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The secure authentication of user data is crucial in various sectors, including digital banking, medical applications and e-governance, especially for images. Secure communication protects against data tampering and forgery, thereby bolstering the foundation for informed decision-making, whether managing traffic, enhancing public safety, or monitoring environmental conditions. Conventional visual cryptographic protocols offer solutions, particularly for color images, though they grapple with challenges such as high computational demands and reliance on multiple cover images. Additionally, they often require third-party authorization to verify the image integrity. On the other hand, visual cryptography offers a streamlined approach. It divides images into shares, where each pixel represented uniquely, thus allowing visual decryption without complex computations. The optimized multi-tiered authentication protocol (OMTAP), which is integrated with the visual sharing scheme (VSS), takes secure image sharing to the next level. It reduces share count, prioritizes image fidelity and transmission security, and introduces the self-verification of decrypted image integrity through asymmetric key matrix generators, thus eliminating external validation. Rigorous testing has confirmed OMTAP's robustness and broad applicability, thereby ensuring that decrypted images maintain their quality with a peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) of 40 dB and full integrity at the receiver's end.

Abstract Background Computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) dental composites were introduced with superior mechanical properties than conventional dental composites. However, little is known on effects of dietary solvents on microhardness or inorganic elemental composition of CAD/CAM composites. Objectives The objectives of this study were to evaluate the degradation effects of each dietary solvent on the microhardness of the different CAD/CAM dental composites and to observe the degradation effects of dietary solvent on the inorganic elements of the dental composites investigated. Methods Fifty specimens with dimensions 12 mm x 14 mm x 1.5 mm were prepared for direct composite (Filtek Z350 XT [FZ]), indirect composite (Shofu Ceramage [CM]), and three CAD/CAM composites (Lava Ultimate [LU], Cerasmart [CS], and Vita Enamic [VE]). The specimens were randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 10) and conditioned for 1-week at 37°C in the following: air (control), distilled water, 0.02 N citric acid, 0.02 N lactic acid and 50% ethanol-water solution. Subsequently, the specimens were subjected to microhardness test (KHN) using Knoop hardness indenter. Air (control) and representative postconditioning specimens with the lowest mean KHN value for each material were analyzed using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Statistical analysis was done using one-way ANOVA and post hoc Bonferroni test at a significance level of p = 0.05. Results Mean KHN values ranged from 39.7 ± 2.7 kg/mm2 for FZ conditioned in 50% ethanol-water solution to 79.2 ± 3.4 kg/mm2 for VE conditioned in air (control). With exception to LU, significant differences were observed between materials and dietary solvents for other dental composites investigated. EDX showed stable peaks of the inorganic elements between air (control) and representative postconditioning specimens. Conclusions The microhardness of dental composites was significantly affected by dietary solvents, except for one CAD/CAM composite [LU]. However, no changes were observed in the inorganic elemental composition of dental composites between air (control) and 1-week postconditioning.

In today's digital landscape, securing multimedia visual information—specifically color images—is of critical importance across a range of sectors, including the burgeoning fields of logistics and supply chain management. Traditional Visual Cryptography (VC) schemes lay the groundwork for encrypting visual data by fragmenting a secret image into multiple shares, thereby ensuring no single share divulges the secret. Nevertheless, VC faces challenges in ascertaining the integrity of reconstructed images, especially when shares are manipulated maliciously. Existing solutions often necessitate additional shares or a trusted third party for integrity verification, thereby adding complexity and potential security risks. This paper introduces a novel Cheating-Resistant Visual Cryptographic Protocol (CRVC) for Color Images that aims to address these limitations. Utilizing self-computational models, this enhanced protocol simplifies the integrated integrity verification process, eliminating the need for extra shares. A standout feature is its capability to securely transmit meaningful shares for color images without compromising the quality of the reconstructed image as the PSNR maintains to be ∞. Experimental findings substantiate the protocol's resilience against quality degradation and its effectiveness in verifying the authenticity of the reconstructed image. This innovative approach holds promise for a wide array of applications, notably in sectors requiring secure document transmission, such as Logistics and Supply Chain Management, E-Governance, Medical and Military Applications.

The purpose of this study was to examine the chemical and organoleptic properties of milk pie substituted with pumpkin seed flour as a snack SOURCE of zinc. This study used a completely randomized design (CRD) with 1 factor and 2 replications. The factor in this study was the addition of pumpkin seed flour as a substitute for wheat flour which consisted of 3 levels, namely F1 (50% : 50%), F2 (40% : 60%), F3 (30% : 70%), and F0 (100% : 0%) as control. Analysis of physical and chemical properties includes water content, ash content, protein content, fat content, carbohydrate content, total energy, and zinc content. The best milk pie formula was selected based on the hedonic test and the hedonic quality test using 50 untrained panelists. The results showed that the addition of pumpkin seed flour as a substitute for wheat flour in milk pie formulation had a significant effect on ash content (p=0,000), fat (p=0,000), carbohydrates (p=0,000), zinc (p=0,000), and energy total (p=0,001). The results hedonic and hedonic quality test showed that the addition of pumpkin seed flour as a substitute for wheat flour in milk pie formulation had a significant effect on hedonic texture (p=0,005), hedonic color (p=0,000), hedonic taste (p=0,002), overall (p=0,022), quality of texture (p=0,003), and quality of color (p=0,000). F1 (50% : 50%) become the selected milk pie formula with nutritional content per 100 g, 454 kcal energy, 11 g protein, 25,8 g fat, 44,3 g carbohydrate, and 2,05 mg zinc. The nutritional content of selected milk pie in one serving size is 140 kcal of total energy, 3 g of protein, 8 g of total fat, 13 g of total carbohydrates, 7 g of sugar, and 4% of zinc from the RDA.

Abstract Background 3D printing is revolutioning many industrial sectors and has the potential to enhance also the biotechnology and bioprocessing fields. Here, we propose a new flexible material formulation to 3D print support matrices with complex, perfectly ordered morphology and with tuneable properties to suit a range of applications in bioprocess engineering. Findings Supports were fabricated using functional monomers as the key ingredients, enabling matrices with bespoke chemistry, such as charged groups, chemical moieties for further functionalization, and hydrophobic/hydrophilic groups. Other ingredients, e.g. crosslinkers and porogens, can be employed to fabricate supports with diverse characteristics of their porous network, providing an opportunity to further regulate the mechanical and mass transfer properties of the supports. Through this approach, we fabricated and demonstrated the operation of Schoen gyroid columns with (I) positive and negative charges for ion exchange chromatography, (II) enzyme bioreactors with immobilized trypsin to catalyse hydrolysis, and (III) bacterial biofilm bioreactors for fuel desulphurization. Conclusions This study demonstrates a simple, cost-effective, and flexible fabrication of customized 3D printed supports for different biotechnology and bioengineering applications.

El SARS-CoV-2 golpeó con fuerza al sistema económico internacional y Paraguay no fue la excepción. Por esto, este trabajo tiene como objetivo analizar las proyecciones de crecimiento y desempleo a nivel mundial y en Paraguay, durante la crisis del COVID-19 (2020-2021). Para ello, se recurrió a una investigación de tipo bibliográfico-documental, con enfoque cuantitativo. Entre los principales resultados de esta investigación se identificó la drástica caída que experimentó la economía mundial, la compleja situación que atraviesa América Latina y que a pesar de haber caído en su crecimiento económico e incrementado los niveles de desempleo, la situación es comparativamente mejor que en otros países de la región. Asimismo, entre las principales conclusiones, se encuentran la alta conexión existente entre la economía paraguaya y el exterior y su resiliencia ante circunstancias adversas.

The purpose of this article is to show alternate management of an anterior maxillary dentigerous cyst in a paediatric patient. An 8-year-old male child reported to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery with the chief complaint of swelling in the upper left side of the face for 2 months. Based on the clinical and radiological findings of cystic cavity along with impacted tooth, lesion was diagnosed as dentigerous cyst and surgical enucleation was planned under general anaesthesia. Dentigerous cysts mostly occur in the mandible and are prevalent between the second to fourth decades of life. The incidence of this cyst in children is less. We present here a case report of a paediatric patient with a rare occurrence of a large cyst in the maxillary anterior region, and the treatment outcome by surgical enucleation and preservation of the permanent tooth bud are discussed. The line of treatment for dentigerous cyst is enucleation and extraction of involved tooth. We recommend the alternative treatment option, which involves enucleation of cyst, and consider the conservation of the affected tooth bud in the view of making its eruption viable in future.

Fundamentación: Los adultos mayores presentan factores de riesgo de naturaleza diversa asociados a la probabilidad de que desarrollen cáncer bucal. Objetivo: Determinar el nivel de información sobre el cáncer bucal de los adultos mayores de 60 años del consultorio 5 de Casilda. Metodología: Se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo de corte transversal de noviembre del 2019 a abril del 2021. La muestra se obtuvo mediante muestreo aleatorio simple, estuvo constituida por 85 mayores de 60 años del consultorio 5 de Casilda. Se analizó la variable de respuesta principal: Nivel de información sobre el cáncer bucal. Se aplicó un cuestionario sobre cáncer bucal y una guía de observación del autoexamen bucal. Resultados: Se observó una edad promedio cercana a los 67 años; el 55.3 % de los adultos mayores fue del sexo femenino, predominó el nivel escolar primario con 38.8 %. Se constató un nivel de información bajo en el 89.4 % de la muestra estudiada. Conclusiones: El nivel de información sobre el cáncer bucal fue bajo en más de la tercera parte de los adultos mayores.

Aims: The aim of the study is to evaluate the profile of peri-implant tissues in periodontally compromised patients. Settings and Design: In vivo – cross sectional study design. Materials and Methods: Fifty-eight implants were evaluated, clinically and radiographically, installed in seven individuals treated by the same team of professionals, during the years 1997 and 2005 in a private dental clinic in Vitória, ES, Brazil; that time of data collection, all implants were at least 10 years of functional loading. The variables related to the dental implants evaluated were: visible Plaque Index, Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI), probing pocket depth, bleeding on probing, and bone level, to relate them to the classification of dental implants. Statistical Analysis Used: The Chi-square and Kruskal–Wallis test were adopted. Results: The total of 58 implants were classified: 11 (18.9%) as healthy and 12 (20.7%) as clinically stable. The other 35 implants (60.4%) had some type of peri-implant inflammation, 20 of them (34.5%) were diagnosed with peri-implant mucositis and 15 (25.9%) with peri-implantitis. Among the variables studied, the results showed statistically significant differences for implant location (P = 0.001) and GBI (P = 0.03). Most of the maxillary implants (85.7%) were classified for some type of peri-implant disease. For the implants which resulted in Score 1 for GBI, most of them (75.0%) were also classified for some type of peri-implant disease. Conclusions: Dental implants placed in periodontally compromised patients may have high long-term survival rates. However, most implants were classified with some type of peri-implant inflammation.

Abstract Introduction Dentists have shown interest in learning new techniques to create more attractive smiles, but with little concern for understanding the reasons why the patient is dissatisfied. Objective To evaluate the aesthetic perception of laypersons in dentistry in comparison with general practitioner dentists and periodontists regarding the gingival smile, and to compare this aesthetic perception between the male and female genders. Methodology A photograph of a standard smile was taken and was digitally modified to create the periodontal conditions of a gingival smile from 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm. The photographs were judged by 150 individuals (25-65 years of age), 81 female and 69 male, divided into three groups: 50 laypersons, 50 general practitioners and 50 periodontists. The evaluation was performed using a visual analog scale. The statistical evaluation tests used were the Pearson Chi squared test, Student's t-test, ANOVA and Newman-keuls. Result The aesthetic perceptions among the professionals are similar, and they observe more subtle changes in the aesthetics of the smile than the laypersons observe. The general practitioners and periodontists were similarly sensitive to changes generated in the gingival smile when these reached 1.5 mm, while laypersons only perceived them when these changes reached 2.5 mm. There was no significant difference in the aesthetic perception of male and female evaluators in any of the groups. Conclusion The aesthetic perception of the gingival smile between general practitioner dentists and periodontists was similar, and dental professionals were more demanding than the layperson. There was no difference between female and male aesthetic perceptions.

El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo caracterizar a las micro, pequeñas y medianas empresas (mipymes) del sector cultural y creativo en Paraguay como generadoras de empleo, productividad e innovación. Los datos fueron clasificados de acuerdo a los resultados obtenidos del Censo Económico Nacional del año 2011, teniendo en cuenta lo propuesto por el Convenio Andrés Bello sobre industrias culturales y creativas, en este sentido se pudo conocer sobre la estructura económica del país en cuanto a la industria, el comercio y los servicios, específicamente en actividades como; Editorial y materiales impresos, Producción y Edición Musical, Audiovisual, Artes plásticas y visuales, Patrimonio Material, Diseño, Arquitectura y Artesanía, Juegos y Juguetería, Programas informáticos y otros sectores. Los resultados indicaron que el 89% de las unidades fueron micro y pequeñas empresas; el 7,4% en medianas y tan el 3,5% en grandes, en su mayoría estableciéndose geográficamente en Asunción y los departamentos de Alto Paraná y Central. Las micro y pequeñas empresas fueron las que más mano de obra emplearon, siendo en su mayoría hombres, sin embargo, las mujeres representaron ser mayoría en actividades como artesanía en tejido. Se evidenció además que, a partir del año 2012, se crearon mecanismos de atención tanto técnico como crediticio para las mipymes culturales y creativas, aunque aún tropiecen con grandes dificultades de financiamiento. Otro de los factores fue la innovación cuya inversión fue menor en las mipymes, específicamente en adquisición de maquinarias y equipos, capacitación, TIC, pero no así en I+D para nuevos productos, lo que indica que aún falta un largo camino por recorrer en su debida regulación, promoción y fomento

Introduction: A significant number of endodontically treated teeth restored with posts have associated periapical lesions, and several authors have discussed the probable causes of the development of these. Attention has been focused on restorative procedures performed after endodontic treatment and their association with the prognosis of endodontic therapy because a number of root-filled teeth will require post- and core-retained restorations. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate, by examination of periapical radiographs, whether the placement of intra-radicular posts in endodontically treated teeth may act as a risk factor for development of periapical lesions. Material and Methods: This case-control study analyzed periapical radiographs of 72 endodontically treated teeth with coronal restorations. All radiographs were obtained from a single private practice. Specimens were assigned to 2 groups: Group 1 (control) was composed of teeth without periapical lesions and Group 2 (case) was composed of teeth with periapical lesions. The number of teeth with and without posts in each group was recorded. Three calibrated examiners analyzed the radiographs visually under X4 magnification. Results: In Group 1, 28 (65.1%) out of 43 teeth were restored with posts. In Group 2, 24 (82.8%) out of 29 teeth had intra-radicular posts. The interpretation of chi-square test showed that these percentages were not significantly different (x²=2.687; p=0.101). Odds ratio was 2.571 (0.815-8.118), which indicates that there was no statistically significant association between periapical lesions and posts. Conclusion: Intra-radicular posts placed in endodontically treated teeth were not a significant risk factor for development of periapical lesions in the practice where the cohort of patients was treated.

The Capsicum genus belongs to the Solanaceae family. Bell or chili peppers are consumed worldwide, but allergy to Capsicum is rare. It is involved in the celery-birch-mugwort-spice syndrome and cross-reactivities were reported with latex. Several allergens have been described, but only 2 are referenced in the World Health Organization/International Union of Immunological Societies allergen data bank, a thaumatin-like protein and a profilin. A patient allergic to bell/chili pepper, peach, orange and Japanese cedar pollen was clinically and biologically analyzed including direct and competitive immunoblots and basophil activation tests (BATs) with allergenic source extracts and recombinant gibberellin-regulated proteins (GRPs). The patient was shown to be sensitized to Cap a 7, the GRP of Capsicum annuum newly described herein. Cross-reactivities were demonstrated between various GRPs from bell/chili pepper, peach, orange and Japanese cedar pollen either in native form in the different extracts or as recombinant allergens. A similar immunoglobulin E reactivity was found also in Capsicum chinense and against snakin-1, the GRP from potato. The patient showed a positive BAT with recombinant Cry j 7, Pru p 7 and Cap a 7, but not with recombinant snakin-1. Despite the ubiquitous nature of GRPs in plants and the immunochemical cross-reactivity observed between different GRPs, clinically relevant sensitization to this protein family seems restricted to some allergenic sources, often associated with Cupressaceae pollen allergy, and to some patients, therefore reflecting very specific and peculiar mechanisms of conditional sensitization., Competing Interests: There are no financial or other issues that might lead to conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 The Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology • The Korean Academy of Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease.)

Background: As one of the founding principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), cognitive defusion is a contextual control of language, but it is not clear which behavioural process would allow such defusion. Two experiments are presented which analyse that process using a word repetition exercise., Method: Experiment 1 was performed with 30 randomised participants, using a factorial between-groups (4x2) with repeated measures design: Group 1 = milk-milk-milk exercise; 2 = emotional word repetition; 3 = milk-to-emotional word shaping; and 4 = control without intervention. Questionnaires were applied on thoughts, emotional regulation, and experiential avoidance, in addition to the evaluation of 20 images suggesting emotions. In Experiment 2, 78 participants were randomised using the same 4x2 design, and also 60 images with a proven emotional reactivity were used., Results: Experiment 1 did not show changes in any of the variables, nor a decrease in emotional assessment, which should occur according to the theory behind ACT. In Experiment 2, no significant changes between the groups and no pre-post changes appeared, except in latency time., Conclusions: The lack of replication of the defusion process is discussed, along with the mixed results of other studies.

A pollen/food-associated syndrome (PFAS) has been described between peach and cypress pollen. Cross-reactive allergens were characterized which belong to the Gibberellin-regulated protein (GRP) family, BP14 in cypress pollen and Pru p 7 in peach. GRP are small cationic protein with anti-microbial properties. A patient suffering from a peach/cypress syndrome was explored clinically and biologically using 2 types of immunoglobulin E (IgE) multiarray microchip, immunoblots and a basophil activation test to assess the clinical relevance of various extracts and purified allergens from fruits or cypress pollen. In addition to PR10 sensitization, the patient showed specific IgE to Pru p 7, BP14 and allergen from pomegranate. These last 3 allergens and allergenic sources are able to induce ex vivo basophil activation characterized by the monitoring of the expression of CD63 and CD203c, both cell surface markers correlated with a basophil mediator release. Up to 100% of cells expressed CD203c at 50 ng/mL of BP14 protein. In contrast, snakin-1, a GRP from potato sharing 82% sequence identity with Pru p 7 did not activate patient's basophils. These results strongly suggest that, like Pru p 7, BP14 is a clinically relevant allergenic GRP from pollen. Allergen members of this newly described protein family are good candidates for PFAS where no cross-reactive allergens have been characterized., Competing Interests: There are no financial or other issues that might lead to conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2019 The Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology · The Korean Academy of Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease.)

Background: Angiogenesis is essential for the progression and metastatic spread of solid tumours. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been linked to poor survival among osteosarcoma patients but the clinical relevance of monitoring blood and urine angiogenic factors is uncertain. The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic significance of blood VEGF and blood and urinary basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) levels in osteosarcoma patients, both at diagnosis and during treatment., Methods: Patients with localised or metastatic osteosarcoma enrolled in OS2005 and OS2006 studies between 2005 and 2011 were prospectively included in this study. VEGF and bFGF levels in serum and plasma and bFGF levels in urine were measured by ELISA at diagnosis, before surgery, and at the end of treatment. Endpoints considered for the prognostic analysis were histological response, progression-free and overall survival. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare the distribution of baseline biomarker values across the different subgroups, and paired sample Wilcoxon rank tests were used to analyze changes over time. Association between biomarker levels and outcomes were assessed in multivariable models (logistic regression for histologic response, and Cox models for survival)., Results: Samples were available at diagnosis for 269 patients (54% males; age ≤ 18 years: 73%; localised disease in 68%, doubtful lung lesions in 17%, and metastases in 15%). High serum VEGF and bFGF levels were observed in respectively 61% and 51% of patients. Serum and plasma VEGF values were not strongly correlated with one another (r = 0.53). High serum and plasma VEGF levels were significantly more frequent in patients with large tumours (≥10 cm; p = 0.003 and p = 0.02, respectively). VEGF levels fell significantly during pre-operative chemotherapy (p < 0.0001). No significant correlation was found between this variation and either the histological response, progression-free survival or overall survival (p = 0.26, p = 0.67, and p = 0.87, respectively). No significant association was found between blood or urinary bFGF levels and clinical characteristics, histological response, or survival., Conclusions: Levels of VEGF and bFGF angiogenic factors are high in most osteosarcoma patients, but have no significant impact on response to chemotherapy or outcome in this large prospective series. OS 2006 TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: clinicaltrials.gov NCT00470223; date of registration: May 3th 2007.