Close to Balance or in Surplus. A Policy Maker’s Guide to the Implementation of the Stability and Growth Pact

currency; economic integration; EMU; Euro; European Central Bank; political economy; stability pact

Drosophila melanogaster Hedgehog cooperates with Frazzled to guide axons through a noncanonical signalling pathway

© 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. We report that the morphogen Hedgehog (Hh) is an axonal chemoattractant in the midline of Drosophila melanogaster embryos. Hh is present in the ventral nerve cord during axonal guidance and overexpression of hh in the midline causes ectopic midline crossing of FasIIpositive axonal tracts. In addition, we show that Hh influences axonal guidance via a noncanonical signalling pathway dependent on Ptc. Our results reveal that the Hh pathway cooperates with the Netrin/Frazzled pathway to guide axons through the midline in invertebrates.E.B. was supported by a fellowship from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia y Innovación, D.R. was supported by the Eramus programme and a FPU fellowship (FPU 12/05765) and S.J.A. acknowledges a Ramon y Cajal Researcher position granted by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia y Innovación. This work was funded by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia y Innovación (RYC-2007-00417)Peer reviewe

Are "EIT Waves" Fast-Mode MHD Waves?

We examine the nature of large-scale, coronal, propagating wave fronts (``EIT waves'') and find they are incongruous with solutions using fast-mode MHD plane-wave theory. Specifically, we consider the following properties: non-dispersive single pulse manifestions, observed velocities below the local Alfven speed, and different pulses which travel at any number of constant velocities, rather than at the ``predicted'' fast-mode speed. We discuss the possibility of a soliton-like explanation for these phenomena, and show how it is consistent with the above-mentioned aspects.Comment: to be published in the Astrophysical Journa

Immediate Loading of 3 Mm-diameter Implants as an Alternative to Horizontal Bone Augmentation for Placing Normal Diameter Implants: Four-month Post- Loading Results from a Multicentre Randomised Controlled Trial

PURPOSE. To evaluate the effectiveness of immediately loaded 3 mm-diameter implants in alternative to horizontal bone augmentation procedures to allow placement of implants with a conventional diameter of 4 mm. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Forty-five partially edentulous patients with a bone width of between 4 and 5 mm 3 mm below the crest in areas requiring one to three adjacent implants were randomised, according to a parallel-group design, to receive one to three 3.0 mm-wide implants to be loaded immediately (23 patients) or horizontal crest augmentation with a granular bone substitute covered with a bone lamina for placing, after 6 months of healing, one to three implants at least 4 mm wide (22 patients) at two centres. Implants at augmented sites were left to heal unloaded for 4 months. Four mm-diameter implants were restored using provisional screw-retained reinforced acrylic prostheses, replaced after 4 months by definitive prostheses. Three mm-diameter implants were loaded immediately (if the insertion torque was ≥ 35 Ncm) or after 4 months with definitive metal-composite prostheses. Patients were followed-up to 4-month post-loading. Outcome measures were: prosthesis and implant failures, any complication, peri-implant marginal bone level changes, and patient satisfaction. RESULTS. No patient dropped out. In three patients, five 3 mm-diameter implants could not be inserted with a torque of 35 Ncm, so were submerged unloaded for 4 months. Two implants failed in two patients from the augmented group (P [Fisher’s exact probability test] = 0.2333; difference in proportion =-0.09; CI 95%-0.24 to 0.07) and neither patient was fitted with a definitive prosthesis. Three patients with small diameter implants were affected by three complications versus nine augmented patients with 10 complications, the difference being statistically significant (P [chi-square test] = 0.0346; difference in proportion =-0.28; CI 95%-0.50 to-0.01). Patients with 3 mm-diameter implants lost on average 0.09 mm of peri-implant bone at 4 months, while augmented patients lost 0.26 mm, a statistically significant difference (mean difference = 0.17 mm, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.31, P = 0.0235). All patients were fully satisfied with both function and aesthetics, with two exceptions: one patient from the 3-mm group was only partially satisfied with both aesthetics and function, and one patient from the augmentation group was only partially satisfied with the aesthetics. However, all patients would undergo the same procedure again. CONCLUSIONS. Four months after loading, patients treated using 3 mm-wide implants displayed better results than those horizontally augmented to receive 4 mm-wide im-plants. Three mm-wide implants might therefore be a preferable choice with respect to bone horizontal bone augmentation, the treatment being less invasive, faster, cheaper, and associated with less morbidity; however, 5-to 10-year post-loading data will be necessary before reliable recommendations can be made. CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT. Global D (Brignais, France) partially supported this trial and donated the implants and prosthetic components. OsteoBiol (Tecnoss, Giaveno, Italy) donated the biomaterials used for bone augmentation. However, the data property belonged to the authors and neither Global D nor OsteoBiol interfered in any way with the conduct of the trial or the publication of the results

Evaluation of gingival biotype and recession following non-surgical periodontal treatment using 3-dimensional scan methods

The study evaluated the position of gingival margins in anterior teeth using clinical and 3-dimensional (3D) optical scanning method among patients subjected to nonsurgical periodontal treatment (NSPT). A single arm, longitudinal study was undertaken at the Archway Dental Center, University of Manchester, UK. History and clinical examination were done. Gingival recession, attachment loss (AL), and periodontal probing depth (PD) were recorded at baseline and 12-weeks follow-up. NSPT was done using hand and ultrasonic instruments. Impressions were made, the resultant gypsum models were scanned to generate 3D images. The change in the gingival level and thickness of facial gingiva were assessed. Out of eight patients recruited, three were lost to follow up. The 3D scan showed a poor correlation with the clinical assessment of gingival recession in anterior teeth following NSPT (r=-0.0089). Recession did not improve after NSPT (p≤ 0.20)

Endodontic Retreatment of Teeth With Uncertain Endodontic Prognosis Versus Dental Implants: 5-year Results From a Randomised Controlled Trial

PURPOSE. To ascertain whether it is better to endodontically retreat a previously endo-dontically treated tooth with periapical pathology and/or symptoms and an uncertain prognosis, or to replace the tooth with a single implant-supported crown. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Twenty patients requiring treatment of a previously endodon-tically treated tooth with periapical pathology and/or symptoms of endodontic origin and an uncertain prognosis, as judged by the recruiting investigator, were randomly allocated to endodontic retreatment (endo group; 10 patients) or tooth extraction and replacement with an implant-supported crown (implant group; 10 patients) according to a paral-lel-group design at a single centre. Patients were followed up to 5 years after treatment completion. Outcome measures were: procedure failure; complications; marginal bone level changes at both teeth and implants; radiographic endodontic success (teeth only); number of patient visits and days to complete treatment; chairside time; costs; and ae-sthetics, as assessed using the pink aesthetic score (PES) for the soft tissues and the white aesthetic score (WES) for the tooth/crown by independent assessors. RESULTS. One patient from the endo group dropped out. One endodontically retreated tooth fractured. There were no statistically significant differences in treatment failure between groups (difference in proportions = 0.1; 95% CI-0.18 to 0.35; P = 1.00). Three endo group patients had one complication each versus one complication in the implant group, the difference not being statistically significant (difference in proportions = 0.2; 95% CI-0.17 to 0.51; P = 0.582). The mean marginal bone levels at endo retreatment/implant insertion were 2.10 ± 0.66 mm for the endo and 0.05 ± 0.15 mm for the implant group. Five years after treatment completion, teeth lost on average 0.60 ± 0.96 mm and implants 0.56 ± 0.77 mm, the difference not being statistically significant (mean difference =-0.05 mm; 95% CI:-0.95 to 0.86; P = 0.914). Of the four teeth that originally showed periapical radiolucency, one was lost, two displayed complete healing, and one showed radiographic improvement. There were no statistically significant differences in the number of patient visits (endo = 6.7 ± 0.7; implant = 6.1 ± 0.7; mean difference = 0.6; 95% CI:-0.1 to 1.3 P = 0.106). However, it took significantly more days (endo = 61 ± 13.0; implant = 191.4 ± 75.0; mean difference =-130.4; 95% CI:-184.5 to-76.4; P < 0.001) but less chairside time (endo = 628 ± 41.4 min; implant = 328.5 ± 196.4 min; mean difference =-299.5; 95% CI:-441.3 to 1.0; P = < 0.001) to complete the rehabilitation. Implant treatment was significantly more expensive (endo = 1440 ± 549.7; implant = 2099 ± 170.3; mean difference = 659; 95% CI: 257.2 to 1060.8; P = 0.004). Five years after treatment completion, mean PES were 12.3 ± (1.3) and 8.9 ± 2.2 and mean WES were 8.1 ± 1.4 and 7.1 ± 1.7 in the endo group and implant group, respectively. Soft tissues aesthetics (PES) was significantly better at endodontically retreated teeth (mean difference-3.4; 95% CI-5.1 to-1.6; P (t-test) = 0.001), whereas no significant differences were observed between treatments in tooth aesthetics (WES) (mean difference =-1.0; 95% CI-2.6 to 0.5; P (t-test) = 0.178)

Posterior Jaw Rehabilitation Using Partial Prostheses Supported by Implants 4.0 X 4.0 Mm or Longer: Three-year Post- Loading Results of a Multicentre Randomised Controlled Trial

PURPOSE. To evaluate whether 4.0 x 4.0-mm dental implants could be viable alternatives to implants of length at least 8.5 mm when placed in posterior jaws with adequate bone volumes. MATERIALS AND METHODS. One hundred and fifty patients with posterior (premolar and molar areas) jaws having at least 12.5 mm bone height above the mandibular canal or 11.5 mm below the maxillary sinus, as applicable, were randomised according to a paral-lel-group design and received one to three 4.0 mm-long implants or one to three implants which were at least 8.5 mm-long at three treatment centres. All implants had a diameter of 4.0 mm. Implants were loaded with permanent screw-retained prostheses after 4 months. Patients were followed-up until 3-year post-loading, and outcome measures considered were prosthesis and implant failure, any complications, and changes in pe-ri-implant marginal bone levels. RESULTS. Seventy-five patients were randomly allocated to each group. Drop-outs at 3-year post-loading assessment were five patients from the long implant group and three from the short implant group. Up to 3 years post-loadings, three patients lost one 4.0 mm-long implant each, in comparison to two patients who lost one long implant each (difference in proportion =-0.013; 95% CI:-0.079 to 0.054; P = 1). All failures occurred before loading; failed implants were replaced, delaying delivery of two prostheses in each group by several months (difference in proportion = 0; 95% CI:-0.061 to 0.062; P = 1). Five short-implant patients experienced six complications versus the three complications seen in three long implant patients (difference in proportion =-0.026; 95% CI:-0.103 to 0.053; P = 0.719). There were no statistically significant differences between groups in prosthesis failures, implant failures or complications. Patients with short implants lost on average 0.55 mm of peri-implant bone, and patients with longer implants lost 0.61 mm. There were no statistically significant differences between short and long implants in bone level changes up to 3 years (mean difference = 0.05 mm; 95% CI:-0.05 to 0.16; P = 0.221). CONCLUSIONS. Outcomes 3 years after loading were similar with 4.0 x 4.0 mm-long implants and 8.5 x 4.0 mm or longer implants in posterior jaws, in the presence of adequate bone volumes. However, 5 to 10-year post-loading data will be necessary before reliable recommendations can be made. CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT. Global D (Brignais, France) partially supported this trial and donated the implants and prosthetic components. OsteoBiol (Tecnoss, Giaveno, Italy) donated the biomaterials used for bone augmentation. However, the data property belonged to the authors and neither Global D nor OsteoBiol interfered in any way with the conduct of the trial or the publication of the results

Automated Analysis of MUTEX Algorithms with FASE

In this paper we study the liveness of several MUTEX solutions by representing them as processes in PAFAS s, a CCS-like process algebra with a specific operator for modelling non-blocking reading behaviours. Verification is carried out using the tool FASE, exploiting a correspondence between violations of the liveness property and a special kind of cycles (called catastrophic cycles) in some transition system. We also compare our approach with others in the literature. The aim of this paper is twofold: on the one hand, we want to demonstrate the applicability of FASE to some concrete, meaningful examples; on the other hand, we want to study the impact of introducing non-blocking behaviours in modelling concurrent systems.Comment: In Proceedings GandALF 2011, arXiv:1106.081

Machined Versus Cast Abutments for Single Dental Implants: A 3-year within-Patient Multicentre Randomized Controlled Trial

PURPOSE: To compare clinical outcomes of machined titanium abutments (machined group) versus cast cobalt-chrome abutments (cast group). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one partially edentulous subjects received two single non-adjacent implant-supported crowns each at three centres. Three and a half months after implant placement, implants were randomized at impression taking to receive one machined and one cast abutment according to a within-patient study design. Four patients dropped out and one patient lost one implant before randomization, so only 26 patients had their implants randomized. Outcome measures were: prosthesis and implant failures, any complications, and radiographic peri-implant marginal bone level changes. Patients were followed up for 3 years after loading. RESULTS: After randomization, three patients dropped out. One implant failed and two crowns on cast abutments were lost, but differences in implant and prosthesis failures were not statistically different (McNemar test P = 1.000; difference in proportions = 0.04 and P = 0.500; difference in proportions = 0.08, respectively). Two minor complications occurred in the cast group versus one in the machined group, the difference not being statistically different (McNemar test P = 1.000; difference in proportions = 0.04; 95% CI 0.18 to 22.06). Both groups presented statistically significant peri-implant marginal bone loss from implant placement to 3 years after loading, respectively -0.72 ± 0.90 mm (P = 0.001) for machined and -0.60 ± 0.61 mm (P <0.001) for cast abutments, with no statistically significant differences between the two groups (mean difference -0.12 mm; 95% CI -0.57 to 0.34; P = 0.624). Both groups gradually lost marginal peri-implant bone from loading (baseline) to 3 years after loading, but this was not statistically significant; machined lost -0.05 ± 0.12 mm while cast lost -0.14 ± 0.11 mm, a difference that was not statistically significant (mean difference 0.06 mm; 95% CI -0.24 to 0.35; P = 0.708). CONCLUSIONS: The present clinical data suggest that implant prognosis up to 3 years after loading is not affected by the choice of machined or cast abutments