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Rising concentration and wage inequality
No full textWage inequality has risen in many countries over recent decades. At the same time, production has become increasingly concentrated in a small number of firms. In this paper, we show that these two phenomena are linked. Theoretically, we show that an increase in consumer price sensitivity will lead to an increase in the sectoral concentration of revenues and employment, as well as an increase in wage dispersion between firms within industries. Empirically, we use industry-level data from 14 European countries over the period 1999–2016 and show robust evidence of a positive and statistically significant correlation between concentration and between-firm wage inequality. We show that this is driven by higher market shares and higher wages in high-productivity firms within more concentrated sectors
Effect of postpolymerization time and atmosphere on surface properties and biofilm formation in additively manufactured resins for definitive restorations.
No full textOBJECTIVES
To investigate how postpolymerization time (PPT) and atmosphere (PPA) influence the surface properties, protein adsorption, and microbial adhesion of two types of additively manufactured (AM) resins used for definitive restorations.
METHODS
Two different types of commercially available AM resins for definitive restorations (UR and CR) were used to create disk-shaped specimens. These specimens were divided into eight groups based on resin type (UR and CR), PPT (standard or extended), and PPA (air or nitrogen). After postpolymerization, the surface roughness (Ra and Sa) and surface free energy (SFE) of all specimens were measured. The study also evaluated protein adsorption, microbial attachment, and cytotoxicity. A non-parametric factorial analysis of variance with post-hoc analyses was conducted, using a significance level (α) of 0.05.
RESULTS
The Ra and Sa values for CR were higher than those for UR, regardless of PPT or PPA (P<0.05). For UR, SFE was higher with extended PPT compared to standard PPT. CR had higher SFE than UR under standard PPT. The interaction between PPT and PPA had a significant effect on protein adsorption (P<0.05). When PPT was standard, nitrogen significantly increased protein adsorption compared to air. The interaction between resin type and PPA, and between resin type and PPT, significantly affected microbial adhesion (P<0.05). The changes in PPT or PPA did not affect the cytotoxicity of either AM resin.
CONCLUSION
Surface properties, protein adsorption, and microbial attachment were influenced by the interactions among PPT, PPA, and resin type. These factors can have implications for resin-based definitive restorations.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCES
Clinicians should understand the impact of PPT and PPA on the surface properties of AM resins for definitive restorations, particularly regarding protein adsorption and microbial adhesion. Additionally, the type of AM resin (based on chemical composition) could affect its biological properties
Deep learning-designed implant-supported posterior crowns: Assessing time efficiency, tooth morphology, emergence profile, occlusion, and proximal contacts.
No full textOBJECTIVES
To compare the outcomes of implant support crowns (ISCs) designed using deep learning (DL) software with those of ISCs designed by a technician using conventional computer-aided design software.
METHODS
Twenty resin-based partially edentulous casts (maxillary and mandibular) used for fabricating ISCs were evaluated retrospectively. ISCs were designed using a DL-based method with no modification of the as-generated outcome (DB), a DL-based method with further optimization by a dental technician (DM), and a conventional computer-aided design method by a technician (NC). Time efficiency, crown contour, occlusal table area, cusp angle, cusp height, emergence profile angle, occlusal contacts, and proximal contacts were compared among groups. Depending on the distribution of measured data, various statistical methods were used for comparative analyses with a significance level of 0.05.
RESULTS
ISCs in the DB group showed a significantly higher efficiency than those in the DM and NC groups (P≤0.001). ISCs in the DM group exhibited significantly smaller volume deviations than those in the DB group when superimposed on ISCs in the NC group (DB-NC vs. DM-NC pairs, P≤0.008). Except for the number and intensity of occlusal contacts (P≤0.004), ISCs in the DB and DM groups had occlusal table areas, cusp angles, cusp heights, proximal contact intensities, and emergence profile angles similar to those in the NC group (P≥0.157).
CONCLUSIONS
A DL-based method can be beneficial for designing posterior ISCs in terms of time efficiency, occlusal table area, cusp angle, cusp height, proximal contact, and emergence profile, similar to the conventional human-based method.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
A deep learning-based design method can achieve clinically acceptable functional properties of posterior ISCs. However, further optimization by a technician could improve specific outcomes, such as the crown contour or emergence profile angle
Medicinal herbs, bioactives, phytochemicals and functional foods for health of aquatic species: Exploring a burgeoning focus for fish health sciences.
No full textTwo decades of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in health research: a bibliometric analysis.
Full text linkIntroduction: We conducted a twenty-year bibliometric analysis of scientific literature, focusing on the trends of The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) use in health research. Methods: We retrieved 3'467 documents published between 2002 and 2022, sourced from the Web of Science Core Collection database. We used the Bibliometrix and VoSviewer tools for descriptive analyses and data visualization. Results: Our findings indicate a significant increase in ICF application since 2011, with an average annual growth rate of 13.19%. Prominent contributions were observed globally, with notable outputs from the U.S., Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. The Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Swiss Paraplegic Research, and McMaster University authored a quarter of the documents (24.6%). Collaboration networks of countries and institutions revealed robust partnerships, particularly between Germany and Switzerland. "Rehabilitation" was the most frequently occurring keyword, although a thematic shift towards epidemiology, aging, and health-related quality of life was observed post-2020. While rehabilitation remained the primary thematic focus, literature post-2020 highlighted epidemiology as a growing area of interest. Conclusions: A steady increase in ICF-based research mirrors the rising interest in a biopsychosocial and person-centered approach to healthcare. However, the literature is primarily produced by high-resource countries, with underrepresentation from low and middle-resource countries, suggesting an area of future research to address this discrepancy
Metabolic phenotyping of patients with Advanced Chronic Liver Disease for better characterization of Cirrhosis Regression.
No full textBACKGROUND & AIMS
Regression of cirrhosis has been observed in patients with viral and non-viral etiologies of liver disease in whom the underlying cause of liver injury was effectively suppressed. However, the understanding of the factors contributing to reversibility of fibrosis and cirrhosis is limited. Our aims were to assess clinical factors, perform genotyping of known variants, and comprehensive metabolic phenotyping to characterize the regression of fibrosis in patients with compensated advanced chronic liver disease (cACLD).
METHODS
In a case-control pilot study with 81 cACLD patients, we compared individuals exhibiting histological or clinical evidence of cACLD regression ("regressors"; n=44) with those showing no improvement ("non-regressors"; n=37) after a minimum of 24 months of successful therapy of the cause of liver disease. Data were validated using an external validation cohort (n=30).
RESULTS
Regardless of the cause of cACLD, the presence of obesity (OR 0.267 95%CI:0.072-0.882; P=0.049), high liver stiffness (OR 0.960, 95%CI:0.925-0.995; P=0.032), and carriage of GCKR variant rs1260326 (OR 0.148, 95%CI:0.030-0.773; P=0.019) are associated with a reduced likelihood of fibrosis regression in a subgroup of 60 ACLD patients genotyped for known genetic variants. Using liver tissue transcriptomics, we identified metabolic pathways differentiating regressors from non-regressors, with top pathways associated to lipid metabolism -especially fatty acids, bile acids, phospholipids, triacylglycerides (biosynthesis), and the carnitine shuttle. In the entire discovery cohort, we further measured metabolites within the defined pathways, which led to identifying 33 circulating markers differentiating regressors from non-regressors after etiological therapy. The validation cohort confirmed 14 of the differentially expressed markers.
CONCLUSIONS
We identified and validated a group of lipid biomarkers associated with regression of fibrosis that could be used as non-invasive biomarker for detecting regression of fibrosis in cACLD
Autotransplantation with Adjunctive Application of Enamel Matrix Derivatives Using a Digital Workflow: A Prospective Case Series.
No full textOBJECTIVES
Digital protocols and bioactive materials may reduce complications and improve tooth autotransplantation (ATT) success and survival rates. This prospective study assesses the performance of a fully digital autotransplantation protocol of close-apex molars with the adjunctive application of Enamel Matrix Derivatives (EMD).
METHODS
Twelve adult patients with 13 hopeless molar teeth were replaced with autotransplantation of closed apex third molars. Outcomes, including success and survival rates, clinical, endodontic, radiographic, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), and digital image assessments, were conducted over a two-year follow-up period.
RESULTS
Survival and success rates were 100% and 91.2%, respectively, with no progressive inflammatory or replacement root resorption (ankylosis) except for one tooth presenting radiographic furcation involvement. A significant probing depth reduction of 2.4 ± 2.58 mm and CAL gains of 2.8 ± 3.03 mm were observed in transplanted teeth compared to the hopeless receptor teeth. Radiographic bone levels remained stable throughout the study period (-0.37 ± 0.66 mm), and digital image assessments showed minimal alveolar ridge width changes (-0.32 to -0.7 mm) and gingival margin changes (-0.95 to -1.27 mm) from baseline to last visit. PROMs indicated very high patient satisfaction.
CONCLUSION
The use of a digital ATT protocol with adjunctive use of EMD in closed-apex third molars demonstrated promising short-term high success and survival rates. Additionally, this type of therapy adequately preserves the dimensions of the alveolar ridge in the receptor site
Nightmares in Swiss elite athletes: Associated factors.
Full text linkNightmares, defined as extremely dysphoric dreams, can cause significant distress in everyday life if they occur frequently. Their aetiology is based on a disposition-stress model. As elite athletes often experience high stress levels, the present study investigated factors that might be associated with nightmare frequency in a large cohort of 2297 Swiss elite athletes (1066 women, 1231 men) with a mean age of 22.05 ± 7.53 years. In total, about 6% of the athletes reported frequent nightmares (once a week or more often). We found that well-established factors like female gender and general stress levels were related to nightmare frequency. To a smaller extent, the number of training hours, lost training days due to illness, and having early training sessions were also associated with nightmare frequency. Sport discipline was not related to nightmare frequency. An unexpected finding was the association between late alcohol intake 4 hr prior to bedtime and nightmare frequency. Our findings support the idea that stress related to practicing sports might affect nightmare frequency. Future research should study whether inventions designed for athletes suffering from frequent nightmares are beneficial for them and might even improve their athletic performance
Structural Heart Imaging Using 3-Dimensional Intracardiac Echocardiography: JACC Cardiovascular Imaging Position Statement.
No full text3-dimensional (3D) intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) is emerging as a promising complement and potential alternative to transesophageal echocardiography for imaging guidance in structural heart interventions. To establish standardized practices, our multidisciplinary expert position statement serves as a comprehensive guide for the appropriate indications and utilization of 3D-ICE in various structural heart procedures. The paper covers essential aspects such as the fundamentals of 3D-ICE imaging, basic views, and workflow recommendations specifically tailored for ICE-guided structural heart procedures, such as transeptal puncture, device closure of intracardiac structures, and transcatheter mitral and tricuspid valve interventions. Current challenges, future directions, and training requirements to ensure operator proficiency are also discussed, thereby promoting the safety and efficacy of this innovative imaging modality to support expanding its future clinical applications
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