Effect of microwave drying and tempering on color attributes, fissure formation, and cooking characteristics of fortified rice kernels.

Fortified rice kernels (FRK) are a vitamin-mineral enriched extruded rice-shaped product blended with raw or parboiled rice in a 1:100 ratio to prepare fortified rice. In FRK manufacturing, drying is one of the essential steps that affect the quality of FRK. In the present study, the microwave technique was explored to dry FRK continuously at 180, 360, and 540 W and with the tempering (1, 2, and 3 min) at 180 W to evaluate the effects on the drying curves, color attributes, fissure formation, and cooking characteristics. Thin layer modeling suggested the Two-term exponential model (two parameters), diffusion model (three parameters), and Midilli Kucuk (four parameters) as the best models to predict moisture based on Akaike and Bayesian information criteria. The higher MWP (360 and 540 W) significantly lowered the L* and WI while increasing the a*, b*, and BI compared to 180 W, which was undesirable. Image processing showed fissures in all FRK samples; however, 1 min and 2 min tempering could somewhat restrict the fissure. The fissures caused higher solid losses and increased splitting of kernels during cooking. It can be concluded that the low MWP (< 180W) with appropriate tempering time can be used to dry FRK. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-023-05871-4.

Three-Dimensional Crystal Vue Imaging technology assessment of Sylvian fissures at 20-32+6 weeks' normal gestation.

OBJECTIVE: Assess developmental pattern of Sylvian fissures (SF) with Three-Dimensional Crystal Vue Imaging (3D-CVI) at 20-32+6 weeks of gestation. METHODS: This was a prospective cross-sectional study. Assess 20-32+6 weeks' gestation normal development of fetal brain SF with 3D-CVI imaging. Measure the uncovered area and perimeter of the insula on the Three-Dimensional (3D) image and establish reference ranges for the uncovered area and perimeters of the insula during normal pregnancy 20-32+6 weeks' gestation. Examine intra- and interobserver repeatability of measurements of the uncovered area and perimeter of the insula. RESULTS: A total of 286 normal fetuses from 20 to 32+6 weeks of gestation were studied. The SF first was trapezoidal in the 25 weeks of gestation, gradually becoming triangular as gestational age (GA) increased, and then closing from posterior up to anterior down. The uncovered area and dimension of the insula showed a parabolic curve that first increased and then decreased as GA and head circumference (HC) increased. Reference ranges for measurements of the uncovered area and perimeters of the insula during normal pregnancy 20-32+6 weeks' gestation were established. The intra- and interobserver agreements were reproducible (all ICC > 0.850); there were more than 95% dots in the Bland-Altman plots (95 limits of agreement (LOA)) scale in every figure. CONCLUSIONS: 3D-CVI can be used to observe the morphological changes of SF during middle and late pregnancy, which is an intuitive supplementary means for prenatal evaluation of cerebral cortex development, guiding subsequent follow-up and referral for assessment by expert neurosonologists. KEY POINTS: • A new imaging technique was found to visualize the SF of fetal brain surface. • This technique has the advantages of good consistency and repeatability, simple operation, short time-consuming, and low cost. • Its 3D visualization images can be used to the development and changes of the sulci on the brain surface, it provides a new method to evaluate the development of cerebral cortex.

Clinical Outcomes of Medical Management Options for Chronic Anal Fissures in a Long-Term Follow-up: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Topical treatments and botulinum toxin injections are valid options for the management of patients with chronic anal fissures (CAF), but little is known about the efficacy of these techniques in long-term follow-up. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness, given to clinical outcomes, of medical treatments with calcium antagonists, nitroglycerin, and botulinum toxin on CAF treatment in adults. METHOD: A systemic review and meta-analysis developed according to PRISMA [PLoS Med. 2009 Jul 21;6(7):e1000100; BMJ. 2010 Mar 23;340:c332] and registered in PROSPERO (Registration number: CRD42020120386). A systematic literature search was conducted through MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. Randomized control trials that compared medical treatment were identified; publications had to have a clinical definition of CAF with at least one of the following signs or symptoms: visible sphincter fibers at the base of the fissure, anal papillae, sentinel piles, and indurated margins. The symptoms had to be chronic for at least 4 weeks. Data were independently extracted for each study, and a meta-analysis was drawn using fixed- and random-effects models. RESULTS: 17 randomized trials met the inclusion criteria. Diltiazem showed a superior effect compared with glycerin (RR = 1.16 [95% CI = 1.05-1.30]; I2 = 18%) and with fewer adverse effects (RR = 0.13 [95% CI = 0.04-0.042]; I2 = 87%). Similar results were evidenced with the use of nifedipine compared with lidocaine (RR = 4.53 [95% CI = 2.99-6.86]; I2 = 28%). Botulinum toxin did not show statistically significant differences compared to glycerin (RR = 0.81 [95% CI = 0.02-29.36]; I2 = 93%) or isosorbide dinitrate (RR = 1.45 [95% CI = 0.32-6.54]; I2 = 85%). Regarding recurrence, nifedipine was superior to lidocaine (RR = 0.18 [95% CI = 0.08-0.44]; I2 = 31%). CONCLUSIONS: Calcium channel blockers performed well regarding the healing of CAF when compared to others in long-term follow-up. The superiority of botulinum toxin was not evidenced compared to topical treatments. More studies are needed to better assess recurrence rates.

Thermal bone injuries: postmortem computed tomography findings in 25 cases.

INTRODUCTION: Fire death investigations attempt to determine whether a subject was alive or dead before the fire started. Therefore, it is essential to assess if the bone damage is traumatic or the result of exposure to heat. This observational study aims to expose the specific CT semiology of thermal bone lesions to allow the forensic radiologist to identify and distinguish them from traumatic lesions that would have preceded death. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the CT findings of 25 bodies with thermal bone lesions for which a postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) was performed prior to an autopsy. Imaging findings were correlated to the autopsy data to identify the specific features of thermal bone lesions. RESULTS: Specific signs of thermal injuries to bone were identified on PMCT on all deceased cases. Thermal damages predominated in areas directly exposed to flames (rib cage, distal extremities) with less soft tissue coverage ("soft tissue shielding"). The mottled appearance of bone marrow was a constant sign of burned bones. Heat fractures such as trans-diploic fractures of flat bones and beveled ("flute-mouthpiece") fractures of extremities seemed specifically related to thermal mechanism. In addition, we provided a better description of superficial cortical fissures of flat bones ("ancient Chinese porcelain") and observed a "stair step" fracture of a long bone until now undescribed in radiological literature. CONCLUSION: Thermal bone lesions have specific CT findings, different on several points from traumatic injuries. Their knowledge is essential for radiologists and forensic physicians to provide an accurate report of injury and conclusions.

Identification of potentially painful disc fissures in magnetic resonance images using machine-learning modelling.

PURPOSE: It is suggested that non-specific low back pain (LBP) can be related to nerve ingrowth along granulation tissue in disc fissures, extending into the outer layers of the annulus fibrosus. Present study aimed to investigate if machine-learning modelling of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data can classify such fissures as well as pain, provoked by discography, with plausible accuracy and precision. METHODS: The study was based on previously collected data from 30 LBP patients (age = 26-64 years, 11 males). Pressure-controlled discography was performed in 86 discs with pain-positive discograms, categorized as concordant pain-response at a pressure ≤ 50 psi and for each patient one negative control disc. The CT-discograms were used for categorization of fissures. MRI values and standard deviations were extracted from the midsagittal part and from 5 different sub-regions of the discs. Machine-learning algorithms were trained on the extracted MRI markers to classify discs with fissures extending into the outer annulus or not, as well as to classify discs as painful or non-painful. RESULTS: Discs with outer annular fissures were classified in MRI with very high precision (mean of 10 repeated testings: 99%) and accuracy (mean: 97%) using machine-learning modelling, but the pain model only demonstrated moderate diagnostic accuracy (mean accuracy: 69%; precision: 71%). CONCLUSION: The present study showed that machine-learning modelling based on MRI can classify outer annular fissures with very high diagnostic accuracy and, hence, enable individualized diagnostics. However, the model only demonstrated moderate diagnostic accuracy regarding pain that could be assigned to either a non-sufficient model or the used pain reference.

The use of medium bristle toothbrushes is associated with the incidence of gingival fissures.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to compare the incidence of gingival fissures (GF) associated with the use of soft and medium bristle toothbrushes over three months. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A blind randomized crossover clinical trial was conducted with 20 high school students (14 females, 14-24 years old) using both toothbrushes type (soft and medium bristle) during 3 months each. Periodontal examinations and photographs of premolars and molars were recorded on days 0, 30, 60, and 90 of 1st phase. Following a 10-day washout period, the 2nd phase was carried out with the participants changing the assigned brush type. Toothbrushing perception was evaluated at the end of study through a questionnaire. A calibrated and blind examiner analyzed the photographs for GF presence. Differences in the GF incidence between toothbrushes type were analyzed by McNemar test, while factors associated with GF incidence were investigated by Poisson regression. RESULTS: Sixty-five percent (n = 13) of participants had at least one GF throughout the study, with 40% (n = 8) of them while using medium brushes only (p = 0.039). GF occurrence was significantly associated with medium brushes (IRR, 3.582; 95% CI 1.459-8.795; p = 0.005). 58.8% of participants reported gingival soreness or bleeding with medium brushes. CONCLUSIONS: Both toothbrushes led to the GF occurrence. Nonetheless, medium bristles toothbrushes determined a 3.58 times greater risk of developing these lesions. Clinical relevance The use of medium bristle brush is associated with greater incidence of gingival fissures. The presence of gingival fissures should be considered by the clinician when evaluating the toothbrushing habits of patients.

Methodological Quality of Fetal Brain Structure Charts for Screening Examination and Targeted Neurosonography: A Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: Several fetal brain charts have been published in the literature and are commonly used in the daily clinical practice. However, the methodological quality of these charts has not been critically appraised. MATERIAL AND METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and the Web of Science databases were searched electronically up to December 31, 2020. The primary outcome was to evaluate the methodology of the studies assessing the growth of fetal brain structures throughout gestation. A list of 28 methodological quality criteria divided into three domains according to "study design," "statistical and reporting methods," and "specific relevant neurosonography aspects" was developed in order to assess the methodological appropriateness of the included studies. The overall quality score was defined as the sum of low risk of bias marks, with the range of possible scores being 0-28. This quality assessment was applied to each individual study reporting reference ranges for fetal brain structures. Furthermore, we performed a subgroup analysis according to the different brain structures (ventricular and periventricular, fore-brain and midbrain cerebral and posterior fossa). RESULTS: Sixty studies were included in the systematic review. The overall mean quality score of the studies included in this review was 51.3%. When focusing on each of the assessed domains, the mean quality score was 53.7% for "study design," 54.2% for "statistical and reporting methods," and 38.6% for "specific relevant neurosonography aspects." The sample size calculation, the correlation with a postnatal imaging evaluation, and the whole fetal brain assessment were the items at the highest risk of bias for each domain assessed, respectively. The subgroup analysis according to different anatomical location showed the lowest quality score for ventricular and periventricular structures and the highest for cortical structures. CONCLUSIONS: Most previously published studies reporting fetal brain charts suffer from poor methodology and are at high risk of biases, mostly when focusing on neurosonography issues. Further prospective longitudinal studies aiming at constructing specific growth charts for fetal brain structures should follow rigorous methodology to minimize the risk of biases, guarantee higher levels of reproducibility, and improve the standard of care.

Convolutional Neural Networks for Segmenting Cerebellar Fissures from Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

The human cerebellum plays an important role in coordination tasks. Diseases such as spinocerebellar ataxias tend to cause severe damage to the cerebellum, leading patients to a progressive loss of motor coordination. The detection of such damages can help specialists to approximate the state of the disease, as well as to perform statistical analysis, in order to propose treatment therapies for the patients. Manual segmentation of such patterns from magnetic resonance imaging is a very difficult and time-consuming task, and is not a viable solution if the number of images to process is relatively large. In recent years, deep learning techniques such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs or convnets) have experienced an increased development, and many researchers have used them to automatically segment medical images. In this research, we propose the use of convolutional neural networks for automatically segmenting the cerebellar fissures from brain magnetic resonance imaging. Three models are presented, based on the same CNN architecture, for obtaining three different binary masks: fissures, cerebellum with fissures, and cerebellum without fissures. The models perform well in terms of precision and efficiency. Evaluation results show that convnets can be trained for such purposes, and could be considered as additional tools in the diagnosis and characterization of neurodegenerative diseases.

A comprehensive study and extensive review of morphological variations of liver with new insights.

PURPOSE: Liver is divided into four anatomical lobes presenting minor fissures and invisible major fissures. The prevalence of Accessory Fissures in liver ranges widely from 6 to 94%. The morphometric analysis of individual lobes is also scarce in literature. There have been instances where the surgeon has experienced some of these variations as a surprise during surgery as the existing data on the surface variations of liver is still contradictory. A sound knowledge of these variations would aid the surgeons and radiologists to circumvent the misdiagnosis and complications during surgeries. METHODS: The study was conducted in 93 cadaveric livers. Minor liver fissures, Accessory fissures and lobes were noted and measured. The livers were classified according to the Netter's classification. The morphology of caudate and quadrate lobes was studied. Any other variations in the appearance of groove for Inferior vena cava, gall bladder and its fossa were also studied. The results are tabulated. RESULTS: The study revealed several variations in the morphological features of liver. Accessory fissures were noted in 51.61% of livers, distributed on various liver surfaces. Accessory lobes were noted in 27.9%. Pons hepatis was present in 22.5%. Gall bladder variations that were noted include the Hartmann's pouch (n = 14; 15.05%) and the Phrygian cap (n = 2; 2.15%). 65.6% livers (n = 61) had the sulcus of the caudate process or fissure of Gans or Rouviere sulcus which is a normal fissure present in majority of normal healthy livers. CONCLUSION: The current study provides a complete understanding and a thorough knowledge of surface morphological variations in liver. We hope that this will be greatly helpful for surgeons and radiologists to avoid possible errors in interpretations, to plan appropriately and assist during liver surgeries and to do radiological interventions.

Fetal cerebellar growth and Sylvian fissure maturation: international standards from Fetal Growth Longitudinal Study of INTERGROWTH-21st Project.

OBJECTIVE: To construct international ultrasound-based standards for fetal cerebellar growth and Sylvian fissure maturation. METHODS: Healthy, well nourished pregnant women, enrolled at < 14 weeks' gestation in the Fetal Growth Longitudinal Study (FGLS) of INTERGROWTH-21st , an international multicenter, population-based project, underwent serial three-dimensional (3D) fetal ultrasound scans every 5 ± 1 weeks until delivery in study sites located in Brazil, India, Italy, Kenya and the UK. In the present analysis, only those fetuses that underwent developmental assessment at 2 years of age were included. We measured the transcerebellar diameter and assessed Sylvian fissure maturation using two-dimensional ultrasound images extracted from available 3D fetal head volumes. The appropriateness of pooling data from the five sites was assessed using variance component analysis and standardized site differences. For each Sylvian fissure maturation score (left or right side), mean gestational age and 95% CI were calculated. Transcerebellar diameter was modeled using fractional polynomial regression, and goodness of fit was assessed. RESULTS: Of those children in the original FGLS cohort who had developmental assessment at 2 years of age, 1130 also had an available 3D ultrasound fetal head volume. The sociodemographic characteristics and pregnancy/perinatal outcomes of the study sample confirmed the health and low-risk status of the population studied. In addition, the fetuses had low morbidity and adequate growth and development at 2 years of age. In total, 3016 and 2359 individual volumes were available for transcerebellar-diameter and Sylvian-fissure analysis, respectively. Variance component analysis and standardized site differences showed that the five study populations were sufficiently similar on the basis of predefined criteria for the data to be pooled to produce international standards. A second-degree fractional polynomial provided the best fit for modeling transcerebellar diameter; we then estimated gestational-age-specific 3rd , 50th and 97th smoothed centiles. Goodness-of-fit analysis comparing empirical centiles with smoothed centile curves showed good agreement. The Sylvian fissure increased in maturation with advancing gestation, with complete overlap of the mean gestational age and 95% CIs between the sexes for each development score. No differences in Sylvian fissure maturation between the right and left hemispheres were observed. CONCLUSION: We present, for the first time, international standards for fetal cerebellar growth and Sylvian fissure maturation throughout pregnancy based on a healthy fetal population that exhibited adequate growth and development at 2 years of age. © 2020 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Gastrointestinal Uses of Botulinum Toxin.

Botulinum toxin (BT), one of the most powerful inhibitors that prevents the release of acetylcholine from nerve endings, represents an alternative therapeutic approach for "spastic" disorders of the gastrointestinal tract such as achalasia, gastroparesis, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, chronic anal fissures, and pelvic floor dyssynergia.BT has proven to be safe and this allows it to be a valid alternative in patients at high risk of invasive procedures but long-term efficacy in many disorders has not been observed, primarily due to its relatively short duration of action. Administration of BT has a low rate of adverse reactions and complications. However, not all patients respond to BT therapy, and large randomized controlled trials are lacking for many conditions commonly treated with BT.The local injection of BT in some conditions becomes a useful tool to decide to switch to more invasive therapies. Since 1980, the toxin has rapidly transformed from lethal poison to a safe therapeutic agent, with a significant impact on the quality of life.

Fissure caries inhibition with a CO2 9.3-µm short-pulsed laser-a randomized, single-blind, split-mouth controlled, 1-year clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this randomized, single-blind, split-mouth controlled, clinical trial was to evaluate whether the use of a short-pulsed 9.3-µm CO2 laser increases the caries resistance of occlusal pit and fissures in addition to fluoride therapy over 12 months. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 participants, average age 13.1 years, were enrolled. At baseline, second molars were randomized into test and control, and assessed by ICDAS, SOPROLIFE, and DIAGNOdent. An independent investigator irradiated test molars with a CO2 laser (wavelength 9.3 µm, pulse duration 4 µs, pulse repetition rate 43 Hz, beam diameter 250 µm, average fluence 3.9 J/cm2, 20 laser pulses per spot). Test molars received laser and fluoride treatment, control teeth fluoride alone. Fluoride varnish was applied at baseline and at 6 months. After 6 and 12 months, teeth were again assessed. RESULTS: A total of 57 participants completed the 6-month and 51 the 12-month recall. Laser-treated surfaces showed very slight ICDAS improvements over time with ICDAS change - 1 in 11% and 8%, no changes (ICDAS change 0) in 68% and 67%, and slightly worsened (ICDAS change 1) in 19% and 24% at 6- and 12-month recalls, respectively, and worsened by two scores in 2% at both recall time points. Control teeth showed significantly higher ICDAS increases, with 47% and 25% showing ICDAS change 0, ICDAS change 1 in 49% and 55%, and ICDAS change 2 in 4% and 20% at 6- and 12-month recalls, respectively. Differences in ICDAS changes between the groups were statistically significant (P = 0.0002 and P < 0.0001; Wilcoxon's signed-rank test, exact). A total of 22% of the participants developed ICDAS 3 scores on the control teeth. CONCLUSIONS: Microsecond short-pulsed 9.3-µm CO2 laser irradiation markedly inhibits caries progression in pits and fissures in comparison with fluoride varnish alone. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The 9.3-µm CO2 laser irradiation of pits and fissures enhances caries resistance. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02357979.

STUDYING THE RISK FACTORS OF CARIES IN THE FIRST PERMANENT MOLARS IN CHILDREN DEPENDING ON THEIR ODONTOGLIFICS.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: To study the prevalence of odontoglyphic variants of the first permanent molars of the lower jaw in children 6-7 years old, as well as the frequency of caries lesions in molars with the most common types of patterns on their chewing surface. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: We studied 1092 mandibular molars in 564 children without background pathology at the age of 6-7 years. The dynamics of the occurrence of fissure caries was studied in 347 first permanent molars of the lower jaw for 2 years and 246 molars in 155 children from among those observed during 3 years of the study. RESULTS: Results: In the children examined by us, the most common types of the chewing surface of the first permanent molars of the lower jaw were Y5- and + 5 patterns. We did not find a difference in the frequency of occurrence of these types in the surveyed girls and boys (p > 0.05). Our study showed that most often the first permanent molars of the lower jaw were affected by caries in the first 2 years of follow-up. The incidence of affection of the lower molars, which had a more complex structure of the occlusal surface (type Y5 and +5), was significantly higher than that of molars with the type of chewing surface +4. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: It has been established that in children 6-7 years old, the first permanent molars of the lower jaw have a more complex structure of the chewing surface, and the intensity of their caries damage is maximally high in the first two years after eruption and require active additional preventive measures in the early terms after their eruption.

Psychometric properties of a questionnaire (HEMO-FISS-QoL) to evaluate the burden associated with haemorrhoidal disease and anal fissures.

AIM: Current questionnaires designed to evaluate the burden of haemorrhoidal disease ignore symptoms such as bleeding, pain and itching. A specific questionnaire is needed to evaluate the global impact of anal disorders on patients' daily lives. METHOD: We developed a questionnaire (HEMO-FISS-QoL) to assess the symptom burden of anal disorders and administered it to 256 patients (mean age 46.2 years; men 60.4%) with haemorrhoidal disease (67.2%), anal fissure (29.3%) or both (3.5%). Psychometric properties were evaluated by testing the acceptability, construct validity and reliability of the questionnaire. Principal components and multi-trait analyses were used to identify dimensions and to assess construct validity. Backward Cronbach alpha curves and a graded response model were used to reduce the number of items and modalities. External validity was evaluated against SF-12 and the Psychological Global Well-Being Index (PGWBI) using Spearman's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Principal component analysis defined four dimensions: physical disorders, psychology, defaecation and sexuality. The number of questions was reduced from 38 to 23. The HEMO-FISS-QoL scores correlated well with those of the SF-12 and PGWBI (P < 0.001). Cronbach's coefficients (all > 0.7) reflected good internal reliability of the different dimensions. The total score increased with the severity of the anal disorders and with their consequences (days off work and personal spending related to the disease). CONCLUSION: The HEMO-FISS-QoL questionnaire reliably evaluates the global impact of haemorrhoids and anal fissures on patients' daily lives. This simple tool may prove useful for treatment evaluation in clinical trials and daily practice.

In vivo imaging of the fibrillar architecture of the posterior vitreous and its relationship to the premacular bursa, Cloquet's canal, prevascular vitreous fissures, and cisterns.

PURPOSE: To describe the fibrillar architecture of the posterior cortical vitreous and identify variations across eyes of different axial lengths in vivo. METHODS: Sixty-four eyes of 32 subjects were examined with swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). Grading of vitreous degeneration, presence of vitreous cisterns/lacunae, posterior hyaloid status, directionality of vitreous fibers and their relations to vitreous spaces, and lamellar reflectivity of the posterior vitreous were assessed. RESULTS: A consistent pattern of fibrillar organization was discovered. Eyewall parallel fibers formed a dense meshwork over the retinal surface and fibers oriented in a perpendicular fashion to this meshwork were found to envelop the various vitreous spaces, intersecting at variable angles of insertion to the eyewall parallel fibers. Lamellar reflectivity suggestive of splitting of the cortical fibrillar meshwork was detected in 27 eyes (42%) with 56% of these eyes demonstrating perpendicularly oriented intersecting fibers. Fifty-six percent of eyes with lamellar reflectivity had an axial length > 25 mm. CONCLUSION: SS-OCT imaging revealed fibrillar organization of the posterior vitreous. Eye wall parallel hyperreflectivity of cortical vitreous was a universal finding. This pattern is suggestive of a splitting of cortical vitreous tissue and may represent a precursor to vitreoschisis. Perpendicular fibers appear to be important constituents of the walls of the various liquid vitreous spaces.

Deformation Activity Analysis of a Ground Fissure Based on Instantaneous Total Energy.

This study proposes a novel instantaneous total energy method to perform an activity analysis of ground fissures deformation, which is calculated by integrating the extreme-point symmetric mode decomposition (ESMD) method and kinetic energy based on the time-series displacement acquired by shape acceleration array (SAA) sensors. The proposed method is tested on the Xiwang Road fissure in Beijing, China. First, to fully monitor the hanging wall and footwall of the monitored ground fissure, a 4 m-long SAA in the vertical direction and an 8 m-long SAA in the horizontal direction were embedded in a ground fissure to obtain an accurate time-series displacement with an accuracy of ±1.5 mm/32 m and a displacement acquisition frequency of once an hour. Second, to improve the accuracy of the activity analysis, the ESMD method and Spearman's rho are applied to perform signal denoising of the original time-series displacement obtained by the SAA sensors. Finally, the instantaneous total energy is obtained to analyze the activity of the monitored ground fissure. The results demonstrate that the proposed method is more reliable to reflect the activity of a monitored ground fissure compared to the time-series displacement.

Assessment of Shear Bond Strength and Marginal Sealing Ability of Pit and Fissure Sealants: An in vitro Study.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to compare the shear bond strength and marginal sealing ability of self-adhering flow-able composite and conventional fissure sealant. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The samples consisted of 30 healthy premolar teeth which were extracted due to orthodontic reasons and randomly divided into two groups of 15, i.e., group I (Fissurit F) and group II (Dyad Flow). Shear bond strength and marginal sealing ability of both the groups were evaluated in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16. RESULTS: The mean shear bond strength of Dyad Flow (group II) was found to be 1.4 ± 0.87 MPa and in Fissurit F (group I), it was 1.3 ± 1.4 MPa. Differences between the groups were statistically significant. In group II, 53.3% of specimens demonstrated score 0; 33.3% showed score 1; and 13.3% showed score 2. In group I, scores 0 and 1 showed 33.3% of dye penetration respectively. Scores 2 and 3 demonstrated 26.6 and 6.6% of dye penetration respectively. But there was no significant difference between both the sealant groups. CONCLUSION: The present study concluded that self-adhering flowable composite was found to have better shear bond strength and marginal sealing ability than conventional fissure sealant. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Self-adhering flowable composite can be effectively used in pediatric patients in whom isolation is difficult and exclusion of bonding agent leads to decrease in time consumption.

Distinct cerebellar foliation anomalies in a CHD7 haploinsufficient mouse model of CHARGE syndrome.

Mutations in the gene encoding the ATP dependent chromatin-remodeling factor, CHD7 are the major cause of CHARGE (Coloboma, Heart defects, Atresia of the choanae, Retarded growth and development, Genital-urinary anomalies, and Ear defects) syndrome. Neurodevelopmental defects and a range of neurological signs have been identified in individuals with CHARGE syndrome, including developmental delay, lack of coordination, intellectual disability, and autistic traits. We previously identified cerebellar vermis hypoplasia and abnormal cerebellar foliation in individuals with CHARGE syndrome. Here, we report mild cerebellar hypoplasia and distinct cerebellar foliation anomalies in a Chd7 haploinsufficient mouse model. We describe specific alterations in the precise spatio-temporal sequence of fissure formation during perinatal cerebellar development responsible for these foliation anomalies. The altered cerebellar foliation pattern in Chd7 haploinsufficient mice show some similarities to those reported in mice with altered Engrailed, Fgf8 or Zic1 gene expression and we propose that mutations or polymorphisms in these genes may modify the cerebellar phenotype in CHARGE syndrome. Our findings in a mouse model of CHARGE syndrome indicate that a careful analysis of cerebellar foliation may be warranted in patients with CHARGE syndrome, particularly in patients with cerebellar hypoplasia and developmental delay.

Frequency of remnants of sealants left behind in pits and fissures of occlusal surfaces after 2 and 3 years.

OBJECTIVES: The null-hypothesis tested was that there was no difference in the frequency of remnants of high-viscosity glass-ionomer sealants left behind in pits and fissures of occlusal surfaces of first permanent molars and that of resin composite and glass-carbomer sealants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Based on the results of a sealant trial, a sample of sealed teeth from which the material had apparently completely disappeared from at least one of the three sections into which the occlusal surface was divided, assessed through visible clinical examination, was also assessed from images of colour photographs and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) as the reference image. The sample size consisted of 112 and 120 teeth from 59 and 98 children at evaluation years 2 and 3 respectively. Two examiners performed the assessments. Fisher's Exact Test was applied to test for the differences between the dependent variable and the sealant groups. RESULTS: The remnants of sealant material left in the deeper parts of pits and fissures were assessed from colour photograph and SEM images in five sections at year 2 and in eight sections at year 3. The assessment found no sealant group effect. CONCLUSION: The frequency of remnants of glass-ionomer sealant in pits and fissures of occlusal surfaces in first permanent molars is not higher than the frequency of glass-carbomer and resin sealants after 2 and 3 years. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Contrary to the current assumption, there appears to be no significant difference in the frequency of remnants left behind in pits and fissures between glass-ionomer and resin sealants.