Notch Signaling Pathway in Tooth Shape Variations throughout Evolution

Evolutionary changes in vertebrates are linked to genetic alterations that often affect tooth crown shape, which is a criterion of speciation events. The Notch pathway is highly conserved between species and controls morphogenetic processes in most developing organs, including teeth. Epithelial loss of the Notch-ligand Jagged1 in developing mouse molars affects the location, size and interconnections of their cusps that lead to minor tooth crown shape modifications convergent to those observed along Muridae evolution. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that these alterations are due to the modulation of more than 2000 genes and that Notch signaling is a hub for significant morphogenetic networks, such as Wnts and Fibroblast Growth Factors. The modeling of these tooth crown changes in mutant mice, via a three-dimensional metamorphosis approach, allowed prediction of how Jagged1-associated mutations in humans could affect the morphology of their teeth. These results shed new light on Notch/Jagged1-mediated signaling as one of the crucial components for dental variations in evolution

The Effect of Body Mass on the Shoe-Athlete Interaction

Long-distance running is known to induce joint overloading and elevate cytokine levels, which are the hallmarks for a variety of running-related injuries. To address this, footwear systems incorporate cushioning midsoles to mitigate injurious mechanical loading. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of athlete body mass on the cushioning capacity of technical footwear. An artificial heel was prototyped to fit the impact pattern of a heel-strike runner and used to measure shock attenuation by an automated drop test. Impact mass and velocity were modulated to simulate runners of various body mass and speeds. The investigation provided refined insight on running-induced impact transmission to the human body. The examined midsole system was optimized around anthropometric data corresponding to an average (normal) body mass. The results suggest that although modern footwear is capable of attenuating the shock waves occurring during foot strike, improper shoe selection could expose an athlete to high levels of peak stress that could provoke an abnormal cartilage response. The selection of a weight-specific cushioning system could provide optimum protection and could thus prolong the duration of physical exercise beneficial to maintaining a simulated immune system

Применение сверточной нейронной сети U-Net для сегментации текстовых областей на изображениях реальных сцен

Micro-blasting on PVD films has been documented, among others, as an efficient method for inducing compressive stresses, thus for increasing the coating hardness and potentially tool life of coated tools. Since contradictory results have been registered concerning the efficiency of wet micro-blasting on coated tools for improving the wear behaviour, the paper aims at explaining how this process can be successfully applied for post-treatment of PVD films. In this context, the employed conditions such as pressure and grain size affect significantly the wear resistance of the micro-blasted coated tools.In the described investigations, TiAlN coatings were post-treated through wet micro-blasting by Al2O3 abrasives of various grains' diameter. Abrasion mechanisms after micro-blasting were investigated by roughness measurements. Nanoindentations on micro-blasted film surfaces at various pressures revealed the influence of this process on coating superficial hardness. The relat ed residual stress changes were estimated considering the film yield stress alterations, which were analytically determined, based on nanoindentation results. Nano-impact tests were conducted for investigating the effect of the developed film compressive stresses at certain micro-blasting pressures and grain sizes on the film's brittleness. To monitor film thickness and cutting edge radius changes of coatings subjected to micro-blasting, ball cratering tests and white light scans were carried out respectively. In this way, micro-blasting conditions for improving the film hardness, without revealing the substrate in the cutting edge region, were detected. Finally, the wear behaviour of coated and variously wet micro-blasted tools was investigated in milling of hardened steel

Infected pancreatic necrosis: outcomes and clinical predictors of mortality. A post hoc analysis of the MANCTRA-1 international study

: The identification of high-risk patients in the early stages of infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) is critical, because it could help the clinicians to adopt more effective management strategies. We conducted a post hoc analysis of the MANCTRA-1 international study to assess the association between clinical risk factors and mortality among adult patients with IPN. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify prognostic factors of mortality. We identified 247 consecutive patients with IPN hospitalised between January 2019 and December 2020. History of uncontrolled arterial hypertension (p = 0.032; 95% CI 1.135-15.882; aOR 4.245), qSOFA (p = 0.005; 95% CI 1.359-5.879; aOR 2.828), renal failure (p = 0.022; 95% CI 1.138-5.442; aOR 2.489), and haemodynamic failure (p = 0.018; 95% CI 1.184-5.978; aOR 2.661), were identified as independent predictors of mortality in IPN patients. Cholangitis (p = 0.003; 95% CI 1.598-9.930; aOR 3.983), abdominal compartment syndrome (p = 0.032; 95% CI 1.090-6.967; aOR 2.735), and gastrointestinal/intra-abdominal bleeding (p = 0.009; 95% CI 1.286-5.712; aOR 2.710) were independently associated with the risk of mortality. Upfront open surgical necrosectomy was strongly associated with the risk of mortality (p < 0.001; 95% CI 1.912-7.442; aOR 3.772), whereas endoscopic drainage of pancreatic necrosis (p = 0.018; 95% CI 0.138-0.834; aOR 0.339) and enteral nutrition (p = 0.003; 95% CI 0.143-0.716; aOR 0.320) were found as protective factors. Organ failure, acute cholangitis, and upfront open surgical necrosectomy were the most significant predictors of mortality. Our study confirmed that, even in a subgroup of particularly ill patients such as those with IPN, upfront open surgery should be avoided as much as possible. Study protocol registered in ClinicalTrials.Gov (I.D. Number NCT04747990)

Advances in modeling transport phenomena in material-extrusion additivemanufacturing: Coupling momentum, heat, and mass transfer

Material-extrusion (MatEx) additive manufacturing involves layer-by-layer assembly ofextruded material onto a printer bed and has found applications in rapid prototyping.Both material and machining limitations lead to poor mechanical properties of printedparts. Such problems may be addressed via an improved understanding of thecomplex transport processes and multiphysics associated with the MatEx process.Thereby, this review paper describes the current (last 5 years) state of the art modelingapproaches based on momentum, heat and mass transfer that are employed in aneffort to achieve this understanding. We describe how specific details regardingpolymer chain orientation, viscoelastic behavior and crystallization are often neglectedand demonstrate that there is a key need to couple the transport phenomena. Such acombined modeling approach can expand MatEx applicability to broader applicationspace, thus we present prospective avenues to provide more comprehensive modelingand therefore new insights into enhancing MatEx performanc

A bio-realistic finite element model to evaluate the effect of masticatory loadings on mouse mandible-related tissues

Mice are arguably the dominant model organisms for studies investigating the effect of genetic traits on the pathways to mammalian skull and teeth development, thus being integral in exploring craniofacial and dental evolution. The aim of this study is to analyse the functional significance of masticatory loads on the mouse mandible and identify critical stress accumulations that could trigger phenotypic and/or growth alterations in mandible-related structures. To achieve this, a 3D model of mouse skulls was reconstructed based on Micro Computed Tomography measurements. Upon segmenting the main hard tissue components of the mandible such as incisors, molars and alveolar bone, boundary conditions were assigned on the basis of the masticatory muscle architecture. The model was subjected to four loading scenarios simulating different feeding ecologies according to the hard or soft type of food and chewing or gnawing biting movement. Chewing and gnawing resulted in varying loading patterns, with biting type exerting a dominant effect on the stress variations experienced by the mandible and loading intensity correlating linearly to the stress increase. The simulation provided refined insight on the mechanobiology of the mouse mandible, indicating that food consistency could influence micro evolutionary divergence patterns in mandible shape of rodents

A cohomological treatise of HKG-covers with applications to the Nottingham group

We characterize Harbater-Katz-Gabber curves in terms of a family of cohomology classes satisfying a compatibility condition. Our construction is applied to the description of finite subgroups of the Nottingham Group. © 2020 Elsevier Inc

Automorphisms and the Canonical Ideal

The automorphism group of a curve is studied from the viewpoint of the canonical embedding and Petri’s theorem. A criterion for identifying the automorphism group as an algebraic subgroup the general linear group is given. Furthermore, the action of the automorphism group is extended to a linear action on the generators of the minimal free resolution of the canonical ring of the curve X. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

FEM supported semi-solid high pressure die casting process optimization based on rheological properties by isothermal compression tests at thixo temperatures extracted

Rheological properties of aluminum are among others required in FEM supported calculations of thixo-forming processes. In the present paper, an analytical-experimental method is introduced to acquire such properties as a function of temperature and flow velocity. This method is based on isothermal compressive tests' results evaluation at various temperatures. The determined rheological properties are used to optimize thixo-forming process parameters and ensure die filling during high pressure semi-solid casting, without air entrapments. Considering the developed temperature field, hot spots can be avoided by employing cooling systems at proper positions. An application example is demonstrated in the case of high pressure die casting of an aluminum car wheel

Effect of two new cover materials on greenhouse energy consumption and cooling load

The aim of this work was to study the effects of a new polyethylene (PE) film with high reflectance and absorption in near infrared radiation (NIR-PE film) and of a PE film with low transmittance in infrared radiation IR (IR-PE film), on the greenhouse microclimate, energy consumption and on growth and yield of a hydroponic tomato crop. Compared to a common PE film (C-PE), the IR-PE film, had 75% lower transmittance in IR, while the NIR-PE had 78% lower transmittance in IR and 42% higher reflectance in NIR. Films were evaluated experimentally in three similar arched roof greenhouses, two covered with the new covering materials and the third one by a C-PE film. The greenhouse and outside microclimate parameters along with crop growth and production were recorded. During the winter period, no significant differences of air temperature and relative air humidity between the tested greenhouses were found. The air vapour pressure deficit (VPD) values observed were relatively low (i.e below 0.5 kPa) during the night period, leading to condensation over the cover. The total energy consumption was 10% lower in the IR-PE covered greenhouse than in the C-PE covered greenhouse. During the summer period, the air temperature in the greenhouse covered by the NIR-PE was 2°C lower than the air temperature of the C-PE covered greenhouse