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Background: The association between periodontitis and allergic symptoms has been investigated. However, the difference in immune signatures between them remains poorly understood. This cross-sectional study assessed the relationship between serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to periodontal pathogens and allergic symptoms in a nationwide population cohort.Methods: Two phases of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) were used as discovery dataset (n = 3700) and validation dataset (n = 4453), respectively. Based on the antibodies against 19 periodontal pathogens, we performed an unsupervised hierarchical clustering to categorize the population into three clusters. In the discovery dataset, cluster 1 (n = 2847) had the highest level of IgG antibodies, followed by clusters 2 (n = 588) and 3 (n = 265). Data on allergic symptoms (asthma, hay fever, and wheezing) were obtained using a self-reported questionnaire. Survey-weighted multivariable logistic regression evaluated the association between these clusters and allergic symptoms.Results: In the discovery dataset, the participants with lower levels of antibodies to periodontal pathogens exhibited a higher risk of asthma (odds ratio [OR]cluster 3 vs. cluster 1 = 1.820, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.153–2.873) and wheezing (ORcluster 3 vs. cluster 1 = 1.550, 95% CI: 1.095–2.194) compared to those with higher periodontal antibodies, but the non-significant association with hay fever. Consistent results were found in the validation dataset.Conclusions: Serum IgG titers to periodontal pathogens were inversely associated with the risk of asthma and wheezing, suggesting the potentially protective role against allergic conditions.

During bone tissue regeneration, neovascularization is critical, and the formation of a blood supply network is crucial for bone growth stimulation and remodeling. Previous studies suggest that bioelectric signals facilitate the process of angiogenesis. Owing to their biomimetic electroactivity, piezoelectric membranes have garnered substantial interest in the field of guided bone regeneration. Nevertheless, the knowledge of their influence due to varying surface potentials on the progression of angiogenesis remains ambiguous. Therefore, we proposed the preparation of an electroactive material, P(VDF-TrFE), and investigated its effects on the activity and angiogenic functions of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The HUVECs were directly cultured on P(VDF-TrFE) membranes with different surface potentials. Subsequently, cell viability, proliferation, migration, tube formation, and expressions of related factors were assessed through appropriate assays. Our results revealed that the negative surface potential groups exerted differential effects on the modulation of angiogenesis in vitro. The P(VDF-TrFE) membranes with negative surface potential exhibited the greatest effect on cellular behaviors, including proliferation, migration, tube formation, and promotion of angiogenesis by releasing key factors such as VEGF-A and CD31. Overall, these results indicated that the surface potential of piezoelectric P(VDF-TrFE) membranes could exert differential effects on angiogenesis in vitro. We present a novel approach for designing bioactive materials for guided bone regeneration.

Background: Increased attention has been focused on the associations of periodontal disease with the onset and progression of cognitive impairment. Although the associations are likely to be multifactorial, few studies have explored the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the periodontitis-dementia link.Methods: Cross-sectional data of 1,883 participants aged ≥60 years in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011‒2014 were analyzed. The following data were collected: 1) general information on sociodemographic, behavioral, and health-related factors; 2) periodontal status (mean attachment loss [AL] and mean probing depth [PD]); 3) mitochondrion-derived biomarker of mitochondrial dysfunction (blood sample concentration of methylmalonic acid [MMA]); 4) cognitive function (Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's disease immediate recall [CERAD-IR] and delay recall [CERAD-DR], animal fluency test, and digit symbol substitution test [DSST]). Mediation analysis weighted for complex survey design was used to assess the effect of MMA on the association of periodontal status with cognitive function after adjusting for potential confounders.Results: Participants with Stage III and IV periodontitis had lower scores on cognitive performance and higher MMA levels than those with Stages I/II periodontitis. Circulating MMA was significantly associated with CERAD-DR (weighted β [SE] = −0.076 [0.011]) and DSST (weighted β [SE] = −0.039 [0.009]), which mediated 9.9% and 6.0% of the total association of mean PD with cognitive function. Moreover, MMA mediated 11.7% and 5.8% of the association of mean AL with CERAD-DR and DSST, respectively.Conclusion: The findings suggest that MMA, a biomarker of mitochondrial dysfunction, plays a mediating role in the link between periodontitis and cognitive impairment in older adults aged ≥60 years.

Adherence to healthy dietary patterns is associated with a reduced risk of kidney dysfunction. Nevertheless, the age-related mechanisms that underpin the relationship between diet and kidney function remain undetermined. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of serum α-Klotho, an anti-aging protein, in the link between a healthy diet and kidney function. A cross-sectional study was conducted on a cohort of 12,817 individuals aged between 40 and 79 years who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2007 to 2016. For each participant, the Healthy Eating Index 2015 (HEI-2015) score was calculated as a measure of a healthy dietary pattern. Creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was used to assess kidney function. Multivariable regression models were used to analyze the association between the standardized HEI-2015 score and eGFR after adjusting for potential confounders. Causal mediation analysis was performed to assess whether serum α-Klotho influenced this association. The mean (±SD) eGFR of all individuals was 86.8 ± 19.8 mL/min per 1.73 m2. A high standardized HEI-2015 score was associated with a high eGFR (β [95% CI], 0.94 [0.64–1.23]; p < 0.001). The mediation analysis revealed that serum α-Klotho accounted for 5.6–10.5% of the association of standardized overall HEI-2015 score, total fruits, whole fruits, greens and beans, and whole grain with eGFR in the NHANES. According to the results from the subgroup analysis, serum α-Klotho exerted a mediating effect in the participants aged 60–79 years and in males. A healthy diet may promote kidney function by up-regulating serum anti-aging α-Klotho. This novel pathway suggests important implications for dietary recommendations and kidney health.

Significant attention has been given to hyporheic water fluxes induced by hydromorphologic processes in streambeds and the effects they have on stream ecology. However, the impact of hyporheic fluxes on regional groundwater flow discharge zones as well as the interaction of these flows are much less investigated. The groundwater-hyporheic interactive flow not only governs solute mass and heat transport in streams but also controls the retention of solute and contamination following the discharge of deep groundwater, such as naturally occurring solutes and leakage from geological waste disposal facilities. Here, we applied a physically based modeling approach combined with extensive hydrologic, geologic and geographical data to investigate the effect of hyporheic flow on groundwater discharge in the Krycklan catchment, located in a boreal landscape in Sweden. Regional groundwater modeling was conducted using COMSOL Multiphysics by considering geologic heterogeneity and infiltration constraint of the groundwater circulation intensity. Moreover, the hyporheic flow was analyzed using an exact spectral solution accounting for the fluctuating streambed topography and superimposed with the regional groundwater flow. By comparing the discharge flow fields with and without consideration of hyporheic flows, we found that the divergence of the discharge was substantially enhanced and the distribution of the travel times of groundwater was significantly shifted toward shorter times due to the presence of hyporheic flow. Particularly important is that the groundwater flow paths contract near the streambed interface due to the hyporheic flow, which leads to a phenomenon that we name "fragmentation" of coherent areas of groundwater upwelling in pinhole-shaped stream tubes.

Introduction: Contamination of large grit sandblasting and acid-etching (SLA) with hydrocarbons make the surface hydrophobic and influence its bioactivity. Preservation in dH2O (modified SLA, modSLA) and ultraviolet (UV) irradiation were proven to be effective in decreasing hydrocarbon contamination and keeping the SLA surface hydrophilic. Aims: The aim of this study was to detect the in vitro bioactivity of SLA, modSLA and UV-SLA surfaces. Design: The SBF model was used to compare the bone-like apatite forming ability. Setting: The experiment was conducted at Southern Medical University. Materials and methods: The quantity of apatite was assessed by SEM and weighed on an electronic balance. The elemental composition and crystal phase were assessed by EDS and XRD analysis, respectively. Results: The sediments that completely covered the modSLA and UV-SLA surfaces after 4 weeks of soaking reached 3.23 ± 0.35 mg and 2.13 ± 0.95 mg, respectively. They were eight- and five-fold than that on the SLA surface (0.43 ± 0.15 mg) with statistical significance ( p Discussion: Hydrophilicity and abundant hydroxyl groups drive modSLA and UV-SLA surfaces to absorb more Ca2+ to accelerate the formation of apatite. Conclusion: SLA preservation in dH2O and UV irradiation were recognized as trustworthy methods to acquire greater bioactivity of the SLA surface.

Xu Jiang,1,&ast; Yang Pan,1,&ast; Sha Zhu,1 Yaxi Wang,1 Ruxin Gu,1 Yinyin Jiang,1 Bo Shen,1 Jun Zhu,1 Shulan Xu,1 Jun Yan,1 Jingde Dong,1 Wenbin Zhang,2 Chaoyong Xiao,3 Li Zhang1 1Department of Geriatrics, Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Neurosurgery, Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Radiology, Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Li Zhang, Department of Geriatrics, Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China, Email jx13773958367@163.comObjective: Patients with rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) in Parkinson’s disease (PD-RBD) tend to have poor cognitive performance and faster cognitive deterioration, and the potential mechanism is still ambiguous. Therefore, this study aimed to detect the alterations in local brain function in PD-RBD.Methods: Fifty patients, including 23 patients with PD-RBD and 27 patients with PD without RBD (PD-nRBD), and 26 healthy controls were enrolled. All subjects were subjected to one-night polysomnography and underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). The fMRI images of the three groups were analyzed by regional homogeneity (ReHo) to observe the local neural activity. Correlations between altered ReHo values and chin electromyographic (EMG) density scores and cognitive scores in the PD subgroups were assessed.Results: Compared with the patients with PD-nRBD, the patients with PD-RBD had higher ReHo values in the frontal cortex (the right superior frontal gyrus, the right middle frontal gyrus and the left medial superior frontal gyrus), the right caudate nucleus and the right anterior cingulate gyrus, and compared with the HCs, the patients with PD-RBD had lower ReHo values in the bilateral cuneus, the bilateral precuneus, the left inferior temporal gyrus and the left inferior occipital gyrus. For the patients with PD-RBD, the phasic chin EMG density scores were positively correlated with the ReHo values in the left medial superior frontal gyrus, and the tonic chin EMG density scores were positively correlated with the ReHo values in the right anterior cingulate gyrus.Conclusion: This study indicates that increased ReHo in the frontal cortex, the caudate nucleus and the anterior cingulate gyrus may be linked with the abnormal motor behaviors during REM sleep and that decreased ReHo in the posterior regions may be related to the visuospatial–executive function in patients with PD-RBD.Keywords: Parkinson’s disease, rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, resting-state fMRI, regional homogeneity

Background: Periodontal disease is associated with metabolic syndrome and obesity. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate whether serum antioxidant vitamins could mediate the association between periodontitis and a metabolically unhealthy phenotype in the overweight and obese population; Methods: We included 6158 Americans (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2) from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). Periodontitis was defined using a half-reduced CDC/AAP (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/American Academy of Periodontology) definition. Having two or more metabolic abnormalities was defined as a metabolically unhealthy overweight and obese (MUO) phenotype. Mediation analysis of four oxidative stress biomarkers (serum antioxidant vitamins A, C, D, and E) was conducted; Results: Of participants with overweight and obesity, 2052 (33.3%) Americans were categorized as having periodontitis. Periodontitis increased dyslipidemia risk and systemic inflammation in the overweight and obese population. In the multivariable logistic regression model, periodontitis was positively associated with MUO (adjusted odds ratio = 1.238; 95% confidence interval: 1.091 to 1.406). These findings were validated in an independent cohort. Serum vitamins C and D were estimated to mediate 19.3% and 8.4% of the periodontitis–MUO association. Conclusions: Periodontitis might decrease serum vitamins C and D and induce a metabolically unhealthy state among adults with overweight and obesity.

Objectives: Life's Simple 7 (LS7) metrics provide insight into improving cardiovascular health (CVH) and help reduce mortality risks. Edentulous older adults have a higher mortality risk than dentulous ones, probably due to worse oral function. It is reported that wearing dentures will decrease the mortality risk factor by improving oral function. This prospective study aimed to investigate if denture wearing could modify the association between CVH profile and mortality risk among edentulous elderly.Methods: From the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), 1,735 edentulous older adults (mean age 69.4 years old) with CVH profiles and data on denture wearing status were selected for this study. CVH profiles according to LS7 metrics were classified into poor, intermediate, or ideal. Denture wearers were defined as those wearing complete dentures in both arches all the time or only when awake. Multivariable Cox proportional-hazards regression was conducted to estimate the association of CVH profiles with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Stratified analyses and the testing of interaction terms were used to evaluate the difference between the association in edentulous patients with and without dentures.Results: A total of 1,420 (81.8%) older adults died during the 27-year follow-up, with 478 (27.6%) cases attributable to heart disease. After controlling for potential confounders, edentulous patients with an ideal CVH (LS7 = 10–14) had a lower mortality risk than those with poor CVH (LS7 = 0–4). Furthermore, we observed an effect modification by denture use (P interaction = 0.046), with the role of ideal CVH in mitigating mortality among the denture wearers (Hazard Ratio = 0.440 [0.329–0.588]), while no significant association among those without dentures. Similar results were achieved for cardiovascular mortality, but there was no effect modification of denture use (P interaction = 0.352).Conclusion: In this study, a favorable cardiovascular health profile presents a protective effect on all-cause mortality only among edentulous patients wearing dentures instead of non-wearer. Clinical Significance: Denture usage could improve oral function (e.g., chewing, smiling, speaking, etc.) and promote general health. Effect modification found in this study indicates having ideal CVH alone cannot substantially reduce mortality risk among edentulous patients. Therefore, health care professionals should keep an eye on the elderly not wearing dentures as they are probably more at risk for adverse health outcomes. It remains unclear if denture wearing has a causal relation with lower mortality risks, and further research is needed.

To investigate the effect of a protective coating on the surface characteristics, flexural properties, cytotoxicity, and microbial adhesion of vat-photopolymerization additive-manufacturing denture base polymers.The specimens were additively manufactured using digital light processing (DLP). Specimen surfaces were coated with the same printed resin, and mechanical polishing was used for comparison. Surface topography, arithmetical mean height (SThe SThe surface characteristics and flexural properties were optimized by the protective coating. Also, the protective coating did not adversely affect cytocompatibility. Moreover, the coating treatment could effectively decrease oral bacteria adhering to the surfaces. Therefore, the protective coating treatment can be a less time-consuming alternative to mechanical polishing as a post-processing procedure for the digital denture.

High-purity magnesium (Mg) is a promising biodegradable metal for oral and maxillofacial implants. Appropriate surface roughness plays a critical role in the degradation behavior and the related cellular processes of biodegradable Mg-based metals. Nevertheless, the most optimized surface roughness has been questionable, especially for Mg-based oral and maxillofacial implants. Three representative scales of surface roughness were investigated in this study, including smooth (Sa < 0.5 µm), moderately rough (Sa between 1.0–2.0 µm), and rough (Sa > 2.0 µm). The results indicated that the degradation rate of the Mg specimen in the cell culture medium was significantly accelerated with increased surface roughness. Furthermore, an extract test revealed that Mg with different roughness did not induce an evident cytotoxic effect. Nonetheless, the smooth Mg surface had an adversely affected cell attachment. Therefore, the high-purity Mg with a moderately rough surface exhibited the most optimized balance between biodegradability and overall cytocompatibility.

Background Improvements in the early osseointegration of titanium implants require investigations on the bone-implant interface, which is a critical and complex challenge. The surface cleanliness of titanium implants plays an important role at this interface. However, the implant surface would inevitably absorb contamination such as organic hydrocarbons, which is not conductive to the establishment of early osseointegration. Herein, an optimized approach for removing contamination from titanium surfaces was studied. Methods The TiO2-B＠anatase NWs (nanowires) were prepared on titanium substrates through a hydrothermal process. A methylene blue degradation experiment was performed to assess the photodegradation activity. The cleaning effect of the photocatalysis of TiO2-B＠anatase NWs on a titanium surface and the cellular early response was determined by analyzing cell morphology, attachment, proliferation and differentiation. Results The results indicated that the photocatalysis of TiO2-B＠anatase NWs could effectively remove hydrocarbons on titanium surfaces without sacrificing the favourable titanium surface morphology. The methylene blue degradation experiment revealed that the photocatalysis of TiO2-B＠anatase NWs had powerful degradation activity, which is attributed to the presence of strong oxidants such as ·OH. In addition, compared to the merely ultraviolet-treated titanium surfaces, the titanium surfaces treated after the NWs photocatalytic cleaning process markedly enhanced cellular early response. Conclusion The photocatalysis of TiO2-B＠anatase NWs for the removal of contamination from titanium surfaces has the potential to enable the rapid and complete establishment of early osseointegration.

Introduction: Although studies have explored some dietary patterns for Parkinson’s disease (PD), more other dietary patterns and food item under the dietary pattern are needed to investigate. This study aimed to identify more categories of dietary patterns for PD and further explore the association of single food item with PD. Methods: The 2015–2018 US National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) database was used for data extraction. The data on demographics and nutrient intake were collected. Dietary patterns were derived from food categories by factor analysis. The association between dietary patterns or single food item and PD was explored using logistic regression analysis in the overall and only in secure PD cases, and results were expressed as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Sensitivity analysis was performed by excluding participants using unsecure PD medication. Results: Among 5,824 participants aged over 50 years, 91 were diagnosed as PD. Factor analysis identified 5 major dietary pattern factors. We observed that the increased adherence to Mediterranean diet (MeDi) was associated with the reduced odds of PD (OR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.65–0.93). The higher adherence to Western pattern was associated with the increased odds of PD (OR = 2.19, 95% CI: 1.16–4.14). In addition, high intake of sweets under Western pattern was found to be associated with the higher odds of PD (OR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.08–3.71). Conclusions: The odds of PD decreased by higher MeDi adherence and increased by higher Western pattern adherence, especially sweets intake in this pattern, suggesting population ≥50 years should adhere to MeDi pattern and decrease the adherence to Western pattern, reducing the intake of sweets.

The effect of changes in surface charge on the biological properties of implants is not clear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the biological properties of the surface of titanium sheets with different charges due to different treatment methods. Titanium sheets were sandblasted with large grit and underwent acid etching before being subsequently divided into the following groups: SLA, no further treatment; SLA-Ca2+, immersed in 1% CaCl2 solution; SLA-NaCl, immersed in saline; and SLA-Ca2+-NaCl, immersed in 1% CaCl2 solution followed by saline. Surface characteristics were evaluated using field-emission scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectrometry, surface profilometry, and contact angle assays. Additionally, we used a ζ-potential analyzer to directly measure the electrostatic charge on the different group surfaces. The effect of changes in the Ti surface on biological processes after different treatments was determined by analyzing fibronectin adsorption, osteoblast-like MG63 cell adhesion and proliferation, and the expression of osteogenesis-related genes. Compared to the SLA surface, the other three groups contained corresponding trace elements because they were soaked in different liquids; the contact angles of the three groups were not significantly different, but they were significantly smaller than that of the SLA group; and there was no change in the surface topography or roughness. Furthermore, the SLA-Ca2+ group had a significantly reduced negative charge compared to that of the other three groups. There were no differences between the SLA-NaCl and SLA-Ca2+-NaCl groups in terms of negative charge, and the SLA group surface carried the most negative charge. Fibronectin adsorption capacity and cytological performance testing further showed that the SLA-Ca2+ group had the most significant change, followed by the SLA-NaCl and SLA-Ca2+-NaCl groups; the SLA group had significantly lower capacity and performance than the other three groups. These results suggest that the surface charge of the titanium sheet changed when immersed in different liquids and that this treatment enhanced biocompatibility by reducing the electrostatic repulsion between biomaterials and biomolecules.

Background/purpose In the immediate implantation of maxillary central incisors, the height of the alveolar bone is lost, and there is often a risk of bone fracture due to the thin buccal bone wall (BBW). The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of smoking, age, and root position in the alveolar bone on the BBW and the distance between the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) and the facial bone crest (FBC) of Chinese maxillary central incisors. Materials and methods The patients were divided by smoking, gender, age, and root sagittal position in the alveolar bone. BBW thickness was measured at the following sites: the 4 mm apical to the CEJ, the middle of the root, and the apex. The distance from the CEJ to the FBC was also evaluated. Results Cone beam CT (CBCT) data for the maxillary central incisors of 645 patients (323 males and 322 females) were selected and analyzed. The CEJ-FBC distance in patients who smoked (2.79 ± 0.78 mm) was significantly greater than that of non-smokers (2.54 ± 0.69 mm). The BBW in subtype III (0.74 ± 0.43 mm, 0.81 ± 0.36 mm) was thinner than that in subtypes I and II at 4 mm apical to the CEJ and in the middle of the root, with a statistically significant difference (p Conclusion In most Chinese people, smoking, gender, age, and the position of the root in alveolar bone are all important factors that must be considered before immediate implantation is undertaken.

Regulations concerning potential future health impacts of the final disposal of radioactive wastes in geological disposal facilities are written in terms of annual dose to individuals who are representative of small groups living in the landscape in the vicinity of the repository site. As disposal programmes in Sweden and Finland have progressed towards licensing and construction, so too has detail describing the state and evolution of surface biosphere and the landscape around the proposed disposal sites increased. Simple and generic biosphere dose assessment models in early iterations have grown in complexity with increasing site-specific detail that aims to capture the radiologically significant features of the landscape into which future releases of radionuclides might credibly occur. Current dose assessment models used in support of license applications for disposal programmes in Sweden and Finland are highly complex and their application consequently lacks transparency. An alternative simpler approach to characterising landscape objects for dose assessment models would be beneficial in that it would offer an additional line of reasoning and would add clarity, thereby supporting the decision-making process of the regulatory authorities. In the context of coastal Fennoscandia, landscape change is relatively rapid and dramatic with post-glacial landrise transforming areas of the coastal seabed into terrestrial ecosystems over a period of a few thousand years, global sea level rise notwithstanding. The locations of the geosphere-biosphere interfaces for deep geologic disposal can be estimated with some precision but the nature of the receiving ecosystems at the time of the release is less certain. The approach described here provides a statistical quantification of key morphological characteristics of areas in the landscape where doses could arise, so as to better express uncertainties in dose modelling. The proposed method assumes that the variation in the morphology of potential release locations can be described by the variation in landscape objects seen in the landscape on a wider scale, providing a statistical description of the possible landscape objects, so allowing a more comprehensive range of potential future evolutions to be addressed. Our understanding of the evolution of the landscape, based on the kinds of terrain and ecosystem development models used by POSIVA in Finland and SKB in Sweden, suggests that objects identified in present-day maps can be used as analogues for a statistical characterisation of objects in the future landscape; objects identified in the observed topography and bathymetry can therefore serve as the basis for the statistical description of landscape dose objects over the period during which doses are likely to arise. Using digital elevation models around a disposal site in Finland, we show that the statistical descriptions of landscape dose objects at three times over a period of 10 kyear of the evolved landscape are sufficiently similar to establish the suitability of the approach. The aim of this statistical analysis is to supplement current methods for defining radiological assessment models so as to provide additional numerical support to both the simpler and more complex methods employed by implementors and regulators. The method has been developed in the context of the Swedish and Finnish regulatory review process and is referred to in the IAEA's revised BIOMASS methodology. We briefly address how the method might be applied in other landscape contexts.

Aiming at the limitations of clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD) with rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD), in order to improve the accuracy of diagnosis, an intelligent-aided diagnosis method based on few-channel electroencephalogram (EEG) and time-frequency deep network is proposed for PD with RBD. Firstly, in order to improve the speed of the operation and robustness of the algorithm, the 6-channel scalp EEG of each subject were segmented with the same time-window. Secondly, the model of time-frequency deep network was constructed and trained with time-window EEG data to obtain the segmentation-based classification result. Finally, the output of time-frequency deep network was postprocessed to obtain the subject-based diagnosis result. Polysomnography (PSG) of 60 patients, including 30 idiopathic PD and 30 PD with RBD, were collected by Nanjing Brain Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University and the doctor's detection results of PSG were taken as the gold standard in our study. The accuracy of the segmentation-based classification was 0.902 4 in the validation set. The accuracy of the subject-based classification was 0.933 3 in the test set. Compared with the RBD screening questionnaire (RBDSQ), the novel approach has clinical application value.针对临床帕金森病（PD）伴快速眼动睡眠行为障碍（RBD）诊断方法的局限性，为了提高诊断准确率，提出基于少导联脑电和时频深度网络的智能辅助诊断方法。首先，为提高运算速度及算法鲁棒性，对各被试者的6导联头皮脑电数据进行等长的时间窗提取；然后，基于时间窗脑电数据构建时频深度网络，并得到基于时间窗的分类结果；最后，对各被试者所有时间窗脑电数据的分类结果进行综合决策，实现基于被试者的PD伴RBD辅助诊断。本文以南京医科大学附属脑科医院采集的PD伴和不伴RBD患者的多导睡眠图（PSG）为研究对象，两类数据各30例，以医生诊断结果作为金标准进行算法性能验证。本文方法基于时间窗的分类准确率为0.902 4，基于被试者的分类准确率为0.933 3，比RBD临床筛查问卷效果更好

Zinc (Zn) and its alloys have been regarded as promising biodegradable metals. The standardized cytotoxicity evaluation is a mandatory step to screen the biocompatibility of novel Zn and its alloys. Nevertheless, the suitability of the tetrazolium-based assay in the direct contact test for some metallic biomaterials (i.e., magnesium and manganese) is questionable. In this study, our results demonstrate an obvious inconsistency between qualitative observation via fluorescence staining and quantitative assessment using water-soluble tetrazolium salt (CCK-8). Subsequent experiments revealed that Zn and pre-treated Zn can directly convert tetrazolium salts to formazan, falsifying the cytotoxicity results. Therefore, we conclude that the CCK-8 assay is not suitable for evaluating the cytotoxicity of biodegradable Zn-based metals in the direct contact test.

Robotic systems have emerged in dental implant surgery due to their accuracy. Autonomous robotic surgery may offer unprecedented advantages over conventional alternatives. This clinical protocol was used to show the feasibility of autonomous robotic surgery for immediately loaded implant-supported full-arch prostheses in the maxilla. This case report demonstrated the surgical protocol and outcomes in detail, highlighting the pros and cons of the autonomous robotic system. Within the limitations of this study, autonomous robotic surgery could be a feasible alternative to computer-assisted guided implant surgery.

Biodegradable zinc (Zn) and Zn-based alloys have been recognized as promising biomaterials for biomedical implants. Sterilization is an essential step in handling Zn-based implants before their use in clinical practice and there are various sterilization methods are available. However, how these treatments influence the Zn-based biomaterials remains unknown and is of critical relevance. In this study, three commonly-applied standard sterilization methods, namely gamma irradiation, hydrogen peroxide gas plasma and steam autoclave, were used on pure Zn and Zn3Cu (wt%) alloy. The treated Zn and ZnCu alloy were investigated to compare the different influences of sterilizations on surface characteristics, transient and long-term degradation behavior and cytotoxicity of Zn and Zn alloy. Our results indicate that autoclaving brought about apparently a formation of inhomogeneous zinc oxide film whereas the other two methods produced no apparent alterations on the material surfaces. Consequently, the samples after autoclaving showed significantly faster degradation rates and more severe localized corrosion, especially for the ZnCu alloy, owing to the incomplete covering and unstable zinc oxide layer. Moreover, the autoclave-treated Zn and ZnCu alloy exhibited apparent cytotoxic effects towards fibroblasts, which may be due to the excessive Zn ion releasing and its local concentration exceeds the cellular tolerance capacity. In contrast, gamma irradiation and hydrogen peroxide gas plasma had no apparent adverse effects on the biodegradability and cytocompatibility of Zn and ZnCu alloy. Our findings may have significant implications regarding the selection of suitable sterilization methods for Zn-based implant materials among others.

The importance of hyporheic water fluxes induced by hydromorphologic processes at the streambed scale and their consequential effects on stream ecohydrology have recently received much attention. However, the role of hyporheic water fluxes in regional groundwater discharge is still not entirely understood. Streambed-induced flows not only affect mass and heat transport in streams but are also important for the retention of solute contamination originating from deep in the subsurface, such as naturally occurring solutes as well as leakage from the future geological disposal of nuclear waste. Here, we applied a multiscale modeling approach to investigate the effect of hyporheic fluxes on regional groundwater discharge in the Krycklan catchment, located in a boreal landscape in Sweden. Regional groundwater modeling was conducted using COMSOL Multiphysics constrained by observed or modeled representations of the catchment infiltration and geological properties, reflecting heterogeneities within the subsurface domain. Furthermore, streambed-scale modeling was performed using an exact spectral solution of the hydraulic head applicable to streaming water over a fluctuating streambed topography. By comparing the flow fields of watershed-scale groundwater discharge with and without consideration of streambed-induced hyporheic flows, we found that the flow trajectories and the distribution of the travel times of groundwater were substantially influenced by the presence of hyporheic fluxes near the streambed surface. One implication of hyporheic flows is that the groundwater flow paths contract near the streambed interface, thus fragmenting the coherent areas of groundwater upwelling and resulting in narrow “pinholes” of groundwater discharge points.

The long-term condition and potential radiological consequences of legacy radioactive waste stored in a RADON-type of near-surface disposal facility outside the city of Chisinau is of concern to the central government and health protection authorities of the Republic of Moldova. A "zero alternative scenario" risk assessment has been undertaken in order to evaluate the potential radiological impact on humans and the environment of the facility, were it to be left in its current state with no remediation. The results have been used as a basis for regulatory decision making regarding remediation and decommissioning of the legacy radioactive waste facility. The aim of this study is two-fold: the first is to demonstrate a complete radiological risk assessment of a real site using a combination of methodologies developed by the IAEA (ISAM and BIOMASS). The second is to illustrate the current state-of-the-art in respect of extracting site-specific information from site descriptive material. We illustrate the practicality of employing geographic information systems techniques on site specific topographic data to identify relevant biosphere dose objects, thereby allowing customisation of the generic ISAM model framework to site-specific conditions. As a result, a simple method is suggested to bound activity concentrations in well water based on an understanding of water balance in the local catchment area in which the biosphere dose object is embedded. With conservative assumptions, estimated doses from the calculation cases of the design scenario remain lower than the IAEA's dose criteria and environmental screening values. However, the results also indicate that human intrusion activities after the institutional control period could lead to radiological exposures above the IAEA's criteria for a period up to 100,000 years. The long-lived radionuclide 239Pu dominates doses for the on-site residence scenario. Remediation measures should be implemented were the waste to remain at its present place of disposal.

Background Improvements in the early osseointegration of titanium implants require investigations on the bone-implant interface, which is a critical and complex challenge. The surface cleanliness of titanium implants plays an important role at this interface. However, the implant surface would inevitably absorb contamination such as organic hydrocarbons, which is not conductive to the establishment of early osseointegration. Herein, an optimized approach for removing contamination from titanium surfaces was studied. Methods The TiO2-B＠anatase NWs (nanowires) were prepared on titanium substrates through a hydrothermal process. A methylene blue degradation experiment was performed to assess the photodegradation activity. The cleaning effect of the photocatalysis of TiO2-B＠anatase NWs on a titanium surface and the cellular early response was determined by analyzing cell morphology, attachment, proliferation and differentiation. Results The results indicated that the photocatalysis of TiO2-B＠anatase NWs could effectively remove hydrocarbons on titanium surfaces without sacrificing the favourable titanium surface morphology. The methylene blue degradation experiment revealed that the photocatalysis of TiO2-B＠anatase NWs had powerful degradation activity, which is attributed to the presence of strong oxidants such as ·OH. In addition, compared to the merely ultraviolet-treated titanium surfaces, the titanium surfaces treated after the NWs photocatalytic cleaning process markedly enhanced cellular early response. Conclusion The photocatalysis of TiO2-B＠anatase NWs for the removal of contamination from titanium surfaces has the potential to enable the rapid and complete establishment of early osseointegration.