Socially constructed beliefs and the uptake of the Child Dental Benefits Schedule.

BACKGROUND: The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) provides automatic access to subsidized dental care for eligible Australian children, but uptake is low. As cost is not a factor, socially constructed perceptions, which may be subscribed to without personal experience, were explored as potential barriers. METHODS: Two studies with parents (child <18 years) were conducted. In Study one (N=317) participants completed a free-response task eliciting socially constructed perceptions about the dentist. These were factor-analysed in Study two (N=231), and the salience of these perceptions in relation to uptake was measured for the 113 eligible to access the CDBS participants. RESULTS: In Study one, similar positive, negative, procedural and time words were elicited across conditions. Study two revealed Negative, Positive and Hassle perception factors associated with the dentist and that 61% of eligible participants had accessed the CDBS. Generalized Structural Equation Modelling with eligible participants revealed Positive and Negative perceptions were negatively correlated, Negative perceptions were positively correlated with Hassle, and, as Hassle increased, the probability of parents accessing the CDBS significantly decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Confusion around eligibility to access CDBS is still an issue. Low CDBS uptake may be associated with perceived hassle associated with the dentist, which may reflect parental negative perceptions. © 2024 Australian Dental Association.

Effect of the substrate on the electrical transport and fluctuation processes in NbRe and NbReN ultrathin films for superconducting electronics applications.

NbRe-based superconducting thin films recently received relevant interest in the field of low-temperature electronics. However, for these materials the electrical conduction mechanisms, in particular in the normal state, still need to be investigated in more detail. Here, NbRe and NbReN films of different thicknesses have been deposited on two different substrates, namely monocrystalline Si and [Formula: see text] buffered Si. The films were characterized by DC electrical transport measurements. Moreover, a connection with the charge carriers fluctuation processes has been made by analyzing the electrical noise generated in the normal state region. Despite the films morphology seems not to be affected by the substrate used, a lower noise level has been found for the ones grown on [Formula: see text], in particular for NbReN. From this study it emerges that both NbRe and NbReN ultrathin films are of very good quality, as far as the low-temperature electrical noise and conduction are concerned, with noise levels competitive with NbN. These results may further support the proposal of using these materials in a nanowire form in the field of superconducting electronics.

Transport mechanisms in Co-doped ZnO (ZCO) and H-irradiated ZCO polycrystalline thin films.

In the present study, the electrical resistivity (ρ) as a function of the temperature (T) has been measured in polycrystalline ZnO, Co-doped ZnO (ZCO) and H irradiated ZCO (HZCO) samples, in the 300-20 K range. The achieved results show impressive effects of Co doping and H irradiation on the ZnO transport properties. The Co dopant increases the ZnO resistivity at high T (HT), whereas it has an opposite effect at low T (LT). H balances the Co effects by neutralizing the ρ increase at HT and strengthening its decrease at LT. A careful analysis of the ρ data permits to identify two different thermally activated processes as those governing the charge transport in the three materials at HT and LT, respectively. The occurrence of such processes has been fully explained in terms of a previously proposed model based on an acceptor impurity band, induced by the formation of Co-oxygen vacancy complexes, as well as known effects produced by H on the ZnO properties. The same analysis shows that both Co and H reduce the effects of grain boundaries on the transport processes. The high conductivity of HZCO in the whole T-range and its low noise level resulting from electric noise spectroscopy make this material a very interesting one for technological applications.

Hay or silage? How the forage preservation method changes the volatile compounds and sensory properties of Caciocavallo cheese.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the forage preservation method (silage vs. hay) on volatile compounds and sensory properties of a traditional Caciocavallo cheese during ripening. A brown-midrib sudangrass hybrid was cultivated on a 7-ha field and at harvesting it was half ensiled in plastic silo bags and half dried to hay. Forty-four lactating cows were equally allotted into 2 groups fed a isonitrogenous and isoenergetic total mixed ration containing as the sole forage either sorghum hay (H group) or sorghum silage (S group). Milk from the 2 groups was used to produce 3 batches/diet of Caciocavallo ripened for 30, 60, and 90 d. Milk yield and composition as well as cheese chemical and fatty acid composition were not markedly affected by the diet treatment and ripening time. By contrast, ripening induced increased levels of the appearance attribute "yellowness," along with the "overall flavor," the odor/flavor attributes "butter" and "hay," the "salty," "bitter," and "umami" tastes, and the texture attribute "oiliness," whereas the appearance attribute "uniformity" and the texture attribute "elasticity" were reduced. The silage-based diet induced higher perceived intensities of several attributes such as "yellowness"; "overall flavor"; "butter"; "grass" and "hay" odor/flavors; "salty," "bitter," and "umami" tastes; and "tenderness" and "oiliness" textures. In S cheese we also observed higher amounts of ketones and fatty acids. Conversely, H cheese showed the terpene α-pinene, which was not detected in S cheese, and a higher intensity of the appearance attribute "uniformity." These differences allowed the trained panel to discriminate the products, determined an increased consumer liking for 90-d ripened cheese, and tended to increase consumer liking for hay cheese.

Conductivity response of amorphous oxide interfaces to pulsed light illumination.

Two-dimensional electron gases (2DEGs) formed at oxide interfaces show a large variety of functional properties of major physical interest. Here, the peculiar electric transport behavior of the 2DEG formed at the LGO/STO oxide interface is studied under the application of light pulses of different amplitude, duration, and repetition rate, and by varying the sample temperature from 8 to 300 K. The experimental results evidence a persistent photoconductivity, intimately related to the complex physics of this system. These findings suggest the possibility of using the oxide interfaces for advanced applications as, for example, energy conversion or information storage.

Author Correction: Kondo-like transport and magnetic field effect of charge carrier fluctuations in granular aluminum oxide thin films.

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML and PDF versions of this paper. The error has not been fixed in the paper.

Kondo-like transport and magnetic field effect of charge carrier fluctuations in granular aluminum oxide thin films.

Granular aluminum oxide is an attractive material for superconducting quantum electronics. However, its low-temperature normal state transport properties are still not fully understood, while they could be related to the unconventional phenomenon of the superconductivity in this material. In order to obtain useful information on this aspect, a detailed study of charge carrier fluctuations has been performed in granular aluminum oxide films. The results of electric noise measurements indicate the presence of a Kondo-type spin-flip scattering mechanism for the conducting electrons in the normal state, at low temperatures. Moreover, the magnetic field dependence of the noise amplitude suggests that interface magnetic moments are the main source of fluctuations. The identification of the nature of fluctuation processes is a mandatory requirement for the improvement of quality and performance of quantum devices.

A phase 2 study of temozolomide in pretreated metastatic colorectal cancer with MGMT promoter methylation.

BACKGROUND: Presently, few options are available for refractory colorectal cancer (CRC). O6-methyl-guanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation is a frequent and early event in CRC tumourigenesis. This epigenetic silencing is a predictor of response to the alkylating drug temozolomide in glioblastoma. Preclinical evidences and some case reports showed temozolomide activity in CRC with MGMT silencing, but the available data from clinical trials are inconsistent. METHODS: This was a multicentre, phase 2 trial, planned according to a two-stage Simon's optimal design to investigate activity and safety of temozolomide in refractory CRC harbouring MGMT promoter methylation. The primary end point was overall response rate (ORR). Patients who failed two or more prior treatments received temozolomide at a dose of 150-200 mg m-2 per day on days 1-5 every 28 days. RESULTS: From July 2012 to June 2016, 225 patients were screened, 80 showed MGMT promoter methylation and 41 were enrolled. Overall response rate was 10% and disease control rate was 32%. Median progression-free survival and overall survival were 1.9 and 5.1 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Temozolomide showed a modest activity in this heavily pretreated population and the study did not meet its primary end point. The role of temozolomide in CRC remains still controversial and further research is warranted.

Treatment options of simple bone cysts: the role of bone substitutes, growth factors and literature review.

The solitary bone cyst is a typical tumor-like lesion of the immature skeleton, whose etio-pathogenesis is still unclear. The purpose of this work is to perform a review of the literature about the different surgical approaches focusing on the role of bone substitutes and growth factors. Literature analysis shows injection techniques of substances such as methylprednisolone, autologous bone marrow, demineralized bone matrix, calcium sulphate and surgical techniques that involve the resection and curettage associated with bone graft and/or intramedullary nailing. Although there are good results currently associated to these techniques and the different ways of treatment, the only evidence-based treatment is given by injections of steroids. However, given the high rate of failure, autologous bone marrow and platelet gel represent a viable therapeutic option.

Current driven transition from Abrikosov-Josephson to Josephson-like vortex in mesoscopic lateral S/S'/S superconducting weak links.

Vortices are topological defects accounting for many important effects in superconductivity, superfluidity, and magnetism. Here we address the stability of a small number of such excitations driven by strong external forces. We focus on Abrikosov-Josephson vortex that appears in lateral superconducting S/S'/S weak links with suppressed superconductivity in S'. In such a system the vortex is nucleated and confined in the narrow S' region by means of a small magnetic field and moves under the effect of a force proportional to an applied electrical current with a velocity proportional to the measured voltage. Our numerical simulations show that when a slow moving Abrikosov-Josephson vortex is driven by a strong constant current it becomes unstable with respect to a faster moving excitation: the Josephon-like vortex. Such a current-driven transition explains the structured dissipative branches that we observe in the voltage-current curve of the weak link. When vortex matter is strongly confined phenomena as magnetoresistance oscillations and reentrance of superconductivity can possibly occur. We experimentally observe these phenomena in our weak links.

Unravelling the low-temperature metastable state in perovskite solar cells by noise spectroscopy.

The hybrid perovskite methylammonium lead iodide CH3NH3PbI3 recently revealed its potential for the manufacturing of low-cost and efficient photovoltaic cells. However, many questions remain unanswered regarding the physics of the charge carrier conduction. In this respect, it is known that two structural phase transitions, occurring at temperatures near 160 and 310 K, could profoundly change the electronic properties of the photovoltaic material, but, up to now, a clear experimental evidence has not been reported. In order to shed light on this topic, the low-temperature phase transition of perovskite solar cells has been thoroughly investigated by using electric noise spectroscopy. Here it is shown that the dynamics of fluctuations detect the existence of a metastable state in a crossover region between the room-temperature tetragonal and the low-temperature orthorhombic phases of the perovskite compound. Besides the presence of a noise peak at this transition, a saturation of the fluctuation amplitudes is observed induced by the external DC current or, equivalently, by light exposure. This noise saturation effect is independent on temperature, and may represent an important aspect to consider for a detailed explanation of the mechanisms of operation in perovskite solar cells.

A noise model for the evaluation of defect states in solar cells.

A theoretical model, combining trapping/detrapping and recombination mechanisms, is formulated to explain the origin of random current fluctuations in silicon-based solar cells. In this framework, the comparison between dark and photo-induced noise allows the determination of important electronic parameters of the defect states. A detailed analysis of the electric noise, at different temperatures and for different illumination levels, is reported for crystalline silicon-based solar cells, in the pristine form and after artificial degradation with high energy protons. The evolution of the dominating defect properties is studied through noise spectroscopy.

Cetuximab continuation after first progression in metastatic colorectal cancer (CAPRI-GOIM): a randomized phase II trial of FOLFOX plus cetuximab versus FOLFOX.

BACKGROUND: Cetuximab plus chemotherapy is a first-line treatment option in metastatic KRAS and NRAS wild-type colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. No data are currently available on continuing anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapy beyond progression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We did this open-label, 1:1 randomized phase II trial at 25 hospitals in Italy to evaluate the efficacy of cetuximab plus 5-fluorouracil, folinic acid and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) as second-line treatment of KRAS exon 2 wild-type metastatic CRC patients treated in first line with 5-fluorouracil, folinic acid and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) plus cetuximab. Patients received FOLFOX plus cetuximab (arm A) or FOLFOX (arm B). Primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS). Tumour tissues were assessed by next-generation sequencing (NGS). This report is the final analysis. RESULTS: Between 1 February 2010 and 28 September 2014, 153 patients were randomized (74 in arm A and 79 in arm B). Median PFS was 6.4 [95% confidence interval (CI) 4.7-8.0] versus 4.5 months (95% CI 3.3-5.7); [hazard ratio (HR), 0.81; 95% CI 0.58-1.12; P = 0.19], respectively. NGS was performed in 117/153 (76.5%) cases; 66/117 patients (34 in arm A and 32 in arm B) had KRAS, NRAS, BRAF and PIK3CA wild-type tumours. For these patients, PFS was longer in the FOLFOX plus cetuximab arm [median 6.9 (95% CI 5.5-8.2) versus 5.3 months (95% CI 3.7-6.9); HR, 0.56 (95% CI 0.33-0.94); P = 0.025]. There was a trend in better overall survival: median 23.7 [(95% CI 19.4-28.0) versus 19.8 months (95% CI 14.9-24.7); HR, 0.57 (95% CI 0.32-1.02); P = 0.056]. CONCLUSIONS: Continuing cetuximab treatment in combination with chemotherapy is of potential therapeutic efficacy in molecularly selected patients and should be validated in randomized phase III trials.

Gemcitabine versus FOLFIRINOX in patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma hENT1-positive: everything was not too bad back when everything seemed worse.

PURPOSE: hENT1 is a transmembrane protein which acts as a nucleoside transporter and is the main mediator of Gemcitabine (GEM) uptake into human cells. In this retrospective study we compared GEM versus FOLFIRINOX in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer in which hENT1 evaluation was available. METHODS: 149 patients affected by unresectable metastatic pancreatic cancer, treated in our institution from 2009 to 2013, have been screened for inclusion in this retrospective study. Seventy patients, treated with GEM or FOLFIRINOX in first-line therapy, fulfilled clinical inclusion criteria for survival analysis. Thirty-one patients were available and contained sufficient quality/quantity RNA for evaluation of hENT1 expression by RT-PCR. The primary endpoint was OS and the secondary endpoint was PFS. RESULTS: The survival analysis, carried out on 70 patients regardless of hENT1 expression, showed a statistically longer OS and PFS in the group treated with FOLFIRINOX compared to GEM. Within the exploratory analysis, which included 31 patients, no differences were found in hENT1 positive patients treated with FOLFIRINOX compared to GEM in terms of OS (8.5 vs 7 months, HR: 0.89; 95 % CI 0.3-2.5; p = 0.8) and PFS (5.5 vs 5 months, HR: 0.8, 95 % CI 0.2-2.2; p = 0.61). GEM-treated hENT1 positive patients showed a statistically significant improvement both of OS (8 vs 2 months; p = 0.0012) and PFS (5 vs 1 months; p = 0.0004) in comparison to GEM-treated hENT1 negative patients. CONCLUSIONS: In our exploratory analysis GEM seems as effective as FOLFIRINOX in terms of survival with a better safety profile in hENT1 positive metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Effect of group size and maize silage dietary levels on behaviour, health, carcass and meat quality of Mediterranean buffaloes.

The effects of different dietary levels of maize silage (10% v. 36% DM) and group size (7 v. 14 animals) were assessed on growth performance and in vivo digestibility of 28 male fattening buffaloes. In addition, the effects of diet on meat quality and group size on behaviour and immune response were separately evaluated. Animals were weighed and assigned to three groups. The high silage - low size group (HL) was fed a total mixed ration (TMR) containing 36% DM of maize silage and consisted of seven animals (age 12.7±2.6 months; BW 382.2±67.7 kg at the start of the study). The low silage - low size group (LL) was fed a TMR containing 10% DM of maize silage and consisted of seven animals (age 13.0±2.7 months; BW 389.4±72.3 kg). The high silage - high size group (HH) was fed the 36% maize silage DM diet and consisted of 14 animals (age 13.9±3.25 months; BW 416.5±73.9 kg). Total space allowance (3.2 indoor+3.2 outdoor m2/animal) was kept constant in the three groups, as well as the ratio of animals to drinkers (seven animals per water bowl) and the manger space (70 cm per animal). Growth performance, carcass characteristics and digestibility were influenced neither by dietary treatment nor by group size, even if the group fed 36% maize silage diet showed a higher fibre digestibility. No effect of diet was found on meat quality. Group size did not affect the behavioural activities with the exception of drinking (1.04±0.35% v. 2.60±0.35%; P<0.01 for groups HL and HH, respectively) and vigilance (2.58±0.46% v. 1.20±0.46%; P<0.05 for groups HL and HH, respectively). Immune responses were not affected by group size.

Association of IL-8 and eNOS polymorphisms with clinical outcomes in bevacizumab-treated breast cancer patients: an exploratory analysis.

BACKGROUND: The role of bevacizumab in metastatic breast cancer is controversial. Identification of predictive biomarkers could help to select patients who really benefit from it. We evaluated the association of angiogenesis-related gene polymorphisms with the treatment outcome of bevacizumab in metastatic breast cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: eNOS-786T/C and -894G/T, IL-8-251T/A genomic polymorphisms were assessed in 31 metastatic breast cancer patients treated with bevacizumab plus chemotherapy in the first-line setting. Testing for association between each polymorphism and treatment outcome was performed. RESULTS: Patients with IL-8 251 AA genotype showed a significantly lower progression-free survival in each combination comparison: "TT" vs "AA" (13 vs 8 months; p = 0.008); TT vs TA vs AA (13 vs 11 vs 8 months; p = 0.02); TT vs TA +AA (13 vs 11 months; p = 0.01); TT + TA vs AA (12 vs 8 months; p = 0.01) and a lower overall survival when compared with TT +TA genotype (26 vs 51 months, p = 0.04). Patients carrying eNOS 894 TT genotype showed a statistically significant lower progression-free survival than patients with GG genotype (11.5 vs 26.5 months; p = 0.04) with no differences in the overall survival. No association with response rate was found with any of the polymorphisms analyzed. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that IL-8 251T/A and eNOS-894 G/T polymorphisms might have a role in predicting treatment outcome of bevacizumab in metastatic breast cancer. Our results are hypothesis generating and need to be confirmed in larger clinical trials.

Clinical activity and tolerability of FOLFIRI and cetuximab in elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer in the CAPRI-GOIM first-line trial.

BACKGROUND: In the cetuximab after progression in KRAS wild-type colorectal cancer patients (CAPRI) trial patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) received 5-fluorouracil, folinic acid and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) and cetuximab in first line followed by 5-Fluorouracil, folinic acid, oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) with or without cetuximab until progression. Limited data are available on the efficacy and safety of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (anti-EGFR) agents on elderly patients with mCRC. In the current study we evaluated the efficacy and safety of FOLFIRI plus cetuximab in age-defined subgroups. METHODS: A post-hoc analysis was performed in CAPRI trial patients; outcomes (progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate (ORR), safety) were analysed by age-groups and stratified according to molecular characterisation. 3 age cut-offs were used to define the elderly population (≥65; ≥70 and ≥75 years). RESULTS: 340 patients with mCRC were treated in first line with FOLFIRI plus cetuximab. Among those, 154 patients were >65 years, 86 >70 years and 35 >75 years. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed in 182 patients. Among them, 87 patients were >65 years, 46 >70 and 17 >75. 104 of 182 patients were wild type (WT) for KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA genes. In the quadruple WT group, 51 patients were ≥65 years; 29 were ≥70; 9 were ≥75. Median PFS was similar within the age-subgroups in the intention-to-treat population, NGS cohort and quadruple WT patients, respectively. Likewise, ORR was not significantly different among age-subgroups in the 3 populations. Safety profile was acceptable and similarly reported among all age-groups, with the exception of grade ≥3 diarrhoea (55% vs 25%, p=0.04) and neutropaenia (75% vs 37%, p=0.03) in patients ≥75 years and grade ≥3 fatigue (31% vs 20%, p=0.01) in patients <75 years. CONCLUSIONS: Tolerability of cetuximab plus FOLFIRI was acceptable in elderly patients. Similar ORR and PFS were observed according to age-groups. No differences in adverse events were reported among the defined subgroups with the exception of higher incidence of grade ≥3 diarrhoea and neutropaenia in patients ≥75 years and grade ≥3 fatigue in patients <75 years. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: 2009-014041-81.