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Introduction: Biological soil amendments of animal origin (BSAAO), including untreated amendments are often used to improve soil fertility and are particularly important in organic agriculture. However, application of untreated manure on cropland can potentially introduce foodborne pathogens into the soil and onto produce. Certified organic farms follow the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) standards that stipulate a 90- or 120-day interval between application of untreated manure and crop harvest, depending on whether the edible portion of the crop directly contacts the soil. This time-interval metric is based on environmental factors and does not consider a multitude of factors that might affect the survival of the main pathogens of concern. The objective of this study was to assess predictors for the prevalence of Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (non-O157 STEC) in soils amended with untreated manure on USDA-NOP certified farms. Methods: A longitudinal, multi-regional study was conducted on 19 farms in four USA regions for two growing seasons (2017–2018). Untreated manure (cattle, horse, and poultry), soil, and irrigation water samples were collected and enrichment cultured for non-O157 STEC. Mixed effects logistic regression models were used to analyze the predictors of non-O157 STEC in the soil up to 180 days post-manure application. Results and discussion: Results show that farm management practices (previous use with livestock, presence of animal feces on the field, season of manure application) and soil characteristics (presence of generic E. coli in the soil, soil moisture, sodium) increased the odds of STEC-positive soil samples. Manure application method and snowfall decreased the odds of detecting STEC in the soil. Time-variant predictors (year and sampling day) affected the presence of STEC. This study shows that a single metric, such as the time interval between application of untreated manure and crop harvest, may not be sufficient to reduce the food safety risks from untreated manure, and additional environmental and farm-management practices should also be considered. These findings are of particular importance because they provide multi-regional baseline data relating to current NOP wait-time standards. They can therefore contribute to the development of strategies to reduce pathogen persistence that may contribute to contamination of fresh produce typically eaten raw from NOP-certified farms using untreated manure.

IntroductionThe distribution of power in the international system and the relationship between the two are important indicators for the analysis of international crises. There is a direct relationship between the structure of the international system and stability, conflict, and crisis; therefore, the nature, consequences, and management of international crises as well as behavioral patterns of international actors all vary according to the structure of the international system. The present research seeks to explain the relationship between the two by focusing on the negative and positive impact of the bipolar structure on the escalation of the Syrian crisis. It is assumed that the behavior of states is influenced by the structure of the international system, be it unipolar, bipolar, multipolar, or transitional.The study tries to answer the key question as to how the positive and negative role of the bipolar structure contributed to the escalation of the Syrian crisis. The research is based on the main hypothesis that the lack of systemic limitations particular to the bipolar structure of the Cold War restricted identity, ideological, and geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East region during the Syrian crisis, and that the crisis escalated—from both negative and positive perspectives—due to the emergence of the putative bipolar structure at the regional level through the zero-sum game between the two regional poles, namely Iran and Saudi Arabia, along with their regional allies and proxy arms. Despite the extensive literature both about the Syrian crisis and about the impact of the structure of the international system on international crises, no independent research seems to have been conducted on the negative and positive impact of the bipolar structure on the Syrian crisis, so the present research has novelty in this respect.The structure of the international system and the Syrian crisisThis research argues that the distribution of power in the international system, also known as structure, undeniably affects the political and security dynamism at the level of the regional (sub)systems. During the Cold War, the two superpowers could not be indifferent to the instability in the strategic regions of the world because any instability and crisis therein would lead to an ideological vacuum and the possibility that the vacuum would be filled with rival ideologies—hence changes in the status of the satellite countries. However, the collapse of the bipolar system and the end of the Cold War resulted in a period of instability in the international system. According to Waltz and Mearsheimer, the systems that are not bipolar are unstable, and the instability undeniably affects the escalation of international crises and conflicts, such as the Syrian crisis.The Syrian crisis was characterized by the lack of bipolarity, a transitional period in the international system, and the absence of a new system and establishment of new rules. As a result, the US, uncertain about its strategy for stepping in the crisis, transferred its responsibility for maintaining the stability of the system to its regional allies; consequently, the intervention of regional actors, as one of the main factors, contributed to the escalation of the Syrian crisis. Meanwhile, the lack of the stabilizing structure prepared the ground for the formation of a regional bipolar structure centered on Iran and Saudi Arabia and their proxy arms, which would escalate the instability. By defining their interests in the Syrian crisis within the zero-sum game (i.e., maintaining Assad/overthrowing Assad), the regional bipolarity played a big role in escalating the Syrian crisis, and Syria became the main field for the new regional cold war between Iran and Saudi Arabia.ConclusionSyria was considered as one of the Soviet satellites during the Cold War, so if the Syrian crisis had occurred during the Cold War, Russia would have stepped in the crisis, the US would have withdrawn from it, and regional actors (e.g., Iran, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey) would not have been allowed to use their proxy forces (e.g., Hezbollah, the Free Army, and Salafi groups) in order to play an independent role in the crisis in line with their interests. The reason is that the bipolar system would not essentially allow the regional actor to play an independent role in the system. However, the Syrian crisis escalated as a result of the end of the bipolar system, the transitional situation in which the rules of the new system had not been established yet, the US strategic uncertainty about how to step in the crisis, its fear of military intervention and experience of Iraq and Afghanistan, its transfer of responsibility to its weak regional allies, the regional bipolarity centered on Iran and Saudi Arabia and their ensuing strong presence with their proxy forces—in line with their predetermined interests—and finally the historical opportunism of Russia to restore its dignity and historical status in the Middle East and support its historic ally.

Biological soil amendments of animal origin (BSAAOs), including untreated (e.g., raw or aged manure, or incompletely composted manure) and treated animal products (e.g., compost), are used for crop production and as part of soil health management. Application of BSAAO's must be done cautiously, as raw manure commonly contains enteric foodborne pathogens that can potentially contaminate edible produce that may be consumed without cooking. USDA National Organic Program (NOP) certified production systems follow the 90-or 120-day interval standards between applications of untreated BSAAOs and crop harvest, depending on whether the edible portions of the crops are in indirect or direct contact with the soil, respectively. This study was conducted to evaluate the survival of four foodborne pathogens in soils amended with BSAAOs and to examine the potential for bacterial transfer to fresh produce harvested from USDA NOP certified organic farms (19) from four states. Only 0.4% (2/527) of produce samples were positive for L. monocytogenes. Among the untreated manure and compost samples, 18.0% (42/233) were positive for at least one of the tested and culturable bacterial foodborne pathogens. The prevalence of non-O157 STEC and Salmonella in untreated manure was substantially > that of E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes. Of the 2,461 soil samples analyzed in this study, 12.9% (318) were positive for at least one pathogen. In soil amended with untreated manure, the prevalence of non-O157 STEC [7.7% (190) and L. monocytogenes (5.0% (122), was > that of Salmonella (1.1% (26)] or E. coli O157 [0.04% (1)]. Foodborne pathogen prevalence in the soil peaked after manure application and decreased significantly 30 days post-application (dpa). However, non-O157 STEC and L. monocytogenes were recovered from soil samples after 90 and 120 dpa. Results indicate that produce contamination by tested foodborne pathogens was infrequent, but these data should not be generalized outside of the specific wait-time regulations for organic crop production and the farms studied. Moreover, other sources of contamination, e.g., irrigation, wildlife, environmental conditions, cropping and management practices, should be considered. This study also provides multi-regional baseline data relating to current NOP application intervals and development of potential risk mitigation strategies to reduce pathogen persistence in soils amended with BSAAOs. These findings contribute to filling critical data gaps concerning occurrence of fecal pathogens in NOP-certified farming systems used for production of fresh produce in different US regions.

IntroductionBiological soil amendments, including raw or untreated manure, are currently used to improve soil fertility, especially in organic operations that prohibit use of synthetic fertilizers. However, addition of untreated manure may pose a risk of contamination of fresh produce by pathogens of public health significance, including Listeria monocytogenes. Organic growers follow United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program regulations for raw manure use, which stipulate that harvest should commence no earlier than 90- or 120-days post-application, depending on direct contact between the edible portion of the produce and the soil. To inform the protection that such time-intervals provide, this study explored the farm-level risk factors associated with L. monocytogenes prevalence in USDA-certified organic farm soils amended with untreated manures.MethodsA longitudinal, multi-regional study was conducted on 19 farms in four states (California, Minnesota, Maine, and Maryland) over two growing seasons (2017 and 2018). Untreated manure, soil, irrigation water, and produce samples were collected and cultured for L. monocytogenes. Mixed effect logistic regression was used to investigate risk factors associated with L. monocytogenes prevalence in soil.Results and DiscussionResults showed that multiple factors influenced the odds of a soil-positive sample, including temporal [year (OR = 0.19), sampling day (OR = 0.09–0.48)] and weather-related [temperature range (OR = 0.48)] variables, manure characteristics [season of application (OR = 0.04, summer), presence of L. monocytogenes (OR = 2.89) and other pathogens in manure (OR = 5.24)], farm management factors [water source (OR = 2.73, mixed), number of year-round staff (OR = 0.02)], and soil characteristics [concentration of generic Escherichia coli (OR = 1.45), moisture (OR = 0.46), organic matter (OR = 7.30), nitrate (OR = 3.07), potassium (OR = 0.09) and calcium (OR = 2.48)]. This study highlights the complexity of L. monocytogenes prevalence in soil and contributes science-based metrics that may be used when determining risk-mitigation strategies for pathogen contamination.

Current California agricultural practices strive to comanage food safety and habitat conservation on farmland. However, the ecology of foodborne pathogens in wild bird populations, especially those avian species residing in proximity to fresh produce production fields, is not fully understood. In this repeated cross-sectional study, avifauna within agricultural lands in California were sampled over 1 year. Feces, oral swabs, and foot/feather swabs were cultured for zoonotic Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli O157:H7, and non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) and characterized by serotyping and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Of 60 avian species sampled, 8 species (13.3%, bird groups of sparrows, icterids, geese, wrens, and kinglets) were positive for at least one of these foodborne pathogens. At the individual bird level, the detection of foodborne pathogens was infrequent in feces (n = 583; 0.5% Salmonella, 0.34% E. coli O157:H7, and 0.5% non-O157 STEC) and in feet/feathers (n = 401; 0.5% non-O157 STEC), and it was absent from oral swabs (n = 353). Several subtypes of public health importance were identified, including Salmonella enterica serotype Newport, E. coli O157:H7, and STEC serogroups O103 and O26. In late summer and autumn, the same STEC subtype was episodically found in several individuals of the same and different avian species, suggesting a common source of contamination in the environment. Sympatric free-range cattle shared subtypes of STEC O26 and O163 with wild geese. A limited rate of positive detection in wild birds provides insights into broad risk profile for contamination considerations but cannot preclude or predict risk on an individual farm.IMPORTANCE The shedding dynamics of foodborne pathogens by wild birds on farmland are not well characterized. This yearlong study sampled wild birds for foodborne pathogens within agricultural lands in northern California. There was a low prevalence of Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli O157:H7, and non-O157 Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (prevalence, 0.34% to 0.50%) identified in bird populations in this study. However, pathogens of public health importance (such as Salmonella Newport, E. coli O157:H7, and STEC O103 and O26) were identified in fecal samples, and two birds carried STEC on their feet or feathers. Identical pathogen strains were shared episodically among birds and between wild geese and free-range cattle. This result suggests a common source of contamination in the environment and potential transmission between species. These findings can be used to assess the risk posed by bird intrusions in produce fields and enhance policy decisions toward the comanagement of food safety and farmland habitat conservation.

Background. The bond strength of the materials used as a cervical barrier in the pulp regeneration is essential for the success of treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of triple antibiotic paste (TAP), double antibiotic paste (DAP), and simvastatin as intracanal medicaments on the dislodgement resistance of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and calcium-enriched mixture (CEM). Methods. A total of 160 extracted human single-rooted teeth were selected, and root canal preparation was carried out. The teeth in each group were randomly divided into four subgroups: TAP, DAP, simvastatin, and the control group (without intracanal medicament). Four weeks after placing the medicaments, it was removed by sodium hypochlorite, and MTA and CEM were placed in the coronal third of the root canals. After a week, 2-mm-thick dentin disks were prepared from the coronal third of the roots, and the push-out test was performed using a universal testing machine. The data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and independent t-test at a significance level of 0.05. Results. Regardless of the intracanal medicament, there was no significant difference between the overall bond strength of MTA (59.3±10 MPa) and CEM (55.8±11 MPa) (P=0.6). Furthermore, there were no significant differences in bond strength between the two intracanal medicament groups and the control group (P>0.05). Conclusion. Under the limitations of the current study, DAP, simvastatin, and TAP, as intracanal medicaments, did not adversely affect the push-out bond strength of CEM and MTA.

Identity can be considered as a link between Constructivism theory and theoretical studies related to international crises. According to a Constructivist Point of View, identities are the basis of interests and roles, and actors determine their friend and Enemy based on the identity they envision for themselves. Accordingly, the main purpose of the present article is to answer this question: What role does Identity play in International Crises? In answer to this question, using the descriptive-analytical methods, we seek to test Hypothesis that if actors with inconsistent identities are involved in a crisis the crisis will have a high potential for intensification and expansion, and will most likely lead to the use of violent methods of crisis management. The best application of this hypothesis is the Syrian crisis. The beginning of the Syrian crisis was strongly influenced by the identity crisis within the Syrian government, and for this reason, two identity conflicts (Neo-Salafi-Alavi) and (Kurdish-Arabic) were highlighted in this crisis., Subsequently, two revolutionary and conservative axes led by Iran and Saudi Arabia, as well as the third actor, Erdogan, entered the crisis and used all their power and proxy forces and allies to eliminate their "other" identities in Syria.

IntroductionBiological soil amendments of animal origin (BSAAO), including untreated amendments are often used to improve soil fertility and are particularly important in organic agriculture. However, application of untreated manure on cropland can potentially introduce foodborne pathogens into the soil and onto produce. Certified organic farms follow the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) standards that stipulate a 90- or 120-day interval between application of untreated manure and crop harvest, depending on whether the edible portion of the crop directly contacts the soil. This time-interval metric is based on environmental factors and does not consider a multitude of factors that might affect the survival of the main pathogens of concern. The objective of this study was to assess predictors for the prevalence of Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (non-O157 STEC) in soils amended with untreated manure on USDA-NOP certified farms.MethodsA longitudinal, multi-regional study was conducted on 19 farms in four USA regions for two growing seasons (2017–2018). Untreated manure (cattle, horse, and poultry), soil, and irrigation water samples were collected and enrichment cultured for non-O157 STEC. Mixed effects logistic regression models were used to analyze the predictors of non-O157 STEC in the soil up to 180 days post-manure application.Results and discussionResults show that farm management practices (previous use with livestock, presence of animal feces on the field, season of manure application) and soil characteristics (presence of generic E. coli in the soil, soil moisture, sodium) increased the odds of STEC-positive soil samples. Manure application method and snowfall decreased the odds of detecting STEC in the soil. Time-variant predictors (year and sampling day) affected the presence of STEC. This study shows that a single metric, such as the time interval between application of untreated manure and crop harvest, may not be sufficient to reduce the food safety risks from untreated manure, and additional environmental and farm-management practices should also be considered. These findings are of particular importance because they provide multi-regional baseline data relating to current NOP wait-time standards. They can therefore contribute to the development of strategies to reduce pathogen persistence that may contribute to contamination of fresh produce typically eaten raw from NOP-certified farms using untreated manure.

Background. This study was conducted to investigate root canal overfilling with different material placement techniques in primary teeth. Methods. A systematic search was undertaken by searching PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus for English language peer-reviewed articles published until February 2018 that reported primary tooth pulpectomy overfilling. Two reviewers independently screened and identified studies in terms of the selection criteria and independently collected the data using a specially designed data extraction form. The overfilling rate was the primary summary measure. The weighted pooled overfilling rates were estimated by random-effects meta-analysis. Results. Twenty clinical and four in vitro studies met the eligibility criteria. In the clinical studies, the pooled overfilling rate for zinc oxide-eugenol (ZOE) was 23.3% with a lentulo spiral mounted on a handpiece, 22.7% with a hand-held lentulo spiral, and 17% with a plugger. The pooled overfilling rate for calcium hydroxide-based materials was 16.7% with a lentulo spiral mounted on a handpiece, 14.7% with a hand-held lentulo spiral, 19.6% with a syringe, and 25.7% with a plugger. In the in vitro studies, neither individual overfilling rates nor two-by-two comparisons were subjected to meta-analysis because of an inadequate number of studies. Conclusion. The lowest overfilling rate in the clinical studies was related to plugger and handheld lentulo spiral techniques for ZOE and calcium hydroxide-based materials, respectively

BackgroundCompared with a traditional behavior management strategy and oral health training, virtual reality (VR) integrated with multisensory feedback possesses potential advantages in dentistry. ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the impact of different levels of VR on anxiety, behavior, and oral health status. MethodsThis study was carried out in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences from December 2020 to June 2021. We randomly assigned 60 healthy children aged 4 years to 6 years to 4 groups, each consisting of 15 children. The study consisted of 2 consecutive sessions. During the first visit, the plaque index was calculated, and oral health education was carried out in all groups using Immersive VR (group I), Semi-immersive VR (group II), Nonimmersive VR (group III), and tell-show-do (TSD; group IV). In the second session, an amalgam restoration was performed in all groups. Participants’ anxiety and behavior were recorded using the face version of the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale (MCDAS[f]) and Frankl scale. The plaque index was recorded in 2 follow-up sessions. ResultsThe greatest prevalence of positive behavior (P=.004) and the lowest anxiety (P

Introduction: Tourism industry, especially health tourism, is one of the prominent growing industries in the world, and many countries have made this industry as their major source of income, employment, so on. This way, countries seek to stabilize the influx of tourists. This study sought to identify barriers to attracting and retaining health tourists in Kashan City, Iran, with a qualitative method and at the supply chain level. Methods: This was a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 18 experts in the tourism and health tourism industry in Kashan, conducted by judgment and snowball method, and continued until the theoretical saturation of the data. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data. Results: The barriers to attracting and retaining health tourists at the level of health supply chain in Kashan included five major themes of external management weaknesses, cultural issues, weather conditions, internal management weakness, and the intensity of international competition. Conclusion: The barriers to attracting and retaining health tourists at the level of health tourism supply chain in Kashan should be considered by managers, policymakers, and activists in the health tourism industry. Besides, experts and planners in the field of health tourism should not neglect the benefits of using new management approaches, especially supply chain management in this area, and should use it to gain and promote competitive advantages.

Background and Aim: Salmonella enterica causes enteric disease in mammals and may potentially be transmitted from marine turtles that shed the pathogen in the environment. Marine turtle-associated human salmonellosis is a potential public health concern in Grenada, as the island supports populations of leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea), hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), and green turtles (Chelonia mydas) that interface with veterinarians and conservation workers, the local population, and the thousands of visitors that frequent the island yearly. To date, the prevalence of S. enterica has only been examined in a small subset of marine turtles in the Caribbean and no studies have been conducted in Grenada. The aim of this study was to quantify the prevalence of S. enterica in leatherback, hawksbill and green turtles in Grenada, characterize phenotypes and DNA profiles, and explore the potential risk to human health in the region. Materials and Methods: A total of 102 cloacal swabs were obtained from nesting leatherback turtles and foraging hawksbill and green turtles. Samples were cultured on enrichment and selective media and isolates were phenotypically characterized using serotyping, pulsed-phase gel electrophoresis, and antibiotic susceptibility. Enrichment broths were additionally screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using S. enterica-specific primers. Results: S. enterica was cultured from 15/57 (26.3%) leatherback turtles, 0/28 hawksbill, and 0/17 green turtles. This included S. enterica serovars Montevideo, S. I:4,5,12:i:-, Salmonella Typhimurium, Salmonella Newport, S. I:6,7:-:-, and S. I:4,5,12:-:-. Five/15 leatherback turtles carried multiple serovars. Eight pulsotype groups were identified with multiple clustering; however, there was no clear association between pulsotype group and serotype profile. Five/71 isolates showed resistance to streptomycin or ampicillin. Twenty-one/57 leatherback turtles, 14/28 hawksbill turtles, and 8/17 green turtles tested positive for S. enterica by quantitative PCR. Conclusion: Nesting leatherback turtles actively shed S. enterica and poses a risk for zoonosis; however, the presence of viable pathogen in green and hawksbill species is unclear. These findings help elucidate the role of marine turtles as potential sources of zoonotic S. enterica and provide baseline data for one health research in Grenada and the wider Caribbean region.

Biological soil amendments of animal origin (BSAAOs), including untreated (e.g., raw or aged manure, or incompletely composted manure) and treated animal products (e.g., compost), are used for crop production and as part of soil health management. Application of BSAAO's must be done cautiously, as raw manure commonly contains enteric foodborne pathogens that can potentially contaminate edible produce that may be consumed without cooking. USDA National Organic Program (NOP) certified production systems follow the 90-or 120-day interval standards between applications of untreated BSAAOs and crop harvest, depending on whether the edible portions of the crops are in indirect or direct contact with the soil, respectively. This study was conducted to evaluate the survival of four foodborne pathogens in soils amended with BSAAOs and to examine the potential for bacterial transfer to fresh produce harvested from USDA NOP certified organic farms (19) from four states. Only 0.4% (2/527) of produce samples were positive for L. monocytogenes. Among the untreated manure and compost samples, 18.0% (42/233) were positive for at least one of the tested and culturable bacterial foodborne pathogens. The prevalence of non-O157 STEC and Salmonella in untreated manure was substantially > that of E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes. Of the 2,461 soil samples analyzed in this study, 12.9% (318) were positive for at least one pathogen. In soil amended with untreated manure, the prevalence of non-O157 STEC [7.7% (190) and L. monocytogenes (5.0% (122), was > that of Salmonella (1.1% (26)] or E. coli O157 [0.04% (1)]. Foodborne pathogen prevalence in the soil peaked after manure application and decreased significantly 30 days post-application (dpa). However, non-O157 STEC and L. monocytogenes were recovered from soil samples after 90 and 120 dpa. Results indicate that produce contamination by tested foodborne pathogens was infrequent, but these data should not be generalized outside of the specific wait-time regulations for organic crop production and the farms studied. Moreover, other sources of contamination, e.g., irrigation, wildlife, environmental conditions, cropping and management practices, should be considered. This study also provides multi-regional baseline data relating to current NOP application intervals and development of potential risk mitigation strategies to reduce pathogen persistence in soils amended with BSAAOs. These findings contribute to filling critical data gaps concerning occurrence of fecal pathogens in NOP-certified farming systems used for production of fresh produce in different US regions.

In the manufacturing of injection-molded plastic parts, it is essential to perform a non-destructive (and, in some applications, contactless) three-dimensional measurement and surface inspection of the injection-molded part to monitor the part quality. The measurement method depends strongly on the shape and the optical properties of the part. In this study, a high-precision (±5 µm) and high-speed system (total of 24 s for a complete part dimensional measurement) was developed to measure the dimensions of a piano-black injection-molded part. This measurement should be done in real time and close to the part’s production time to evaluate the quality of the produced parts for future online, closed-loop, and predictive quality control. Therefore, a novel contactless, three-dimensional measurement system using a multicolor confocal sensor was designed and manufactured, taking into account the nominal curved shape and the glossy black surface properties of the part. This system includes one linear and one cylindrical moving axis, as well as one confocal optical sensor for radial R-direction measurements. A 6 DOF (degrees of freedom) robot handles the part between the injection molding machine and the measurement system. An IPC coordinates the communications and system movements over the OPC UA communication network protocol. For validation, several repeatability tests were performed at various speeds and directions. The results were compared using signal similarity methods, such as MSE, SSID, and RMS difference. The repeatability of the system in all directions was found to be in the range of ±5 µm for the desired speed range (less than 60 mm/s–60 degrees/s). However, the error increases up to ±10 µm due to the fixture and the suction force effect.

Automatic in-line process quality control plays a crucial role to enhance production efficiency in the injection molding industry. Industry 4.0 is leading the productivity and efficiency of companies to minimize scrap rates and strive for zero-defect production, especially in the injection molding industry. In this study, a fully automated closed-loop injection molding (IM) setup with a communication platform via OPC UA was built in compliance with Industry 4.0. The setup included fully automated inline measurements, in-line data analysis, and an AI control system to set the new machine parameters via the OPC UA communication protocol. The surface quality of the injection molded parts was rated using the ResNet-18 convolutional neural network, which was trained on data gathered by a heuristic approach. Further, eight different machine learning models for predicting the part quality (weight, surface quality, and dimensional properties) and for predicting sensor data were trained using data from a variety of production information sources, including in-mold sensors, injection molding machine (IMM) sensors, ambient sensors, and inline product quality measurements. These models are the backbone of the AI control system, which is a heuristic model predictive control (MPC) method. This method was applied to find new sets of machine parameters during production to control the specified part quality feature. The control system and predictive models were successfully tested for two groups of quality features: Geometry control and surface quality control. Control parameters were limited to injection speed and holding pressure. Moreover, the geometry control was repeated with mold temperature as an additional control parameter.

Fruits and citrus wastes are generated in the food industry in large quantities. Their management in Iran, as one of the major hubs of fruits and citrus production, is of great importance. In this study, the biochar samples were prepared from pomegranate, orange and lemon peel waste produced in a juice factory using the pyrolysis process in the range of 400-500 °C; then their efficiency for zinc adsorption from an aqueous solution was investigated. The kinetic and isotherm data of zinc adsorption were fitted by the linear and nonlinear forms of the Langmuir and Frendlich isotherm models and the first-order and second-order pseudo-kinetics models. The results showed that under the experimental conditions applied, the maximum amount of zinc absorption by biochars derived from pomegranate, orange and lemon peel was 2.42, 1.83 and 3.17 mg/g, respectively. The results of adsorption isotherm models also showed that the use of the linear form could lead to a completely different interpretation, as compared to the original form of the model. Based on the linear forms, the Langmuir isotherm was the best; meanwhile, according to the non-linear forms, the Freundlich isotherm was the best model to describe the adsorption data. In addition, the reaction kinetics indicated that both original and linear models had the same results, and the data were better fitted by the pseudo-second order model.

In this research study, an adaptive linear feedback controller is presented for controlling the behavior of a financial chaotic system and identical/non-identical synchronization with unknown system parameters. An adaptive linear feedback controller is introduced based on the Lyapunov stability theorem, which is added to the nonlinear chaotic systems to achieve synchronization. Furthermore, the disparity amount of system parameters is estimated simultaneously. Identical and non-identical synchronizations are followed by some numerical simulations to verify the validity of the proposed method. The results show the effectiveness of the theoretical discussions. Keywords: Chaos synchronization, Linear feedback controller, Finance chaotic system, Parameter identification

Introduction: Oral health status is one of the health-related priorities in Iran. The present study was conducted with the aim to systematically review the status of oral health in Iran using the decayed, missing, filled teeth (DMFT) index. Methods: In this meta-analysis, all data available on DMFT were reviewed and 35 published studies were included in the study based on search strategy. To estimate overall DMFT and perform the meta-analyses, Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software was used. Results: Of all 876 articles, 35 were included in the study. A total of 21849 individuals were included in the meta-analysis. The overall DMFT index was 3.65 [95% confidence interval (CI), 3.01-4.34]. In addition, this rate was 2.30, 8.60, and 3.85 among children, adults, and children with mental/physical disabilities with (CI 95%, 1.76-2.95), (CI 95%, 6.10-9.60), and (CI 95, 2.98-4.80), respectively. Conclusion: Mean DMFT in the assessed published data was higher than that set forth by the World Health Organization (WHO). Further planning and taking effective preventive measures to improve the oral health status seems necessary.

The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the effect of treatment duration on children’s behaviour and/or anxiety in the dental setting. For this purpose, a systematic search was conducted in Pubmed/medline and Scopus from 1970 to march 2017 for English language articles that assessed the relationship between dental treatment duration or length, and fear/anxiety or behaviour in children aged

Postulating perfect rationality and full information paves the way for neoclassic economics to explain the process of decision making through equalizing marginal units of variables based on optimizing the behavior of economic agents. This axiomatic approach results in eliminating any uncertainty from the analyses. This problem causes the marginal economics to neglect the issue of institutions. Moralities as a part of social institutions consist of specific rules and regulations, which have large effects on transactions and choices of economic agents, and determine the level of efficiency. This paper tries to develop a theoretical model for explaining the behavior of the economic agents of an Islamic society, which consists of specific and unique institutions. This research hypothesizes that morals in light of belief in the Hereafter eliminate the uncertainty of lack of experiencing the Hereafter and make optimization of economic agents possible. Two issues occur in a society in which the belief in the life after death is mixed with moralities. This paper tackles these two issues. The first one is the inter-world discount rate and the second is the marginal discounted cost (benefit) to the accumulated cost (benefit) ratio which is used as an index by economic agents in decision making process. The result implies that equilibrium condition is not efficient in orthodox economics regarding eternal reward and punishment system and its norms, and requires revision.

Background and aims. Predicting the teeth eruption time is a valuable tool in pediatric dentistry since it can affects scheduling dental and orthodontic treatments. This study investigated the relationship between the eruption time of first primary and permanent teeth and the variation in the eruption time considering socioeconomic status (SES) in a 9-year population- based cohort study. Materials and methods. 307 subjects were examined at bimonthly intervals during the first and second years of life and then at six-month intervals until the eruption of first permanent tooth. Eruption times of primary and permanent tooth were recorded for each child. A modified form of Kuppuswamy’s scale was used to assess the SES. Results. Among 267 subjects completed all follow-ups, the eruption time for first primary and permanent teeth indicated a direct strong correlation; in that one month delayed or early eruption of first primary tooth resulted in 4.21 months delayed or early eruption of first appearing permanent tooth (r = 0.91, n = 267, P

Background and aims. Anterior esthetic restoration is challenging in pediatric dentistry, due to limited durability and poor retention of the restoration.This study assessed the effect of air abrasion on tensile failure load of composite class III restorations using different preparation techniques. Materials and methods. 100 extracted human anterior primary teeth were divided, based on the preparation methods, into four groups each consisting of 25 subjects : conventional (A), labial surface bevel (B), conventional + air abrasion (C), and labial surface bevel + air abrasion (D). After restoring cavities, tensile failure load of samples was measured in Newton by Universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 1 mm per minute. The data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann Whitney U tests using SPSS software. Results. There were statistically significant differences between groups A and C (P = 0.003), groups A and B (P < 0.001), groups A and D (P < 0.001), groups B and C (P = 0.028), groups B and D (P = 0.027), and also groups C and D (P < 0.001). Group D demonstrated the highest mean tensile failure load. Conclusion. Labial surface bevel treated by air abrasion showed significantly more retention of composite restoration.

Background and aims. Dental practitioners have numerous methods to control anxiety and pain in children, and distracting the child appears to be the most common technique used for behavior management during dental procedures. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of using virtual reality eyeglasses on severity of pain and anxiety during dental procedures in pediatric patients. Materials and methods. This study included 120 healthy children aged 4-6 years. Children with no previous anxiety disorder were randomly divided into two groups, each consisting of 60 children. The study consisted of 3 consecutive treatment sessions. During the first visit fluoride therapy was carried out in both groups. In the next sessions, the groups received restorative treatment with and without virtual reality eyeglasses in a randomized single-blind-controlled crossover fashion. Then at the end of each session the subjects’ pain severity was assessed using Wong Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale and state anxiety was measured by Faces version of the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale [MCDAS (f)]. Results. There was a significant decrease in pain perception (P < 0.001) and state anxiety scores (P < 0.001) with the use of virtual reality eyeglasses during dental treatment. Conclusion. Results of this study showed that virtual reality eyeglasses can successfully decrease pain perception and state anxiety during dental treatment. Trial registration number: 201103126036N1.

Background and aims. The aim of present study was to investigate pulp-dentin complex reactions following direct pulp capping (DPC) with calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2] and simvastatin as pulp-capping materials in the primary human molars. Materials and methods. 120 primary molar teeth which had to be extracted for orthodontic reasons were randomly allocated into four groups. Group Ι as a control, underwent DPC with calcium hydroxide. The dental pulp in group ІІ, ІІІ and ІV were directly capped with simvastatin-based materials at concentrations of 1, 5 and 10 µM, respectively. All of the teeth were restored with stainless steel crown. After a mean period of 7.41 months teeth were extracted and processed for histological examination and categorized in terms of hard tissue formation and pulp inflammation. Results. Teeth in group I had statistically favorable outcomes in hard tissue formation and pulp inflammation than did the groups ІІ, ІІІ and ІV (P < 0.001). Considering three different concentrations of simvastatin, the result showed a dose dependent trend. Teeth in group ІV showed significantly lower rates of hard tissue formation and higher rates of pulp inflammation and necrosis compared to those of groups ІІ (P < 0.05). Conclusion. The findings of this study depicted that healing with no inflammation and hard tissue formation following statin treatment occurs with a lower rate than that with the calcium hydroxide.

Background and aims. Temperament has been suggested to be a predictive factor for the child’s reaction to dental treatment especially in young ages. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between temperament and child behavior in relation to age in the dental setting. Materials and methods. In this descriptive-analytical study, 190 children, aged 1 to 7 years, who visited dentist for the first time, were included. Early Childhood Behavior Questionnaire (ECBQ) for 18-36 month-olds and Child Behavioral Questionnaire (CBQ) for 3-7 year-old children were completed. Child behavior was rated during dental treatment using Frankl scale. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to examine normal distribution of the population. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA, Chi Square and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. P< 0.05 was considered as significance level. Results. 58 children (29.6%) had completely negative behavior and 27 children (13.8%) had completely positive behavior during the treatment. 65% of the children aged 1 to 3 years had completely negative behavior while this figure was 20% for the children aged 6 to 7 years. Temperament score for the children with completely positive behavior was 257.95 while it was 299.37 for children with completely negative behavior. As the temperament score increased, child behavior rank was lower. Conclusion. Age and temperament seem to act as predictors of child behavior in the dental setting.

Background and aims. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the prevalence and the position of enamel defects of primary teeth and hence to estimate the approximate time of an insult. Material and methods. 121 children aged 3 to 5 years were included in the study. The Modified Developmental Defects of Enamel Index was used to diagnose and classify the defects. The defects were categorized as hypoplasia, hypocalcification or a combination of them. Each tooth was investigated for occlusal/incisal, middle, cervical, incisomiddle, cervicomiddle and complete crown defects. Results. 55.37% of the children were affected by enamel defects, 23.96% being categorized as hypocalcification and 22.31% as hypoplasia. The enamel defects were more abundant in maxillary primary incisors and mandibular primary canines. Minimum involvement was seen in maxillary primary second molars and mandibular primary lateral incisors. The prevalence of cervical defects in maxillary primary incisors was significantly more than the middle or incisal defects (P < 0.05). The prevalence of incisal defects in mandibular primary incisors was significantly more than the middle or cervical defects (P < 0.05). Conclusions. The results revealed a considerable number of enamel defects which are multiple, symmetric and chronologically accordant with the estimated neonatal line in primary teeth of healthy children.

Background and aims. Dental caries still remains a major problem in the field of oral and dental health and its prevention is more important than its treatment. Fluoride plays a significant role in prevention of caries, and improving oral and dental health. One of the common ways of fluoride use is the use of a fluoride-containing mouthwash, the most important of which in use is 0.2% sodium fluoride mouthwash. School-based fluoride mouthwash programs have been used for delivering oral and dental health to children in recent years. The aim of the present study was to assess the efficiency of 0.2% sodium fluoride mouthwash in prevention of dental caries according to DMFT index. Material and methods. The study included a case and a control group. For each group, 100 students were selected randomly from elementary schools of Tabriz, Iran. Case group had been participating in school-based fluoride mouthwash program for three years, while control group did not benefit from the program. The two groups were assessed by means of intra-oral examination. Data was recorded using DMFT index. Results. Following the use of 0.2% sodium fluoride mouthwash, mean DMFT index in case group decreased as much as 51.5% compared to that of control group. The mean values of decrease for the decayed, missing and filled indices were 45%, 44% and 59%, respectively. The decrease in DMFT value of the case group compared to that of control group was statistically significant (p< 0.001). A statistically significant decrease was seen in the decayed and filled indices of case group (p=0.042 and p=0.016, respectively), however the missing index did not show any statistically significant difference between the two groups (p=0.361). Conclusion. According to this study results, the weekly use of 0.2% sodium fluoride mouthwash program has been successful in elementary schools of Tabriz. Such program can play an important role in the improvement of oral and dental health among children of school age.

Background and aims. Fluorosis is defined as a sort of enamel hypocalcification. Clinical features of fluorosis vary from thin white lines on the enamel to chalky and opaque enamel. The enamel may be destroyed after tooth eruption. Various prevalence rates have been reported in different populations. Major contributing factors are temperature, altitude and hygienic trends. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and severity of fluorosis in 5-12 year-old children in the North-Western villages of Makoo. Materials and methods. A total of 58 children aged between 5 and 6, and 421 students aged between 7 and 12 from the North-Western villages of Makoo were selected. Dean Index was used to evaluate the prevalence of fluorosis in the primary and permanent dentition. To compare the severity of fluorosis in the maxilla and mandible and also to assess the coordination rate of fluorosis in the left and right sides of the jaw, TF Index was used. TSIF was used to compare fluorosis rate in different tooth surfaces. Discoloration prevalence and rate were compared between maxillary and mandibular incisors. Chi-square test and t-test were used to analyze the results. Results. Fluorosis rate in the primary and permanent dentition was 100%. According to TF Index, the highest coordination rate was observed in mandibular incisors and the least was observed in maxillary second molars. The difference in the severity of fluorosis between maxilla and mandible was statistically significant (p< 0.05). Discoloration rate increased in maxillary central incisors with age. Conclusion. Very high prevalence rate of fluorosis in the primary and permanent teeth in the North-West of Makoo revealed a major regional problem; therefore, preventive strategies such as informing people of improper use of fluoride-containing supplements and reduction of the fluoride content of drinking water are suggested.

Introduction: The population of disabled children has been estimated more than 300 millions all over the world. Promotions of oral health and providing proper dental treatment for mental retarded people are two major challenges of health organization in every society. Assessment of treatment needs is the first steps in program planning for these children. The current descriptive-cross sectional study was conducted to evaluate the number of institutionalized mental retarded children and also their dental treatment needs in Tabriz institutions. Methods and Materials: 184 handicapped children (100 boys & 84 girls) aged 1 to 14 years old in private & governmental centers were examined from 2004 to 2005. An Observational-tactile technique was used and the results were recorded in a questioner. Data's were analyzed by SPSS 11 and Chisquare T-test. Results: The dental treatment needs were observed more frequently in the private centers (95.31%) in comparison to governmental centers (81.66%)(p < 0.05). The most prevalent dental treatment need was recorded in primary second molar (51.26%) and permanent first molar (67.53%).The most prevalent dental treatment need was restoration in primary dentition (62.93%) and permanent teeth (62.01%). Considering IQ, the highest value of dental treatment needs was seen in non trainable children (95.5%). The data were analyzed with T-test and Chi-square tests. Conclusion: Treatment needs value is higher in handicapped children. The prominent point is the severity of dental problems .Most of the dental treatments for these children could be done under general anesthesia in hospital so preventive plans are recommended strongly until the establishment of a specific center of dental care for these children. Key words: Mental retarded, Treatment needs, Institution, Handicap.

This is a double - blind clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of topical nitroglycerin ointment on venous catheterization in patients referred to emergency ward of Baghiyatollah hospital in 1997.The units under investigation consisting of 70 patients, 40 women and 30 men ranging in age from 20 to 69.The samples were randomly assigned into two equal groups, 35 patients in case group and 35 patients in experimental group. The experimental group received 2% nitroglycerin ointment and the case group received the placebo ointment that was applied prior to venus catheterization on the skin of the dorsum of the hand, wrist or front part of forearm.To collect data, an observational checklist was used in which demographic characteristics, and efficacy and immunity of the ointment were recorded.The findings revealed that the vein diameter in case group was not increased after applying the ointment, while it was considerably increased in experimental group from 4 mm to 6.6 mm. Although the method of catheterization in two groups was the same, catheterization in case group was more difficult than experimental group. Using T.test, the findings revealed that there was statistically significant relationship between vein diameter before and after applying the ointment in experimental group and after applying it in case and experimental groups (PO.001). Moreover, tachycardia and hypotension was not observed in both groups during 15, 30, 45 minutes and one and two hours immediately after applying the ointment, however in both groups, a sort of mild headache was observed. The findings also showed that there was significant relationship in observing the vein after catheterization in two groups (P

Diversified farms are operations that raise a variety of crops and/or multiple species of livestock, with the goal of utilising the products of one for the growth of the other, thus fostering a sustainable cycle. This type of farming reflects consumers’ increasing demand for sustainably produced, naturally raised or pasture-raised animal products that are commonly produced on diversified farms. The specific objectives of this study were to characterise diversified small-scale farms (DSSF) in California, estimate the prevalence of Salmonella enterica and Campylobacter spp. in livestock and poultry, and evaluate the association between farm- and sample-level risk factors and the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. on DSSF in California using a multilevel logistic model. Most participating farms were organic and raised more than one animal species. Overall Salmonella prevalence was 1.19% (95% confidence interval (CI95) 0.6–2), and overall Campylobacter spp. prevalence was 10.8% (CI95 = 9–12.9). Significant risk factors associated with Campylobacter spp. were farm size (odds ratio (OR)10–50 acres: less than 10 acres= 6, CI95 = 2.11–29.8), ownership of swine (OR = 9.3, CI95 = 3.4–38.8) and season (ORSpring: Coastal summer= 3.5, CI95 = 1.1–10.9; ORWinter: Coastal summer= 3.23, CI95 = 1.4–7.4). As the number of DSSF continues to grow, evaluating risk factors and management practices that are unique to these operations will help identify risk mitigation strategies and develop outreach materials to improve the food safety of animal and vegetable products produced on DSSF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carious tooth surfaces can alter saliva in various ways. We investigated whether salivary parameters were affected by elimination of existing active dental caries in 99 children (age 6-12 years) with more than five carious tooth surfaces. Unstimulated saliva samples were obtained from each child, and salivary characteristics were evaluated. One month after caries treatment that eliminated all existing dental caries, saliva sampling and analysis were repeated. Saliva viscosity significantly decreased (P = 0.04), while pH and saliva buffering capacity significantly increased (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in unstimulated salivary production at the start of the study and 1 month after caries elimination (P> 0.05). The relationship between dental caries and salivary condition is reciprocal. Treatment of existing dental caries can prevent future caries by improving [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]