapolation to the CBS limit were used to study the energetics of closed shell aldehydes in their keto and geminal-diol forms, as well as the radical derived from them by hydrogen abstraction. Both gas phase and simulated bulk solvent calculations were performed, in the last case using the Polarizable Continuum Model., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Automatic age estimation using panoramic dental radiographic images is an important procedure for forensics and personal oral healthcare. The accuracies of the age estimation have increased recently with the advances in deep neural networks (DNN), but DNN requires large sizes of the labeled dataset which is not always available. This study examined whether a deep neural network is able to estimate tooth ages when precise age information is not given. A deep neural network model was developed and applied to age estimation using an image augmentation technique. A total of 10,023 original images were classified according to age groups (in decades, from the 10s to the 70s). The proposed model was validated using a 10-fold cross-validation technique for precise evaluation, and the accuracies of the predicted tooth ages were calculated by varying the tolerance. The accuracies were 53.846% with a tolerance of ±5 years, 95.121% with ±15 years, and 99.581% with ±25 years, which means the probability for the estimation error to be larger than one age group is 0.419%. The results indicate that artificial intelligence has potential not only in the forensic aspect but also in the clinical aspect of oral care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone age is an indicator of bone maturity and is useful for the treatment of different pediatric conditions as well as for legal issues. Bone age can be assessed by the analysis of different skeletal segments and teeth and through several methods; however, traditional bone age assessment is a complicated and time-consuming process, prone to inter- and intra-observer variability. There is a high demand for fully automated systems, but creating an accurate and reliable solution has proven difficult. Deep learning technology, machine learning, and Convolutional Neural Networks-based systems, which are rapidly evolving, have shown promising results in automated bone age assessment. We provide the background of bone age estimation, its usefulness and traditional methods of assessment, and review the currently artificial-intelligence-based solutions for bone age assessment and the future perspectives of these applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significance of age estimation arises from its applications in various fields, such as forensics, criminal investigation, and illegal immigration. Due to the increased importance of age estimation, this area of study requires more investigation and development. Several methods for age estimation using biometrics traits, such as the face, teeth, bones, and voice. Among then, teeth are quite convenient since they are resistant and durable and are subject to several changes from childhood to birth that can be used to derive age. In this paper, we summarize the common biometrics traits for age estimation and how this information has been used in previous research studies for age estimation. We have paid special attention to traditional machine learning methods and deep learning approaches used for dental age estimation. Thus, we summarized the advances in convolutional neural network (CNN) models to estimate dental age from radiological images, such as 3D cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), X-ray, and orthopantomography (OPG) to estimate dental age. Finally, we also point out the main innovations that would potentially increase the performance of age estimation systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time time-dependent density-functional theory (RT-TDDFT) and linear response time-dependent density-functional theory (LR-TDDFT) are two important approaches to simulate electronic spectra. However, the basis sets used in such calculations are usually the ones designed mainly for electronic ground state calculations. In this work, we propose a systematic and robust scheme to truncate the atomic orbital (AO) basis set employed in TDDFT and TD Hartree–Fock (TDHF) calculations. The truncated bases are tested for both LR- and RT-TDDFT as well as RT-TDHF approaches, and provide an acceleration up to an order of magnitude while the shifts of excitation energies of interest are generally within 0.2 eV. The procedure only requires one extra RT calculation with 1% of the total propagation time and a simple modification on basis set file, which allows an instant application in any quantum chemistry package supporting RT-/LR-TDDFT calculations. Aside from the reduced computational effort, this approach also offers valuable insight into the effect of different basis functions on computed electronic excitations and further ideas on the design of basis sets for special purposes. Time-dependent calculations are widely employed in simulating spectra. Here, the authors present a basis set truncation scheme to analyse and accelerate TDDFT calculations with negligible change in the resulting electronic spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Estimating the age at death is a common procedure in the fields of forensic human identification and anthropological/archaeological investigations. Root translucency and periodontosis are regressive parameters used to estimate the age of adults, more specifically in Lamendin's method - established in 1992 in a French population. This study aimed to test the applicability and validity of Lamendin's method in a Brazilian osteological collection. Methods: The sample consisted of 74 single-rooted teeth obtained from 50 skeletal remains (mean age: 53.20 ± 16.17 years) from Southeast Brazil. Lamendin's method was applied to enable a comparison between chronological (CA) and estimated ages (EA). A new population-specific equation was designed for the studied sample and the outcomes were compared with those obtained with Lamendin's original equation. Results: The original methods led to a general underestimation of 11.32 years (8.83 years in males and 15.91 years in females). The method had a better performance among individuals between 40 and 59 years (mean differences between CA and EA: 4.8 years). The population-specific equation led to a mean overestimation of -2.04 years in males, and a mean underestimation of 3.77 years in females. Underestimations were considerably higher in other age groups. Conclusion: Despite the apparent improvements, both the original and the population-specific equations revealed coefficients of concordance that were constantly low between CA and EA. These outcomes suggest restrictions to the application of Lamendin's method in the forensic field, especially for human identification. The method, however, seems to be applicable for anthropological/archaeological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents skeletal material from five medieval burial sites in Eastern Norway, confined to one royal burial church, one Dominican monastery, and three burial sites representing parish populations. We combine osteological analysis and Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry, studying the remains of 227 individuals (102 females and 125 males) employing young, middle, and old adult age categories. The aim is to assess bone mineral density as a skeletal indicator of socioeconomic status including stature as a variable. We detected that socioeconomic status significantly affected bone mineral density and stature. Individuals of high status had higher bone mineral density (0.07 g/cm2, p = 0.003) and taller stature (1.85 cm, p = 0.017) than individuals from the parish population. We detected no significant relationship between young adult bone mineral density and socioeconomic status (p = 0.127 and 0.059 for females and males, respectively). For males, high young adult bone mineral density and stature varied concordantly in both status groups. In contrast, females of high status were significantly taller than females in the parish population (p = 0.011). Our findings indicate quite different conditions during growth and puberty for the two groups of females. The age-related pattern of bone variation also portrayed quite different trajectories for the two socioeconomic status groups of both sexes. We discuss sociocultural practices (living conditions during childhood and puberty, as well as nutritional and lifestyle factors in adult life), possibly explaining the differences in bone mineral density between the high-status and parish population groups. The observation of greater differences in bone mineral density and stature for females than males in the medieval society of Norway is also further discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista del Museo de Antropología is the property of Museo de Antropologia - IDACOR and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a photochemotherapy based on local application of a photosensitive compound and subsequent exposure to a light source of adequate wavelength. It is a non-invasive therapeutic procedure widely used in oncodermatology for treatment of numerous skin cancers, but in the last years its use has been gradually extended to an increasing list of skin diseases of both infectious and inflammatory nature. Although PDT is proven as a safe and effective therapeutic option in adults, its use is not well standardized in the pediatric population. In this review, we will focus on clinical applications, mechanisms of action, protocols, and adverse events in children and adolescents. Most of pediatric experiences concerned treatment of skin cancers in Gorlin syndrome and xeroderma pigmentosum, acne vulgaris, and viral warts, but other applications emerged, such as cutaneous lymphoma and pseudo-lymphomas, necrobiosis lipoidica, hidradenitis suppurativa, dissecting cellulitis, leishmaniasis, angiofibromas, verrucous epidermal nevus, and linear porokeratosis. In these pediatric diseases, PDT appeared as an effective therapeutic alternative. The results on vitiligo were limited and not fully encouraging. Although highly versatile, PDT is not a therapy for all skin diseases, and a deeper knowledge of its mechanisms of action is required to better define its spectrum of action and safety in pediatric patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regenerative endodontic treatments (RETs) as a valuable treatment option to save the immature necrotic teeth, have been reported to be associated with discoloration which is an inevitable unfavorable outcome. The present study aimed to compare three laser-assisted protocols with conventional walking bleaching in terms of bleaching efficacy. Seventy-two human incisor teeth underwent regenerative treatment. A triple antibiotic paste containing minocycline, ciprofloxacin, and metronidazole was used as an intracanal medicament. A human blood clot was applied as a scaffold and capped by a hydraulic calcium silicate-based cement. Ten weeks after the RET procedure, a four-session bleaching course started. Teeth were assigned to four groups: (1) 35% hydrogen peroxide gel, (2) 35% hydrogen peroxide gel + Nd: YAG laser, (3) 35% hydrogen peroxide gel + 980 nm diode laser, and (4) 35% hydrogen peroxide gel + 810 nm diode laser. The color changes (ΔE) were measured before and after bleaching sessions. The data were analyzed using Kruskal–Wallis nonparametric test. The statistical significance level was set at 0.05. Significant discoloration, exceeding the perceptibility threshold (ΔE > 3.7) was observed in all of the samples ten weeks after RET. There was no significant difference between groups in terms of RET-induced discoloration values (p > 0.05). Bleaching either by using 35% hydrogen peroxide or 35% hydrogen peroxide activated by different lasers used in this study resulted in significant tooth whitening (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference among the groups in terms of bleaching efficacy (p > 0.05). Internal bleaching by using 35% hydrogen peroxide is as effective as laser-assisted protocols for correction of crown discoloration in teeth that have undergone RET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Intersecciones en Antropología is the property of Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: This study aimed to reveal the efficacy of the artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted dental age (DA) assessment in identifying the characteristics of growth delay (GD) in children. Methods: The panoramic films matching the inclusion criteria were collected for the AI model training to establish the population-based DA standard. Subsequently, the DA of the validation dataset of the healthy children and the images of the GD children were assessed by both the conventional methods and the AI-assisted standards. The efficacy of all the studied modalities was compared by the paired sample t-test. Results: The AI-assisted standards can provide much more accurate chronological age (CA) predictions with mean errors of less than 0.05 years, while the traditional methods presented overestimated results in both genders. For the GD children, the convolutional neural network (CNN) revealed the delayed DA in GD children of both genders, while the machine learning models presented so only in the GD boys. Conclusion: The AI-assisted DA assessments help overcome the long-standing populational limitation observed in traditional methods. The image feature extraction of the CNN models provided the best efficacy to reveal the nature of delayed DA in GD children of both genders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The estimation of an individual's age is a fundamental component of forensic odontology. Literary reports found that the efficiency of Cameriere methodology for age estimation varied among many population groups. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the applicability of the Cameriere methods to a select South African population of the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted on 840 digital panoramic radiographs that met the inclusion criteria. Dental maturity was determined through the morphometric analysis of the seven left permanent mandibular and maxillary teeth in accordance with Cameriere et al. (2006). Moreover, the dental age was also calculated using the South African Black Bayesian formulae of the Cameriere method by Angelakopoulos et al. (2019). The paired sample t-test or Wilcoxon's signed rank test assessed the significant difference between the chronological age and estimated dental age for the various formulae. A p-value < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: The Cameriere et al. (2006) Italian formula and the South African Black Bayesian formulae of the Cameriere method by Angelakopoulos et al. (2019) underestimated and overestimated age in the South African Black and Indian population groups of the KZN province, respectively. Therefore, the authors generated a novel population-specific regression formulae (including and excluding third molars) using "step-wise regression analysis" and a "best-fit model" for the South African Black and Indian population groups of KZN. Conclusion: This study recommends that the population-specific formulae generated in this study be utilized in the KZN population to improve the accuracy of dental age estimation within this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In a forensic context, it may be necessary to estimate the age at death of an individual from his or her skeletal remains. The age at death constitutes an essential identification parameter, along with sex, ancestry, stature, and a few other biological characteristics that can help to trace the biological profile of the deceased. Although there is an extensive number of works in the literature on this topic, traditional anthropological methods encounter considerable difficulty in estimating the age of an adult based on skeletal remains. This difficulty increases with aging mainly due to the overlapping of pathological processes. In this study, we tested the reliability of a relatively simple histological methodology to estimate an individual′s age based on tooth roots cementum and developed new equations from individuals with known age and sex. In conclusion, our results confirm the importance of teeth in the estimation of age, suggesting that the proposed method may be effective, especially for younger individuals. Estimating age at death is a key element in the process of human identification of skeletal remains. The interest in dental cementum stems from its increase in thickness throughout life and, at the same time, from the fact it should not be affected by remodeling processes. Since the age assessment is particularly difficult in adults when using traditional anthropological methods on the skeleton, we tested a dental method based on maximum cementum thickness and developed new regression equations. We microscopically analyzed the histological sections of dental roots from a sample of 108 permanent teeth with known age and sex. Age at the time of dental extraction was in the range of 18–84 years. Our findings show that there were no differences in thickness between sexes, dental arch, and mono- and pluriradicular teeth. Separate regression equations were developed for individuals in the whole age range and individuals under 45 years. The equations were then tested on a hold-out sample from the same Mediterranean population demonstrating higher reliability for the equation developed for those under 45. Conversely, due to the increased error in age estimation in individuals over 45, this method should be used with caution in the forensic context when skeletal remains presumably belong to elderly individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indonesia is an archipelagic country bordered by tectonically active zones with intense seismicity and volcanism. This condition is often associated with a high-risk situation of disasters in Indonesia. Forensic identification is a necessary procedure to reveal an individual's identity. An identity, including sex and age, is needed to build a conclusion of human identification. Dental age estimation is a subfield of forensic odontology which focuses on establishing an individual's age. Tooth development, biochemical, and postformation changes are the parameters for estimating dental age. This review discusses the applicable dental age estimation method for children and adolescents in Indonesia. Several articles that have previously studied dental age estimation in Indonesia were reviewed for this manuscript. On reviewing these articles, it was found that the Demirjian method, the Willems method, and the Al Qahtani method are useful in this population with higher accuracy than other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2019, a metal detector hobbyist found an iron spearhead, a knife, and some burnt bones from an ambiguous stone structure situated on the scenic cape of Puijonsarvennenä in Kuopio. Archaeological excavation and subsequent analyses of the find material confirmed that the site was a single cremation burial, which was radiocarbon dated to 410-355 calBC, in the Pre-Roman Iron Age. The find material included several fragments of bone artefacts and a small amount of asbestos-tempered ceramics. The burial and its finds seem to indicate that the deceased person engaged in hunting and possibly fur trading, setting Puijonsarvennenä into a continuum with similar burial sites known from interior and northern Finland from the Early Bronze Age to the Late Iron Age. Currently, Puijonsarvennenä is the only Iron Age burial site to have been excavated in the North Savo province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: Based on the findings of this study, pulp–tooth volume ratio of mandibular central incisors, maxillary lateral incisors, and maxillary canines can be used for age estimation in males. Pulp–tooth volume ratio of maxillary and mandibular central incisors, maxillary lateral incisors, and maxillary and mandibular canines can be used for age estimation in females. Additionally, age estimation was most accurate among females using the maxillary central incisors and among males using the mandibular central incisors and maxillary canines. The present study aimed to investigate the correlation between chronological age and pulp–tooth volume ratio in anterior teeth using cone beam computed tomographic (CBCT) images and provide equations for age estimation based on pulp–tooth volume ratio. In this cross-sectional study, CBCT images of 312 anterior teeth of the maxilla and mandible were examineαd. The chronological age and the sex of the patients were recorded. Tooth volume and pulp volume of the anterior teeth were measured using Mimics software, and then tooth–pulp volume ratio was calculated. Statistical analysis of data was performed using chi-square test, independent T-test, Pearson's correlation, and linear regression (α = 0.05). Finally, equations were made based on the results of the regression analysis for age estimation in general and for males and females. The age of the subjects ranged between 16 and 69 years (mean 40.6 ± 12.74). The pulp–tooth volume ratio of the maxillary teeth was generally higher than the mandibular teeth. A significant inverse relationship between age and pulp–tooth volume ratio was observed for all anterior teeth. (p < 0.05). The strongest correlation between age and pulp–tooth volume ratio was reported for mandibular central incisor (r = −0.58, p < 0.001) and the weakest was for mandibular lateral incisor (r = −0.36, p = 0.012). Age estimation was most accurate among females using the maxillary central incisors (p < 0.001) and among males using the mandibular central incisors and maxillary canines (p = 0.003). Pulp–tooth volume ratio of mandibular central incisors, maxillary lateral incisors, and maxillary canines in males and maxillary and mandibular central incisors, maxillary lateral incisors, and maxillary and mandibular canines in females can be used for age estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We aimed to analyse age‐related anatomical changes in teeth and mandibular structures using panoramic radiographs. Materials and Methods: We included 471 subjects aged 13–70 years (mean, 35.12 ± 18.72 years). Panoramic radiographs were used to record intraoral condition and radiomorphometric parameters. After grouping the subjects by age decade, descriptive statistics and analysis of variance were performed to assess age‐related patterns. Results: The number of missing teeth, endodontically treated teeth, full veneer crowns, and implant prosthesis increased with age (all p <.05). The prevalence of periodontitis significantly increased after the 40s and was the highest in the 60s (57.1%). The maxillary canine root was the longest in the 10s and 20s (p <.001). With age, the mandibular canal and mental foramen moved towards the alveolar bone crest, on the opposite side of the mandibular inferior border. The pulp area and pulp‐to‐tooth ratio of maxillary/mandibular first molars were significantly higher in the 10s and 20s than in other age groups (all p <.05). Conclusions: We provided comprehensive information on age‐related anatomical changes in teeth and mandibular structures based on panoramic radiographs. Various radiographic parameters showed specific changes with increasing age. Assessing these age‐related changes can be useful in determining an individual's age, and may aid in medico‐legal and forensic judgments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Forensic dentistry has, as one of its main goals, the identification of living and/or deceased individuals, based on the individual features of the teeth. One of the identification criteria to be established is the chronological age. Several authors, including Kvaal, have developed age estimation methods based on secondary dentine deposition. Nowadays, three-dimensional imaging tests, such as Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT), are used in age estimation Objective: The aims of this research project were to validate Kvaal's method and its variables in age estimation and to create new linear regression formulae to better represent the study sample. Methods: We selected 158 CBCT, with a total of 402 sound teeth (central incisors, lateral incisors and canines). The necessary measurements and ratios were calculated in both coronal and sagittal sections, with XelisDental®. The formulae developed by Kvaal for age estimation calculation were applied. Subsequently, the results were statistically analyzed. Results and Discussion: The intraclass correlation coefficients from the two measurements ranged from 0.918 to 0.997. The calculated age estimation had a mean error of -21.4 years (coronal section) and -26.3 years (sagittal section). The t test revealed statistically significant differences between chronological age and estimated age. The absolute values of Pearson's correlation coefficient between age and the two Kvaal variables ranged from 0.06 to 0.38 and from 0.06 to 0.55. The coefficients of determination are lower than in the original study (between 0.03 and 0.39). In the linear regression formulae, the coefficients of determination ranged from 0.07 to 0.41. Conclusion: This investigation concludes a non-reproducibility of Kvaal's method in the Portuguese population when applied in CBCT, with statistically significant differences between the chronological age and the dental age, estimated by the pulp/tooth proportion method, based on the teeth analyzed in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bichromatic extreme-ultraviolet pulses from a seeded free-electron laser enable us to measure photoelectron angular distribution (PAD) as a function of the relative phase between the different wavelength components. The time-dependent multiconfiguration self-consistent-field (TD-MCSCF) methods are powerful multielectron computation methods to accurately simulate such photoionization dynamics from the first principles. Here, we propose a method to evaluate the amplitude and phase of each ionization path, which completely determines the photoionization processes, using TD-MCSCF simulation results. The idea is to exploit the capability of TD-MCSCF to calculate the partial wave amplitudes specified by the azimuthal and magnetic angular momenta (l, m) and the m-resolved PAD. The phases of the ionization paths as well as the amplitudes of the paths resulting in the same (l, m) are obtained through global fitting of the expression of the asymmetry parameters to the calculated m-resolved PAD, which depends on the relative phase of the bichromatic field. We apply the present method to ionization of Ne by combined fundamental and second-harmonic extreme ultraviolet pulses, demonstrating that the extracted amplitudes and phases excellently reproduce the asymmetry parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent increase of the number of unidentified cadavers has become a serious problem throughout the world. As a simple and objective method for age estimation, we attempted to utilize Raman spectrometry for forensic identification. Raman spectroscopy is an optical-based vibrational spectroscopic technique that provides detailed information regarding a sample's molecular composition and structures. Building upon our previous proof-of-concept study, we measured the Raman spectra of abdominal skin samples from 132 autopsy cases and the protein-folding intensity ratio, RPF, defined as the ratio between the Raman signals from a random coil an α-helix. There was a strong negative correlation between age and RPF with a Pearson correlation coefficient of r = 0.878. Four models, based on linear (RPF), squared (RPF2), sex, and RPF by sex interaction terms, were examined. The results of cross validation suggested that the second model including linear and squared terms was the best model with the lowest root mean squared error (11.3 years of age) and the highest coefficient of determination (0.743). Our results indicate that the there was a high correlation between the age and RPF and the Raman biological clock of protein folding can be used as a simple and objective forensic age estimation method for unidentified cadavers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coherent electron displacement is a conventional strategy for processing quantum information, as it enables to interconnect distinct sites in a network of atoms. The efficiency of the processing relies on the precise control of the mechanism, which has yet to be established. Here, we theoretically demonstrate a new route to drive the electron displacement on a timescale faster than that of the dynamical distortion of the electron wavepacket by utilizing attosecond single-cycle pulses. The characteristic feature of these pulses relies on a vast momentum transfer to an electron, leading to its displacement following a unidirectional path. The scenario is illustrated by revealing the spatiotemporal nature of the displaced wavepacket encoding a quantum superposition state. We map out the associated phase information and retrieve it over long distances from the origin. Moreover, we show that a sequence of such pulses applied to a chain of ions enables attosecond control of the directionality of the coherent motion of the electron wavepacket back and forth between the neighbouring sites. An extension to a two-electron spin state demonstrates the versatility of the use of these pulses. Our findings establish a promising route for advanced control of quantum states using attosecond single-cycle pulses, which pave the way towards ultrafast processing of quantum information as well as imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The present work aimed to evaluate age-related variations in the dental pulp chamber volume of second molars using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging, in order to establish a specific mathematical model for second molars and measure its accuracy, especially in the case of Egyptian adults. Subjects and methods: From 187 subjects between 21-50 years of age, CBCT images of 257 maxillary and 248 mandibular second molars were included. A mathematical model for human age estimation was established. An independent additional set of CBCT images was obtained to test the model's accuracy. Results: For maxillary and mandibular teeth, R2 for the pooled sexes were 0.51 and 0.52, and SEE were 5.92 and 5.71, respectively. A model for each sex was established, due to the significant difference between them, where R2 was equal to 0.668 and 0.650 in males and 0.46 and 0.48 in females, concerning maxillary and mandibular teeth, respectively. When testing the validation samples, the mean absolute error (MAE) between the actual and estimated ages from the pooled sex model were 4.89 and 4.61 for maxillary and mandibular teeth, respectively. Conclusion: The pulp chamber volume of second molars is a relatively accurate indicator for age estimation in Egyptian adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To evaluate the in vivo tooth volume through VRMesh and 3Matic programs and to compare the measurements to the physical volume. So, the aim of the study was to ensure the reliability and sensitivity of the three-dimensional software (VRMesh and 3Matic) in measuring tooth volume. Material and Methods. The volume of 26 extracted upper first premolars from orthodontic patients who had CBCT before orthodontic treatment were measured. Two different commercial programs, which were VRMesh and 3Matic, were used to calculate the volume of the segmented upper first premolar from CBCT. The in vivo tooth volume was compared to the physical tooth volume to examine the accuracy of the two software in measuring the tooth volume. Results. The difference between the mean of the in vivo and in vitro tooth volume measurements was too small, making it clinically nonsignificant. ANOVA test was used as a statistical tool, and no statistically significant difference was noticed among the measurements. The values were normally distributed when tested for normality by Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk test. P value less than or equal to 0.05 (P ≤ 0.05) was considered statistically significant. Conclusion. The assessment of the in vivo tooth volume measurement with different three-dimensional imaging software (VRMesh and 3Matic) programs in comparison with the tooth physical volume is reliable. The use of a mouse pen during the refining stage of the segmentation may have increased the accuracy of the procedure. The determined in vivo tooth volumes are dependable and can be applied in orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We simulated the multielectron dynamics of a CO molecule irradiated by near-IR λ = 760 nm two-cycle pulses with different carrier envelope phases by using the multiconfiguration time-dependent (TD) Hartree–Fock (MCTDHF) method. The ionization rate estimated from the simulations is higher when the laser electric field ɛ (t) points from C to O than in the opposite case, in agreement with the results of two-color experiments. The mechanism of the directional anisotropy in tunnel ionization of CO was examined by converting the obtained multielectron dynamics to the representation in terms of TD natural orbitals {ϕj(t)}. Within the framework of MCTDHF, we derived the equations of motion for {ϕj(t)}. From the derived equations, we defined the TD effective potentials that govern the dynamics of ϕj(t). consists of the one-body part v1(t) including the interaction with ɛ (t) and the two-body part v2,j(t) originating from electron–electron interaction. In for the 5σ HOMO, a narrow hump associated with the increase in v2,5σ(t) is surmounted on the field-distorted barrier of v1(t) + v2,5σ(0) near the nucleus C when ɛ (t) points from C to O, which results in the anisotropic ionization of CO. For 4σ, a high barrier that suppresses ionization is formed in when ɛ (t) points from C to O, which suggests that dynamical correlation exists between 4σ and 5σ electrons on route to ionization. For the opposite phase, becomes barrierless, enhancing high-harmonic generation through 4σ. We also simulated the dynamics for a λ = 380 nm pulse to investigate how reflects the nonadiabatic electronic response to the pulse. We found that the height of the hump in v1(0) + v2,5σ(t) is nearly proportional to the induced dipole moment of ϕ5σ(t), irrespective of whether the response is adiabatic or not. The for LiH is also presented to demonstrate the ubiquity of hump structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To satisfy the requirements of position control accuracy and allow unmanned underwater vehicle to maintain in the target zone with energy consumption as little as possible, this article proposes a flexible dynamic positioning strategy and control method, so as to extend the operating time of unmanned underwater vehicle dynamic positioning. Taking the distance between unmanned underwater vehicle and target point as the judgment condition for control method switching, this article delimits the working zone of different control levels for unmanned underwater vehicle and designs corresponding dynamic control methods for different working conditions. When unmanned underwater vehicle is far away from the target point, cuckoo search optimization method is proposed to plan the optimal motion scheme of energy consumption for the process of unmanned underwater vehicle reaching the target point. When unmanned underwater vehicle is close to the target positioning point, a flexible model predictive control method is proposed to reduce the energy consumption of unmanned underwater vehicle in the process of dynamic position control. The simulation case is designed to verify the flexible dynamic control capability of monomer unmanned underwater vehicle. The experimental results show that the strategy and control method proposed in this article, compared with the traditional proportion integration differentiation control method, could obtain the same control effect and reduce energy consumption, to achieve the purpose of prolonging the unmanned underwater vehicle operating time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The age of a living human being can be determined by applying a number of different methods; the most diffused are skeletal and dental methods, both principally based on X-rays examinations. This systematic review assesses the current evidence regarding the accuracy and reliability of Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) vs. Orthopantomography (OPG) in age determination. A computerized systematic literature search of studies published up to January 2020 was conducted without language restrictions in order to identify articles comparing CBCT vs. OPG in dental anatomy evaluation, articles evaluating the accuracy of dental methods for age estimation, both with CT and OPG exams, and articles comparing CBCT vs. OPG in terms of radiation dose. CBCT was found to be more accurate compared to OPG in dental anatomy evaluation. When analyzing young adults, an estimation error of two years is considered forensically acceptable. The radiation dose of a CBCT exam is higher compared to an OPG exam. However, the difference is not as marked with small Fields Of View (FOV) and low-resolution protocols. Final conclusion was that a small FOV CBCT centered on the mandibular angle of a young patient is an accurate and safe method for dental age estimation around the age of 18. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]