Search

Intraoral three-dimensional scanning techniques could be used to improve dental practice, leading to an improved overall quality of the prosthetic devices and improved comfort for the patient. An accurate and precise intraoral scanner allows proper diagnosis, follow-up evaluation, and prosthesis application. The aim of this research is to evaluate the precision of an intraoral scanners (Medit i500, Medit Corp., Seoul, Korea), using open-source software in the digital workflow. The precision was compared through repetitions of the scanning process of the upper dental arch, following superimpositions in the whole 3D arch area. It was possible to display colorimetric maps for qualitative comparison, and the deviations of the values were classified as clinically acceptable. Within the limitation of this study, the clinically acceptable in vivo frequency of points’ deviation, or the precision, was obtained in 98.8% ± 1.4%; therefore, the use of open-source software can be a viable option in the digital workflow, improving patient follow ups with the 3D model superimposition.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) usually has a favorable course, although it is possible to observe BPPV with a high recurrence rate. Previous studies suggested that vitamin D deficiency might affect BPPV recurrences, and oxidative stress might play a complementary role in BPPV pathogenesis. This multicentric trial aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of oral nutritional supplementation with a compound of alpha-lipoic acid, Carnosine, and Zinc (LICA® (Difass International, Coriano (RN), Italy)), vitamins of group B and vitamin D in preventing BPPV recurrences. A total of 128 patients with high recurrence-BPPV were randomized in three arms: Arm 1 consisted of subjects with “insufficient” or “deficient” vitamin D blood levels, treated with daily oral supplementation of LICA®, vitamins of group B and vitamin D3 (800 UI), Arm 2 included BPPV subjects with “sufficient” vitamin D who did not receive any nutritional support, and Arm 3 included subjects with a “sufficient” serum concentration of vitamin D who received supplementation with a compound of LICA® and Curcumin. After six months of follow-up, a significant reduction of BPPV relapses compared to the baseline was found only in Arm 1 (−2.32, 95% CI: 3.41–1.62, p-value < 0.0001). Study results suggested that oral nutritional supplementation with vitamin D3 plus antioxidants can prevent relapses in patients suffering from high recurrence-BPPV.

Background/Objectives: Given the importance of emotion recognition for communication purposes, and the impairment for such skill in CI users despite impressive language performances, the aim of the present study was to investigate the neural correlates of emotion recognition skills, apart from language, in adult unilateral CI (UCI) users during a music in noise (happy/sad) recognition task. Furthermore, asymmetry was investigated through electroencephalographic (EEG) rhythm, given the traditional concept of hemispheric lateralization for emotional processing, and the intrinsic asymmetry due to the clinical UCI condition. Methods: Twenty adult UCI users and eight normal hearing (NH) controls were recruited. EEG gamma and alpha band power was assessed as there is evidence of a relationship between gamma and emotional response and between alpha asymmetry and tendency to approach or withdraw from stimuli. The TAS-20 questionnaire (alexithymia) was completed by the participants. Results: The results showed no effect of background noise, while supporting that gamma activity related to emotion processing shows alterations in the UCI group compared to the NH group, and that these alterations are also modulated by the etiology of deafness. In particular, relative higher gamma activity in the CI side corresponds to positive processes, correlated with higher emotion recognition abilities, whereas gamma activity in the non-CI side may be related to positive processes inversely correlated with alexithymia and also inversely correlated with age; a correlation between TAS-20 scores and age was found only in the NH group. Conclusions: EEG gamma activity appears to be fundamental to the processing of the emotional aspect of music and also to the psychocognitive emotion-related component in adults with CI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cochlear implants (CI) allow deaf patients to improve language perception and improving their emotional valence assessment. Electroencephalographic (EEG) measures were employed so far to improve CI programming reliability and to evaluate listening effort in auditory tasks, which are particularly useful in conditions when subjective evaluations are scarcely appliable or reliable. Unfortunately, the presence of CI on the scalp introduces an electrical artifact coupled to EEG signals that masks physiological features recorded by electrodes close to the site of implant. Currently, methods for CI artifact removal have been developed for very specific EEG montages or protocols, while others require many scalp electrodes. In this study, we propose a method based on the Multi-channel Wiener filter (MWF) to overcome those shortcomings. Nine children with unilateral CI and nine age-matched normal hearing children (control) participated in the study. EEG data were acquired on a relatively low number of electrodes (n = 16) during resting condition and during an auditory task. The obtained results obtained allowed to characterize CI artifact on the affected electrode and to significantly reduce, if not remove it through MWF filtering. Moreover, the results indicate, by comparing the two sample populations, that the EEG data loss is minimal in CI users after filtering, and that data maintain EEG physiological characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Argentina presidió en el 2022 el Consejo de Derechos Humanos de la ONU y con ello, surgió la posibilidad de llevar ante la comunidad internacional, problemáticas que estaban siendo ignoradas, entre ellas, la situación de los derechos humanos en Arabia Saudita donde Mohammed bin Salman cumplió su quinto año desde su designación como heredero al trono. Su autoproclamación como un “reformista” en un país gobernado por una monarquía absolutista que frecuentemente viola los derechos humanos justificándose en la doctrina religioso-conservadora wahabita fue fundamental para su ascenso al poder. Sin embargo, desde su nombramiento, la represión ha alcanzado niveles inéditos. Arrestos extrajudiciales, crucifixiones, decapitaciones, persecución a todo tipo de opositores y a sus familiares, son algunas de las violaciones cotidianamente denunciadas.

Constrictive pericarditis is a chronic inflammatory process that can lead to heart failure if not diagnosed and treated correctly. Although Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)–related pericarditis is a very rare condition, it should still be considered for a differential diagnosis. We report the case of an 18-year-old male, who was surgically treated for constrictive pericarditis, in which in situ hybridization to Epstein–Barr virus-encoded RNA (EBER) probe of the excised pericardium led to the subsequent etiological diagnosis of chronic pericarditis caused by EBV.

Microfluidic devices may provide significant technological advancement in the production of micro and nanoparticles of interest in the pharmaceutical sector, for instance, particles used as drug carriers (Yeh et al., 2013). Indeed, microfluidics enables their production with precise control of the dimensional distribution, not achievable with conventional beaker methods. The particle size is crucial for the optimal operation, thus representing a key target along with the generation frequency. The device geometry, properties, and flow rates of the fluids are the main parameters that affect the generation process. In this work, we investigate the production of alginate droplets in an X-shaped microdevice (Tomasi Masoni et al., 2022). More specifically, we feed an alginate solution in sunflower oil working in the dripping regime. Experimental visualizations are carried out for different flow rates and concentrations of the surfactant to comprehend their effect on droplet formation. Interestingly, we identify operating conditions that prevent the formation of satellite droplets to preserve a narrow dimensional distribution.

Numerical simulations based on Computational Fluid Dynamics have been performed for the assisted design of the flexible and transportable flow reactor developed within the Turboflux project. The core of the system consists of a tubular pipe, carrying the main fluids, and multiple injection ducts for the additive components. Mixing is ensured by a series of static mixing elements fitted within the main pipe. More specifically, we focus herein on the production of the sanitizing gel, obtained from three main components, i.e., ethanol, water, and glycerol. Hence, the numerical code is customized by implementing the non-ideal behaviour of the mixture. The degree of mixing and pressure drops are estimated in a wide range of scenarios, covering different flow regimes. The analysis allows one to identify the optimal operating conditions and, also, to put the basis for the setup of a digital twin of the system.

This work is aimed at developing the first version of a digital twin of a plant prototype for the flexible production of different chemical formulates, to be used in various industrial fields, from the medical health to the tanning sector. The analyzed system is a tubular flow reactor characterized by multiple additions of components and by a series of static mixing elements. Firstly, the 1D dynamic modeling of the reactor is addressed, by defining the geometry, parameters, and operating conditions to reasonably describe the process evolution over time. Then, the corresponding feedback control system is designed to obtain the desired final products, by respecting the required specifications, in terms of mean concentration, degree of mixing, and flow rates. Different types of control architectures are derived and compared. The results show that not only SISO control schemes, but also multivariable solutions are possible, which effectively guarantee set-point tracking and disturbance rejection.

This study analyzed data from 6 years (2014–2019) of official controls in the Emilia-Romagna region (northern Italy) to investigate the frequencies of human pathogens and chemical hazards in foods during production and distribution. Campylobacter spp. was the most prevalent pathogen, isolated in 4.4% of the 1,078 food samples examined, followed by Salmonella spp. (2.8%), Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) (1.9%), and Listeria monocytogenes (0.9%). Salmonella serotyping showed that the isolates belonged to the serotypes most commonly isolated from humans in Emilia-Romagna. These serotypes were as follows: S. Infantis (34.8%), mostly isolated from chicken, monophasic S. Typhimurium (1,4, [5],12:i:-) (12.6%), S. Bredeney (8.9%), and S. Derby (8.6%). No Clostridium botulinum, Yersinia spp., and Shigella spp. were isolated. No positivity was detected for hepatitis A virus, while 5.1% of samples taken in the production phase of the food chain were found to be contaminated with norovirus. The chemical analyses identified environmental contaminants within legal limits (heavy metals, 0.6% positive overall; mycotoxins, 0.4% positive overall), analytes subjected to monitoring (perfluoro-alkyl substances (PFASs), 6.2% positive overall; inorganic arsenic, no positives overall) and process contaminants and additives within legal limits (acrylamide, 9.6% positive overall; permitted or nonpermitted additives, 0.9% positive overall). Only one sample showed dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at levels higher than the legal limits. The monitoring by competent authorities (CA) of food contamination can generate useful data that can be used as a basis for estimating the exposure to different food contaminants over time and for evaluating the effects of control measures on the contamination of food.