All Graphs with a Failed Zero Forcing Number of Two

Given a graph G, the zero forcing number of G, Z(G), is the smallest cardinality of any set S of vertices on which repeated applications of the forcing rule results in all vertices being in S. The forcing rule is: if a vertex v is in S, and exactly one neighbor u of v is not in S, then u is added to S in the next iteration. Zero forcing numbers have attracted great interest over the past 15 years and have been well studied. In this paper, we investigate the largest size of a set S that does not force all of the vertices in a graph to be in S. This quantity is known as the failed zero forcing number of a graph and will be denoted by F(G). We present new results involving this parameter. In particular, we completely characterize all graphs G where F(G)=2, solving a problem posed in 2015 by Fetcie, Jacob, and Saavedra.

Relative Lagrangian Formulation of Finite Thermoelasticity

The motion of a body can be expressed relative to the present configuration of the body, known as the relative motion description, besides the classical Lagrangian and the Eulerian descriptions. When the time increment from the present state is small enough, the nonlinear constitutive equations can be linearized relative to the present state so that the resulting system of boundary value problems becomes linear. This formulation is based on the well-known ``small-on-large'' idea, and can be implemented for solving problems with large deformation in successive incremental manner. In fact, the proposed method is a process of repeated applications of the well-known “small deformation superposed on finite deformation” in the literature. This article presents these ideas applied to thermoelastic materials with a brief comment on the exploitation of entropy principle in general. Some applications of such a formulation in numerical simulations are briefly reviewed and a numerical result is shown.

Three New Dexpanthenol-Containing Face Creams: Performance and Acceptability after Single and Repeated Applications in Subjects of Different Ethnicity with Dry and Sensitive Skin

Three novel face creams containing dexpanthenol with different lipid contents were developed for dry skin sufferers: a day face cream (DFC), a day face cream with sun protection (DFC-SPF), and a night face cream (NFC). Three identically designed studies (N = 42–44 each) were conducted with healthy adults of three ethnicities (African, Asian, Caucasian) with dry/sensitive skin. Effects on stratum corneum (SC) hydration, SC lipid content, and skin elasticity were quantified by established noninvasive methods during the 4-week studies. After single and repeated once-daily applications of the face creams, facial hydration significantly increased from baseline. On day 28, the mean increments in skin hydration amounted to 27%, 26%, and 27% (p < 0.0001 each) for DFC, DFC-SPF, and NFC, respectively. Favorable effects of DFC, DFC-SPF, and NFC on facial moisturization were observed in all three ethnic groups. The enhancements in SC hydration were not paralleled by improvements in skin elasticity parameters but lipid analyses showed significant increases in SC cholesterol, SC free fatty acid, and/or SC ceramide levels. All three face creams were well tolerated and achieved a high product satisfaction and acceptability by study participants. Our findings support the once-daily use of the face creams in adults of different ethnicities with dry and sensitive skin.

Clinical Efficacy of Repeated Applications of Local Drug Delivery and Adjunctive Agents in Nonsurgical Periodontal Therapy: A Systematic Review

The aim of this systematic review is to compare the clinical efficacy of repeated applications of local drug delivery and adjunctive agents (LDAs) in nonsurgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) compared to subgingival mechanical debridement (SMD) alone. The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, hand-searched literature and grey literature databases were searched for randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) with a minimum of 6-month follow-up. The outcomes of interest were changes in probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level as well as patient-centred outcomes. Of 1094 studies identified, 16 RCTs were included in the qualitative analysis. Across 11 different adjuncts analysed, only two studies utilizing minocycline gel/ointment and antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) with indocyanine green photosensitizer had statistically significant differences in primary outcomes when compared to their control groups. Only one study on aPDT methylene blue 0.005% had compared single versus multiple applications against its control group. A mean range of 0.27–3.82 mm PD reduction and −0.09–2.82 mm CAL gain were observed with repeated LDA application. Considerable clinical heterogeneity and methodological flaws in the included studies preclude any definitive conclusions regarding the clinical efficacy of repeated LDA applications. Future RCTs with a direct comparison between single and repeated applications should be conducted to confirm or refute the clinical advantages of repeated LDA application in the nonsurgical management of periodontitis.

Are PROMs passing the message? A reflection with real-life migraine patients

Background Several patient-reported outcome measures are available to monitor headache impact, but are those reliable in real-life clinical practice? Methods Two identical patient-reported outcome measures (HALT-90 and MIDAS) were applied simultaneously in each clinical visit to a series of patients treated with monoclonal antibodies for migraine and intra-individual agreement was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficients. Results Our sample included 92 patients, 92.4% females, 45 years old on average. Moderate (0.50 to 0.75) and even poor (<0.50) ICC were observed in all but the first item of these patient-reported outcome measures in at least one evaluation. Over time, missing data were more frequent and no learning effect was detected. Discussion We observed intra-personal variation in reliability when answering patient-reported outcome measures, persisting in repeated applications, and a decrease in the motivation to respond, which should alert clinicians for these additional challenges in real-life clinical practice.

Efficacy of Fungicides for Pseudoperonospora cubensis Determined using Bioassays over Multiple Years in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States

In the United States, fungicides are the primary management option for cucumber growers to protect their crops from Pseudoperonospora cubensis, the causal agent of cucurbit downy mildew. Pathogen resistance to some fungicides can quickly develop with the repeated applications needed to protect yield. In order to determine fungicide efficacy and monitor it over time, bioassays were conducted from 2016-2019 in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York. Potted cucumber plants were either sprayed with fungicides or not treated, placed next to field-grown plants with cucurbit downy mildew for up to two days, then kept in a greenhouse until symptoms developed. Severity of symptoms or number of lesions on leaves was recorded 6-14 days after exposure started and used to determine fungicide efficacy. Quadris (azoxystrobin) was ineffective in seven of the nine bioassays, while Revus (mandipropamid) was ineffective in six of seven bioassays. Forum (dimethomorph) and Presidio (fluopicolide) were ineffective in three of eight and four of nine bioassays, respectively. The most effective fungicides were Bravo (chlorothalonil), Zing! (zoxamide + chlorothalonil), and Orondis (oxathiapiprolin), all of which consistently suppressed disease severity more than 90% when compared with the untreated control. Previcur Flex (propamocarb hydrochloride) and Ranman (cyazofamid) were also effective in every bioassay.

Impact of Long-Term Manure and Sewage Sludge Application to Soil as Organic Fertilizer on the Incidence of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Antibiotic Resistance Genes

The reuse of stabilized (under thermophilic conditions) sewage sludge and manure on agricultural soils is a common practice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risks associated with their repeated applications on the spread of pathogenic bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) that encode resistance to tetracycline (tetA and tetW), sulphonamide (sul1 and sul2), erythromycin (ermB), vancomycin (vanA) and integron genetic element (intI1). The trial fields has been regularly fertilized every 3rd year since 1996 with manure (MF; 330 kg N/ha) and sewage sludge (SF; 330 kg N/ha and SF3; 990 kg N/ha). Unfertilized soil (CF) served as a control. Samples were collected at different time points: (i) right before fertilization (which was also 3 years after the last fertilization), (ii) 5 months after fertilization, and (iii) 11 months after fertilization. The relative abundance of amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) assigned to potentially pathogenic bacteria was low (0.3% and 0.25% in sludge and manure, respectively), and no association with the application of these fertilizers was found. On the other hand, our data indicate that an increased relative abundance of the ARGs sul1 and tetW was significantly associated with these fertilizer applications, and sul1 was increased in all treatments regardless of the time. It is suggested that sul1 should be monitored in organically fertilized soils to prevent its spread and possible further accumulation in crops.