Periodontitis, Halitosis and Oral-Health-Related Quality of Life—A Cross-Sectional Study

We aimed to explore the association between volatile sulfurous compounds (VSCs) and periodontal epithelial surface area (PESA) and periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) on a cohort of periodontitis patients. Consecutive patients were assessed for periodontitis and halitosis. A full-mouth periodontal status assessment tested probing depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), gingival recession (REC), bleeding on probing (BoP), PISA and PESA. A halitosis assessment was made using a VSC detector device. Periodontal measures were regressed across VSC values using adjusted multivariate linear analysis. From a total of seventy-two patients (37 females/35 males), the PESA of posterior-lower regions was found to be significantly higher in halitosis cases than their non-halitosis counterparts (p = 0.031). Considering all patients, the PESA of the posterior-lower region (B = 1.3, 95% CI: 0.2–2.3, p = 0.026) and age (B = −1.6, 95% CI:−3.1–0.2, p = 0.026) showed significant association with VSCs. In halitosis patients, the PESA of the posterior-lower region (B = 0.1, 95% CI: 0.0–0.1, p = 0.001), PISA Total (B = −0.1, 95% CI:−0.1–0.0, p = 0.008) and the OHIP-14 domain of physical disability (B = −2.1, 95% CI:−4.1–0.1, p = 0.040) were the most significant variables in this model. The PESA from the posterior-lower region may be associated with VSCs when other causes of extra-oral halitosis are excluded. Further intervention studies are needed to confirm this association.

Morphological and Morphometric Characteristics of Anterior Maxilla Accessory Canals and Relationship with Nasopalatine Canal Type—A CBCT Study

This study aimed to evaluate principal morphological and morphometric characteristics of accessory canals (ACs) of the anterior maxilla, as well as to analyze the relationship with nasopalatine canal (NPC) type. The results of our study showed that ACs were observed in almost 50% of participants. They were mostly presented bilaterally and in a curved shape, with a palatal foramen position. The morphometric characteristics of ACs were significantly influenced by NPC type. NPC type had the strongest impact on the distance between the NPC and AC, as well as on the distance between the AC and the facial aspect of buccal bone wall, in inferior parts of the alveolar ridge. On the other hand, the distance between the AC and central incisors was not significantly influenced by NPC shape in the lower region of the anterior maxilla. However, the participants with the banana-type of the NPC expressed the reduction in distance from the AC to the central incisor at the upper part in comparison with the subjects with the cylindrical-type of the NPC. On the basis of the results of this study, the simultaneous estimation of ACs and the NPC seems reasonable, as this approach may be useful in the prevention of complications which could occur during implant surgery interventions.

A High-Sensitivity Method Based on Advanced Optical Waveguide Technology to Detect HBsAg

A novel method for the detection of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) at low concentrations, using the ultrahigh-order guided mode acting as the probe excited by a symmetrical metal-cladding waveguide, is proposed. The method using the fact of the minimum value of the absorption peaks is proportional to the concentration of the sample to be detected to realize the detection of the hepatitis B virus at extremely low concentrations. It is realized that the low concentration of the HBsAg measurement relied on the principle of the minimum value of the absorption peak and the concentration having a good linear relationship. The measurement results indicate that this new method can precisely detect HBsAg at the concentrations in the lower region of the clinical gray area (i.e., below 20 ng/mL), the lower region of the current clinical gray area of HBsAg (below 20 ng/ml) can be measured, and the resolution can be reached (2 ng/mL).

Investigation on the thermal management performance of a parallel liquid cooling structure for prismatic batteries

Liquid-based battery thermal management system is commonly applied to commercial electric vehicles. Current research on the liquid-cooling structure of prismatic batteries is generally focused on microchannel cooling plates, while studies on the discrete tubes are limited. In this paper, a parallel liquid cooling structure based on heat-conducting plates and cooling tubes is proposed, with computational fluid dynamics employed to investigate the cooling performance of the structure. Two different optimization schemes are then put forward, and the effects of the coolant inlet velocity and temperature on the thermal management performance of the structures are explored. Compared with the previous series structures for the same battery module, the parallel structure can significantly reduce the pressure drop and flow resistance loss. The gradient structures increasing the parallel round tube inner diameters were able to reduce the pressure drop, while the heat transfer was slightly enhanced. Changing the contact mode between the heat-conducting plates and the square cooling tubes could effectively improve the temperature uniformity of the battery module, particularly for structures with no contact between the lower region of the first plate and the cooling square tube. Based on the gradual increase in the inner diameter of the round tubes, the structure of breaking the contact between the lower region of the first plate and the cooling square tube was able to reduce the maximum temperature difference in the battery module within 3°C by 41.12% and the pressure drop by 26.28% compared to the original structure.

Fault Slip Risk Assessment and Treating Parameter Optimization for Casing Deformation Prevention: A Case Study in the Sichuan Basin

Casing deformation is a key issue that restricts the efficient development of shale gas in the Sichuan Basin, southwest China. In this study, we take the Ning209 block as an example to analyze the characteristics of casing deformation distribution and the mitigation effect of using reduced treating parameters on casing deformation. The geological structure and in-situ stress characteristics of this block indicate that the high horizontal stress difference and high pore pressure may be the main cause of casing deformation. Hence, based on the fault likelihood and 3D in-situ stress model, a geomechanical probability model of fault slip is established to identify the areas with high risk of faults to explain the distribution of casing deformation and investigate the impact of reducing pumping rate on fault slip. The results show that the faults in the upper region of the block have a higher slip probability than the faults in the lower region, consistent with field casing deformation observation. The high stress difference and high pore pressure are the main factors causing a high slip probability of faults. After reducing pumping rate, slip probability is found to change from medium risk to low risk for faults in the lower region, which led to a significant reduction of casing deformation in the lower region. Reducing pumping rate can play a significant role in mitigating casing deformation caused by medium-risk faults, which has been proved by the field practices. This paper proposes a comprehensive method for preventing casing deformation by combining the fault slip risk assessment with the treating parameters optimization, which bridges the gap between prediction and control for mitigating casing deformation in the field.

Branches and Leaves Growth Patterns in Myricaria laxiflora Remnant Populations Are Affected by Human-altered Water Level Fluctuations

Background: The construction of the Three Gorges-Gezhou Dam altered the water level fluctuation pattern in the downstream habitat of the endangered species Myricaria laxiflora. This study investigated how branch and leaf growth traits of M. laxiflora remnant populations changed to adapt the environmental stress caused by human-altered water level fluctuations.Results:Due to such disturbance, branch and leaf growth traits of M. laxiflora populations exhibited significant differences across water level conditions. The number of secondary branches, plant height, and leaf number of the plants in the upper area of the habitat were significantly higher than that in the middle and lower river bank areas. The longest secondary branch length of the plants in the upper and middle region was significantly higher than that in the lower region. The branch and leaf volume of plants in the middle region was significantly higher than that in the upper and lower region. The maximum water content of plants in the middle and lower region was significantly higher than that in the upper region. Principal component analysis showed that the branch and leaf traits of plants changed with decreasing water level toward to decreasing plant height, leaf number and the number of secondary branches, and increasing maximum water content of branch and leaves. Conclusions: The phenotypic plasticity of M. laxiflora plants in branch and leaf growth traits alleviates the impacts of human-regulated water level fluctuations. However, the above ground growth of M. laxiflora plants distributed at the middle and lower areas of the fluctuation zone is still negatively affected.

Biofilm and productivity-associated community changes in serial-transfer experiments in heterogeneous liquid microcosms

<p>Static incubation of liquid microcosms results in a physically heterogeneous environment, where depletion of O<sub>2 </sub>in the lower region creates a relatively high-O<sub>2 </sub>niche directly below the air-liquid (A-L) interface. This has been investigated using the model bacterium <em>Pseudomonas fluorescens</em> SBW25 and the biofilm-forming adaptive mutant known as the Wrinkly Spreader. In this system, colonisation of the A-L interface by the Wrinkly Spreader provides a fitness advantage over non-biofilm-forming competitors, including the ancestral SBW25, due to better access to O<sub>2</sub> in an otherwise O<sub>2</sub>-growth limiting environment. Our current research seeks to understand how the ecological interactions of this simple system applies in more complex communities, where biofilms can be produced by multiple competing or co-operative strains and the low-O<sub>2</sub> region colonised by a range of strains capable of micro-aerobic growth. Here we report the effect of selection on the productivity of A-L interface biofilm-forming communities initiated by soil-wash (SW) inocula, which were serially transferred across ten microcosms and sixty days with mixed-community or biofilm-only samples. Initial analysis of the serial transfer experiments shows a decrease in community productivity which is explained by the accumulation of toxic metabolites, though small increases in community biofilm strength and attachment were also observed. Isolate-level analysis revealed a decrease in community diversity and a biofilm-associated phenotypic shift between the SW inocula and final-transfer communities, and these changes provide evidence of selection within our system.</p> <p>Cell-localisation experiments confirm enrichment at the top of the liquid column in the high-O<sub>2</sub> region, but also show high cell densities in the low-O<sub>2</sub> region, even within the biofilm-only final-transfer communities. Samples taken from the biofilm and lower region of these communities were able to re-colonise both in fresh microcosms, indicating that community members were capable of migration within the liquid column. Despite the over-all decrease seen in community productivity in the serial transfer experiments, we suggest that communities maximised productivity by colonising both regions of the liquid column, with a resource trade-off between fast growth in the highly competitive high-O<sub>2 </sub>region and slower growth in the less-competitive low-O<sub>2</sub> region. Many isolates from the final-transfer communities could occupy both regions and were capable of migration, with almost all isolates capable of flagella-mediated motility, and we interpret this ability to move between regions as a fitness advantage in A-L interface biofilm-forming communities. Although we have not been able to test this directly using the final-transfer communities or isolates, we have been able to demonstrate a fitness advantage in the less complex <em>P. fluorescens</em> SBW25 system, where biofilm-forming mutants capable of colonising both regions had a greater competitive fitness advantage over those with a poor ability to colonise the liquid column.</p>

In Vivo Confocal Microscopy Observation of Cell and Nerve Density in Different Corneal Regions with Monocular Pterygium

Purpose. To investigate the effects of pterygium on corneal cell and nerve density in patients with unilateral pterygium using in vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). Methods. In this cross-sectional study, 24 patients with unilateral pterygium who were treated in the Department of Ophthalmology of the Second People’s Hospital of Wuxi City from April 2018 to July 2018 were analyzed. Each eye with pterygium and its fellow eye were imaged by LSCM. The density of basal corneal epithelial cells, anterior stromal cells, posterior stromal cells, dendritic cells, and endothelial cells in pterygium and adjacent clear cornea was measured. In the fellow eyes, the central cornea, nasal cornea, nasal mid-peripheral cornea, and temporal cornea were imaged. The difference in the density of cells and subepithelial nerve fibers in different corneal regions of eyes with pterygium was analyzed. The cell and nerve density of the fellow cornea were also measured to exclude the influencing factors. Results. The density of corneal basal epithelial cells in the central corneas of eyes with pterygium was 6497 ± 1776 cells/mm2, which was higher than that in the area near the head of pterygium (5580 ± 1294 cells/mm2, P<0.001), the region above pterygium (6097 ± 1281 cells/mm2, P=0.049), and the region below pterygium (5463 ± 1007 cells/mm2, P=0.001). The density of anterior stromal cells in the central cornea was 742 ± 243 cells/mm2, which was higher than that in the area near the head of pterygium (587 ± 189 cells/mm2, P=0.005), the region below pterygium (492 ± 159 cells/mm2, P=0.005), and the temporal cornea (574 ± 164 cells/mm2, P=0.003). The density of endothelial cells in the central cornea was 2398 ± 260 cells/mm2, which was higher than that in the area near the head of pterygium (2296 ± 231 cells/mm2, P=0.011) and the region below pterygium (2272 ± 400 cells/mm2, P=0.020). The density of dendritic cells in the central cornea was 53 ± 48 cells/mm2, which was lower than that in the area near the head of pterygium (250 ± 224 cells/mm2, P=0.001), the upper region (103 ± 47 cells/mm2, P=0.006), and the lower region (90 ± 48 cells/mm2, P=0.023). The corneal nerve fiber length (CNFL) in the center was higher than that in the area near the head of pterygium, the upper region, and the lower region. Compared with fellow eyes, eyes with pterygium had a significantly higher mean corneal power (KM) (P<0.001). There was a significant positive linear relationship between the corneal area invaded by pterygium of pterygia and KM (r = 0.609, P=0.009). Conclusion. Basal epithelial cells, stromal cells, endothelial cells, dendritic cells, and subepithelial nerve fibers in the central cornea of eyes with pterygium were different from those of pterygium and adjacent clear cornea. LSCM is effective for observing the morphology and quantity of corneal cells in pterygium.

Analisis Tata Guna Hutan Kesepakatan (TGHK) di Kabupaten Gayo Lues

Abstrak. Terpeliharanya kelangsungan fungsi ekologis dari kawasan hutan di Kabupaten Gayo Lues mempunyai arti penting bagi wilayah di sekitarnya. Hal ini disebabkan karena secara fisik wilayah Kabupaten Gayo Lues merupakan kawasan hulu dan penyangga bagi wilayah hilir. Pertumbuhan penduduk yang terus bertambah mendorong meningkatkannya kebutuhan lahan yang menimbulkan persaingan dalam pemanfaatan ruang khususnya kawasan untuk budidaya. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalis kawasaan hutan Tata Guna Hutan Kesepakatan Kabupaten Gayo Lues. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan luas kawasan hutan Tata Guna Hutan Kesepakatan Kabupaten Gayo Lues hutan lindung seluas 436.089,10 ha atau 78%, hutan produksi terbatas seluas 86.401,43 ha atau 16%, dan hutan produksi seluas 32.500,54 ha atau 6%.Analysis the Forest Use Agreement in Gayo Lues DistrictAbstract. The survival ecological function of the forest area in Gayo Lues District means a great deal to surrounding rigion. This is physically because Gayo Lues District is the upper and buffer zone for lower region. Growing population growth is driving up the land needs that have created competition for room use, especially a land of cultivation. This research is meant to analysis the forest use agreement in Gayo Lues District. Research show the area of forest use agreement in Gayo Lues District is forest protect pants 436.089,10 hectares or 78%, forest limited pants 86.401,43 hectares or 16%, and forest of pants 32.500,54 hectares or 6%.