Measuring and predicting disturbance resilience in ecosystems, with emphasis on fire: A review and meta-analysis.

As disturbance regimes change in response to anthropogenic activities, ecosystem resilience is critically important to the persistence of biodiversity and ecological functions. However, resilience in literature is often treated as an abstract concept, with widely varying definitions. Achieving common and reliable resilience metrics that cross systems and contexts remains elusive.

Ethnicity in neuro-oncology research: How are we doing and how can we do better?

Purpose: This study systematically reviews and meta-analyses the extent of ethnic minority representation in neuro-oncology Phase III and IV clinical trials, explores the effect of ethnicity on outcomes, and identifies predictors for the inclusion of ethnicity data in publications.

Methods: Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a comprehensive literature search across multiple databases, on Phase III and IV trials in neuro-oncology that reported on adult and/or paediatric subjects. Through meta-analysis, we synthesized information on overall survival, event-free survival, and the incidence of adverse outcomes across ethnicities.

Pediatric cochlear implantation: Early surgical intervention and parental quality of life.

Objectives: Pediatric cochlear implantation (CI) provides sound perception to children with significant sensorineural hearing loss and, despite its challenging process, early implantation can enhance children's speech/language outcomes and potentially improve parental quality of life (PQoL). This study aims to examine parental perspectives on quality of life and parenting children with CI.

Methods: This study combined retrospective chart review and parent reported outcomes.

Rapid assessment of changes in phage bioactivity using dynamic light scattering.

Extensive efforts are underway to develop bacteriophages as therapies against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. However, these efforts are confounded by the instability of phage preparations and a lack of suitable tools to assess active phage concentrations over time. In this study, we use dynamic light scattering (DLS) to measure changes in phage physical state in response to environmental factors and time, finding that phages tend to decay and form aggregates and that the degree of aggregation can be used to predict phage bioactivity.

Rapid assessment of changes in phage bioactivity using dynamic light scattering.

Extensive efforts are underway to develop bacteriophages as therapies against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. However, these efforts are confounded by the instability of phage preparations and a lack of suitable tools to assess active phage concentrations over time. Here, we use Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) to measure changes in phage physical state in response to environmental factors and time, finding that phages tend to decay and form aggregates and that the degree of aggregation can be used to predict phage bioactivity.

Cardiovascular hemodynamics in mice with tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 mediated cytoprotection in the heart.

Introduction: Many studies in mice have demonstrated that cardiac-specific innate immune signaling pathways can be reprogrammed to modulate inflammation in response to myocardial injury and improve outcomes. While the echocardiography standard parameters of left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, fractional shortening, end-diastolic diameter, and others are used to assess cardiac function, their dependency on loading conditions somewhat limits their utility in completely reflecting the contractile function and global cardiovascular efficiency of the heart. A true measure of global cardiovascular efficiency should include the interaction between the ventricle and the aorta (ventricular-vascular coupling, VVC) as well as measures of aortic impedance and pulse wave velocity.

Cyst Formation After Subepithelial Connective Tissue Grafting: Management and Review.

Lesion formation after soft tissue gingival grafting is a rare but challenging clinical scenario to manage. This report presents a unique case of cyst formation after connective tissue grafting. All previously reported cases are confined to the mandibular labial lateral-canine space, whereas the present case is the first found in the maxilla.

Building bridges: Connecting sport marketing and critical social science research.

Recently, sport management scholars have called for researchers to critically evaluate the ways in which research questions and resulting contributions truly disrupt what is known, how it is known, why it is important to know, and for whom. Historically, sport marketing research has adapted traditional research approaches from the parent marketing discipline to sport. Yet, sport is a constantly evolving social and cultural phenomenon and a reliance on conventional theories, concepts, and methods can serve to crystalize the discourse in sport marketing in ways that may limit knowledge production.

Assessing the Antimicrobial Properties of Copper-Iodide Doped Adhesives in an Caries Model: A Pilot Study.

Context: Recurrent caries are the leading cause of composite resin failure.

Aims: The purpose of this pilot study was to test the efficacy of a novel copper iodide (CuI) containing dental adhesive in an caries model.

Subjects And Methods: and were grown individually on the complex medium for 48 h at 37°C.

3D printed implant surgical guides with internally routed irrigation for temperature reduction during osteotomy preparation: A pilot study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to test a novel through-the-guide means of irrigation in an in-vitro bovine bone model and to explore the method clinical applicability.

Materials And Methods: Surgical guides were designed to fit over five fresh bovine samples. Control osteotomy sites were compared to experimental sites irrigated through a 3D printed surgical guide with customized channels that direct the coolant toward the interface of the alveolar crest and drill.

Intraepithelial Localizations of Opportunistic Pathogens, and , in Human Gingiva.

and are fastidious oral pathogens and etiological agents associated with chronic periodontitis. Although previous studies showed increased levels of the two obligate anaerobic species in periodontitis patients, methodologies for this knowledge were primarily limited to sampling subgingival plaque, saliva, or gingival crevicular fluid. To evaluate the extent to which and may invade the periodontal tissues, an cross-sectional study was comparatively conducted on the gingival biopsy specimens of patients diagnosed with periodontal health or chronic periodontitis.

Evaluating delays for emergent CT scans from a rural British Columbia hospital.

Objectives: Computed Tomography (CT) scans help diagnose and triage life-threatening and time-sensitive emergency conditions, but most rural hospitals in British Columbia do not have access to a local CT scanner. We investigate how many transfers from a rural British Columbia hospital were for CT scans and describe the time delays to emergent CT imaging.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study, over a 1-year period, on all patients requiring a transfer from the Golden and District Hospital, located 247 km from the closest CT scanner.

Evaluation of complete-arch implant scanning with 5 different intraoral scanners in terms of trueness and operator experience.

Statement Of Problem: The intraoral scanning of the edentulous arch might be challenging for an inexperienced operator because of the large mucosal area and the use of scan bodies.

Purpose: The purpose of this ex vivo study was to compare the trueness of 5 intraoral scanners in replicating implant scan bodies and soft tissues in an edentulous maxilla and to investigate the effects of operator experience.

Material And Methods: The maxilla was resected from a fresh cadaver, 5 implants placed, and a reference scan made.

Comparing the trueness of seven intraoral scanners and a physical impression on dentate human maxilla by a novel method.

Backgrounds: Intraoral scanner (IOS) accuracy is commonly evaluated using full-arch surface comparison, which fails to take into consideration the starting position of the scanning (scan origin). Previously a novel method was developed, which takes into account the scan origin and calculates the deviation of predefined identical points between references and test models. This method may reveal the error caused by stitching individual images during intraoral scan.

The effect different substrates have on the trueness and precision of eight different intraoral scanners.

Objective: This in vitro study compares the newest generation of intraoral scanners to their older counterparts, and tests whether material substrates affect the trueness and precision of intraoral scanners (IOS).

Material And Methods: A custom model, used as the reference standard, was fabricated with teeth composed of different dental materials. The reference standard scan was obtained using a three-dimensional (3D) optical scanner, the ATOS III.

A novel method for complex three-dimensional evaluation of intraoral scanner accuracy.

Aims: The aim of this study was to compare two existing methods and one novel method for measuring the distortion of three-dimensional (3D) models created with complete-arch digital impressions, and to assess the accuracy of different scan patterns using these methods.

Materials And Methods: Maxillary and mandibular models were imaged with the PlanScan intraoral scanner using four different scan patterns. Accuracy and distortion were assessed by comparing the master scans with the intraoral scans using the following three methods: 1) Mean surface deviation was measured after complete arch superimposition; 2) 28 points were selected identically on the experimental and on the master reference models, and the deviation between identical points was assessed after superimposition over the complete arch; 3) In the case of the novel technique, the superimposition was made only at the scanning origin, and after that the 28 points were compared.

The influence of hand location and handle orientation on female manual arm strength.

Accurate estimations of manual arm strength (MAS) are crucial in the evaluation of occupational force demands relative to population capacity. Most current strength predictions assume force application with a vertically oriented handle, but it is unknown how uni-manual force capability changes as a function of handle orientation and hand location. This study evaluated the effect of handle orientation on MAS throughout the reach envelope.

Effect of scan substrates on accuracy of 7 intraoral digital impression systems using human maxilla model.

Objective: This study aimed to determine how the accuracy of digital impressions was affected by four common dental substrates using seven prevalent IOS systems to scan the complete arch of a human maxilla.

Setting And Sample Population: The Department of Oral Rehabilitation at the Medical University of South Carolina. A single cadaver maxilla.

Evaluation of the trueness and precision of complete arch digital impressions on a human maxilla using seven different intraoral digital impression systems and a laboratory scanner.

Objectives: An impression accuracy study using a cadaver maxilla was performed using both prepared and intact teeth as well as palatal tissue.

Materials And Methods: Three crown preparations were performed on a cadaver maxilla. Seven different digital impression systems along with polyvinylsiloxane impressions were used to create digital models of the maxilla.

Effect of scan pattern on complete-arch scans with 4 digital scanners.

Statement Of Problem: Complete-arch digital scans are becoming popular as digital dentistry is adopted for expanded clinical situations such as complete-arch prostheses, removable prostheses, extensive implant-supported treatment, and orthodontic aligners. Whether the scan pattern technique affects the trueness and precision of complete-arch scans and whether differences in accuracy exist among different scanners remain unclear. Furthermore, each manufacturer recommends a different scan pattern, but evidence of the superiority of the manufacturer's recommended pattern is lacking.

CPRural.

Introduction: The purpose of our study was to determine if regular cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) practise improved the quality of nurses' chest compressions in a rural hospital.

Methods: The study was a prospective interventional trial measuring the effectiveness of brief, monthly CPR practice for rural nurses. The quality of nurses' chest compressions was measured before and after monthly practise with an interactive feedback device at the Golden and District Hospital, a rural facility in BC.

Rapid quantification of vesicular stomatitis virus in Vero cells using Laser Force Cytology.

The ability to rapidly and accurately determine viral infectivity can help improve the speed of vaccine product development and manufacturing. Current methods to determine infectious viral titers, such as the end-point dilution (50% tissue culture infective dose, TCID50) and plaque assays are slow, labor intensive, and often subjective. In order to accelerate virus quantification, Laser Force Cytology (LFC) was used to monitor vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection in Vero (African green monkey kidney) cells.

Evaluation of the effect scan pattern has on the trueness and precision of six intraoral digital impression systems.

Objective: Clinicians have been slow to adopt digital impression technologies due possibly to perceived technique sensitivities involved in data acquisition. This research has two aims: determine whether scan pattern and sequence affects the accuracy of the three-dimensional (3D) model created from this digital impression and to compare the 5 imaging systems with regards to their scanning accuracy for sextant impressions.

Materials And Methods: Six digital intraoral impression systems were used to scan a typodont sextant with optical properties similar to natural teeth.