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Advanced Laboratory Assessments in Caries Mineralization Research: A Review
No full textDental caries is characterized by the dynamic processes of demineralization and remineralization. Recent advancements in cariology research have introduced sophisticated techniques such as nanoindentation, nano-computed tomography, optical coherence tomography, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atom probe tomography, and transmission electron microscopy, which provide high resolution and sensitive analytics. These methods are particularly valuable for detecting micro- and nano-scale changes in individual lesions, crucial for short-term in vitro studies. They enable assessments of mechanical properties, mineral density, chemical composition, and morphological structure, providing insights into the dynamic nature of caries and aiding in the optimization of caries management strategies and the development of new treatments. Results from these techniques have been validated through in vivo studies by correlating noninvasive imaging with clinical caries progression and monitoring mineral density changes over time. A comprehensive understanding of these techniques is essential to prevent misselection, inappropriate sample preparation, and data misinterpretation. This review focuses on methods applicable to the analysis of early caries lesions based on recent literature and provides detailed insight into a variety of relevant techniques. In addition, it discusses parameters such as main outcome measurements, resolution/magnification, invasiveness, and sample preparation requirements of each approach, thereby providing valuable guidance for researchers planning studies in this field
Cut-offs in a degenerate advection-reaction-diffusion equation – a case study
No full textWe investigate the effect of a Heaviside cut-off on the front propagation dynamics of a degenerate advection–reaction–diffusion equation. In particular, we consider two formulations of the equation, one with the cut-off function multiplying the reaction kinetics alone and one in which the cut-off is also applied to the advection term. We prove the existence and uniqueness of a “critical” front solution in both cases, and we derive the leading-order correction to the front propagation speed in dependence on the advection strength and the cut-off parameter. We show that, while the asymptotics of the correction in the cut-off parameter remains unchanged to leading order when the advection term is cut off, the corresponding coefficient is different. Finally, we consider a generalised family of advection–reaction–diffusion equations, and we identify scenarios in which the application of a cut-off to the advection term substantially affects the front propagation speed. Our analysis relies on geometric techniques from dynamical systems theory and, specifically, on geometric desingularisation, also known as “blow-up”
Evaluating a pharmacist-led cardio-renal-metabolic service to reduce healthcare inequities in a socioeconomically deprived population:A prospective intervention study
No full textBackground: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a leading cause of premature mortality, often coexisting with cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus; disproportionately affecting socioeconomically deprived groups. CKD is projected to increase due to ageing, obesity and diabetes. General practice clinical pharmacists (GPCPs) have been shown to be effective in challenging chronic disease prescribing. GPCP services for CKD remains underexplored. Aim: This study aimed to scope the potential of a GPCP-led intervention to optimise cardio-renal and metabolic risk factors in CKD stages 3–4. Method: Adults with CKD stages 3–4 from two urban, socioeconomically deprived general practices in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in UK, were identified via practice records and GP referrals. Eligible patients were invited to attend a GPCP-led clinic (Nov 2021–Jan 2024), that included CKD monitoring (primary measure), patient education, life-style advice and medicines optimisation. Anonymised pre- and post-intervention data were analysed. Results: In total, 253 participants (median age 77, range 26–99) met inclusion criteria; 62% lived in the most deprived areas of Scotland; 62% were female. Of the 163 (64%) attending. eGFR increased by a mean of 2.9 (95% CI 1.41–4.40, P < 0.001) ml/min/1.73 m 2 over 12 months, with improvements in CKD staging, blood pressures, lipid profiles, and HbA1c. Medicines optimisation included lipid lowering (62%), antihypertensives (47%), sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (42%), adverse drug effect management (16%), including nephrotoxic cessation. Conclusion: An integrated pharmacist-led, general practice-based cardio-renal and metabolic clinic, improved key CKD-related outcomes in deprived population. Further studies are needed to confirm long-term impact.</p
Stratification of insect diversity and daily activity patterns in the West African virgin forest Taï assessed by entomological Lidar
No full textLidar technology was utilized to non-destructively explore the diverse insect life in the Taï virgin forest of Côte d’Ivoire. This study employed an entomological Lidar scanned at different elevation angles, combined with traditional insect trapping at different canopy heights, to investigate the composition and spatial–temporal distribution of insects within the forest canopy. We detected stratified patterns of insect activity at various canopy heights, revealing differences in the composition of Lidar signals reflecting divergent species composition with height and time-of-day, indicative of height-dependent insect biodiversity. The optical properties of captured insects, including wing specularity and polarimetric response, were analyzed and correlated with Lidar signals, revealing distinct insect clusters and activity patterns at different canopy heights. These findings show the potential of using Lidar to non-invasively assess insect diversity continuously across complex canopies to uncover species composition in ecosystems with high species diversity
From “just” energy to energy justice? Imaginaries of fair wind power in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Mexico
No full textSince the beginning of the century, the region of the Tehuantepec Isthmus in the Mexican state of Oaxaca became the epicentre of a wide network for social resistance to utility-scale wind power (USWP) led by rural and indigenous communities. To date, many authors have identified and discussed different energy justice concerns related to distributive, procedural and recognition dimensions of justice which have fuelled local resistance and hindered a sustainable energy transition in Mexico. This paper contributes to the topic of decolonial energy transitions by discussing alternatives to wind power that effectively align low-carbon transitions to individuals’ and local communities’ welfare and well-being. To do so, this paper advocates for energy justice as an analytical tool that facilitates reflecting on the efforts of local communities to pursue their needs and wants while contributing, or not, to efforts of mitigating climate change. This paper draws from qualitative data from 58 interviews conducted across different communities in the Tehuantepec Isthmus and a series of workshops in the community of Union Hidalgo. The paper reflects on how alternative community or bottom-up models and “anti” approaches to wind power and other low-carbon technologies could contribute to decolonising low-carbon energy transitions, framing them not only as an opportunity to mitigate global climate change, but to fight systemic and historical imbalances across Mexico, Latin America and other territories in the Global South.</p
Multiplex Nodal Modularity: A novel network metric for the regional analysis of amnestic mild cognitive impairment during a working memory binding task
No full textModularity is a well-established concept for assessing community structures in various single and multi-layer networks, including those in biological and social domains. Brain networks are known to exhibit community structure at local, meso, and global scale. However, modularity is limited as a metric to a global scale describing the overall strength of community structure, overlooking important variations in community structure at node level. To address this limitation, we extended modularity to individual nodes. This novel measure of nodal modularity (nQ) captures both mesoscale and local-scale changes in modularity. We hypothesized that nQ would illuminate granular changes in the brain due to diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), which are known to disrupt the brain's modular structure. We explored nQ in multiplex networks of a visual short-term memory binding task in fMRI and DTI data in the early stages of AD. While limited by sample size, changes in nQ for individual regions of interest (ROIs) in our fMRI networks were predominantly observed in visual, limbic, and paralimbic systems in the brain, aligning with known AD trajectories and linked to amyloid- and tau deposition. Furthermore, observed changes in white-matter microstructure in our DTI networks in parietal and frontal regions may compliment studies of white-matter integrity in poor memory binders. Additionally, nQ clearly differentiated MCI from MCI converters indicating that nQ may be sensitive to this key turning point of AD. Our findings demonstrate the utility of nQ as a measure of localized group structure, providing novel insights into task and disease-related variability at the node level. Given the widespread application of modularity as a global measure, nQ represents a significant advancement, providing a granular measure of network organization applicable to a wide range of disciplines
The long reach of influenza and other respiratory viruses:from acute epithelial injury to post-viral lung disease
No full textSUMMARYRespiratory viral infections cause extensive cell death in the lung epithelium, resulting from both direct viral action and exuberant immune responses. Recovery following viral infection requires rapid and coordinated repair programs, ensuring the replacement of the damaged tissue through proliferation, migration, and differentiation of respiratory epithelial progenitor cells. Viral infection and the resulting inflammatory milieu alter host gene expression. Notably, growing evidence indicates that these infections can induce long-term changes in epithelial progenitor cells, which persist even after the infection has resolved. These alterations may play a key role in the development of post-viral lung disease (PVLD). In this review, we discuss current knowledge regarding respiratory viral infections and how these may alter the gene expression and function of epithelial progeny cells arising from the surviving progenitors. We do so by exploring the influenza virus as an example and comparing it with what is known about other important respiratory viruses, such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rhinovirus (HRV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2). We highlight the impact of respiratory viral infection and ensuing inflammation on lung epithelial memory, considering the importance of viral strains, and discuss potential new therapeutic strategies that could maximize long-term lung health.</p
Harnessing cosmic carbon: anaerobic microbial responses to fullerenes under early Earth conditions
No full textFullerenes of extra-terrestrial origin may have been accessible as carbon sources for anaerobic microorganisms on the early Earth. Very little is known about how anaerobic microorganisms respond to and use fullerenes and their soluble derivatives. We present an investigation into the effects of fullerenes C60 and C70 and their hydroxylated fullerol derivatives on an environmentally relevant anaerobic community and a microbial isolate. Fullerenes and fullerols irradiated with 254 nm UV radiation for 2 weeks in the absence of oxygen to simulate UV irradiation under anoxia on early Earth were also assessed. The anaerobic community could grow using glucose in the presence of C60 up to 500 mg/mL without inhibitory effects on growth. Concentrations of C70 of 500 mg/ml were inhibitory. We attribute these results to the different chemical reactivity and photophysical properties of the fullerenes. The experiments suggest the potential for the use of C60 as a sole carbon source. Both C60 and C70 fullerols were inhibitory to growth in the presence of glucose, especially when exposed to light. When we exposed C60 fullerol suspensions to 254 nm UV radiation under an anoxic atmosphere, they become significantly more inhibitory to both the community and the isolate, but only if the cultures are grown under ambient light exposure. The anaerobic isolate was unable to grow on C60 alone, but after UV radiation exposure, the C60 photodegradation products served as a potentially accessible carbon source. Our data show that fullerenes and their derivatives are biologically active and capable of influencing growth in anoxic environments such as those that would have been prevalent on early Earth or in modern-day anoxic soils. Our results show that carbon sources such as these can be both beneficial or deleterious to life depending on their concentrations and environmental processing
Impact of Digital Health on Patient-Provider Relationships in Respiratory Secondary Care: A Systematic Review of Qualitative and Quantitative Evidence
Get PDFBackground: Digital health technology adoption has accelerated in respiratory care, particularly since COVID-19, supporting various applications from self-management to telerehabilitation. While these technologies have transformed healthcare delivery, their impact on the patient-provider relationship in specialist respiratory care remains poorly understood.Objective: To systematically review the literature on the impact of digital health technology on the patient-provider relationship in respiratory secondary care settings and to understand the factors that enhance or diminish this relationship.Methods: In December 2023, we conducted a systematic review following Cochrane methodology, searching MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane databases, and PsycINFO. We included qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies examining digital health interventions in respiratory secondary care. Trained volunteers from the European Respiratory Society CONNECT Clinical Research Collaboration performed screening and data extraction. We conducted a qualitative meta-synthesis of findings, followed by an abductive quantitative data analysis. Three stakeholder workshops were held to interpret findings collaboratively with patients and healthcare professionals.Results: From 15,779 papers screened, 97 met the inclusion criteria (55 qualitative/mixed-methods studies, 42 quantitative studies). Studies covered various respiratory conditions, including COPD (32%), asthma (26%), and COVID-19 (13%). Four main themes emerged: trust (foundational to the relationship), adoption factors (including clinical context and implementation drivers), confidence in technology (based on functionality and the evidence base), and connection (encompassing communication and a caring presence). Digital health technology can either enhance or diminish trust between patients and clinicians, with patients' perceptions of the motivations behind its implementation being crucial. While technology facilitated access and communication, remote consultations risked depersonalisation, particularly when not balanced with in-person interactions. Self-monitoring and access to information empowered patients and promoted more equitable patient-provider relationships. Conclusions: Digital health technology can either strengthen or weaken patient-provider relationships in respiratory care, with effects impacted by adoption factors, confidence in technology, connection, and patient empowerment. Maintaining trust in the era of digital care requires transparent implementation of motivations, consideration of individual circumstances, and reliable technology that supports rather than replaces the therapeutic relationship.<br/
Collective praxis, collaborative publishing:The case of the Data-Sitters Club
Get PDFThe Data-Sitters Club (https://datasittersclub.github.io/site/index.html) is a pedagogical resource consisting of “books” that explore themes and methods from digital humanities and computational text analysis in colloquial and accessible ways, using Ann M. Martin’s Baby-Sitters Club series as the corpus for analysis. In this article, the collective of six scholars who form the project’s core—and who were themselves fans of Martin’s books as teenagers and young adults—elaborate on the ways that the Data-Sitters Club’s composition, content, technical design, workflows, and writing processes push back against the competitive, individualistic tendencies in humanities research that foreclose new possibilities for thinking, working, and creating within the academy while also creating space for, and taking seriously, the importance of failure in iterative research practices. We present the project as one model for an alternative way of imagining scholarly communication that prioritizes the collaborative and there-fore a relational, rhizomatic approach to academic life in place of a hierarchical one circumscribed by the practices of the university today. Following calls from critics such as Kathleen Fitzpatrick, Sandy Grande, and Bethany Nowviskie to commit to collec-tivity, reciprocity, and mutuality above competition and individualism, we put forward the Data-Sitters Club as an example of how scholarly practices might be reimagined through collaborative publishing.</p
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