Impact of COVID-19 on maxillofacial surgery practice: a worldwide survey

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is rapidly changing our habits. To date, April 12, 2020, the virus has reached 209 nations, affecting 1.8 million people and causing more than 110,000 deaths. Maxillofacial surgery represents an example of a specialty that has had to adapt to this outbreak, because of the subspecialties of oncology and traumatology. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of this outbreak on the specialty of maxillofacial surgery and how the current situation is being managed on a worldwide scale. To achieve this goal, the authors developed an anonymous questionnaire which was posted on the internet and also sent to maxillofacial surgeons around the globe using membership lists from various subspecialty associations. The questionnaire asked for information about the COVID-19 situation in the respondent's country and in their workplace, and what changes they were facing in their practices in light of the outbreak. The objective was not only to collect and analyse data, but also to highlight what the specialty is facing and how it is handling the situation, in the hope that this information will be useful as a reference in the future, not only for this specialty, but also for others, should COVID-19 or a similar global threat arise again

The Impact of Adjacent-Letter Flanking Bigrams on Lexical Decision Performance

Some models of word identification hypothesize that the word recognition system includes units responsive to bigrams (letter pairs). Grainger, Mathot, and Vitu (2014) and Palinski (2016) found that target-flanking bigrams consisting of letters adjacent in targets (e.g., OG FROG FR) affect decisions about whether letter strings are words: Bigram-letter order, but not proximity of bigram letters to their locations in the targets, affected performance. (Average performance was better with FR FROG OG and OG FROG FR than with RF FROG GO and GO FROG RF, but no different with FR FROG OG and RF FROG GO than with OG FROG FR and GO FROG RF.) In a second experiment, Palinski (2016) included nonadjacent-letter flanking bigrams (e.g., FO FROG RG). For adjacent-letter bigrams she found, as did Araya, Russo, and Smith (2017) in an exact replication, significant effects of both letter order and letter proximity. To investigate whether performance with adjacent-letter bigrams depends on the presence of non-adjacent-letter bigrams, we presented these in different blocks of trials. The results were consistent with those of Palinski and of Araya et al. Lexical decision performance with adjacent-letter flanking bigrams appears to depend on the presence of non-adjacent letter bigrams in the experimental context.https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/u_poster_2018/1044/thumbnail.jp

Reading Between the Bigrams

In lexical decision experiments in which target strings were flanked by pairs of bigrams, Grainger, Mathot, and Vitu (2014) and Palinski (2016) found, for words, better performance when flanking bigrams contained target-string letters (e.g., FR FROG OG; OG FROG FR; RF FROG GO; GO FROG RF) than when they did not (e.g., EX FROG IT); better performance when flanking bigrams contained letters ordered as in the target (e.g., FR FROG OG; OG FROG FR) than switched (e.g., RF FROG GO; GO FROG RF); and no effect on performance of proximity of flanking letters to their locations in the targets. We plan (and have programmed) an experiment to investigate (1) whether the effects of whether flanking bigrams contain target-string letters are facilitative, interfering, or both; (2) the general effect of flanking characters; and (3) whether proximity of flanking letters to their locations in targets affects performance when flanking letters are ordered as in targets. This experiment will include three previously used display conditions (e.g., FR FROG OG; OG FROG FR; EX FROG IT) and two control conditions—one in which no characters will flank targets and one in which targets will be flanked by special character bigrams (e.g., #* FROG %&).https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/u_poster_2018/1045/thumbnail.jp

ACLAS – a method to define geologically significant lineaments from potential fields data

Geological features, such as faults, dikes and contacts appear as lineaments in gravity and magnetic data. The Automated Coherent Lineament Analysis and Selection (ACLAS) method is a new approach to automatically compare and combine sets of lineaments or edges derived from two or more existing enhancement techniques applied to the same gravity or magnetic data set. ACLAS can be applied to the results of any edge detection algorithms and overcomes discrepancies between techniques to generate a coherent set of detected lineaments, which can be more reliably incorporated into geological interpretation. We demonstrate that the method increases spatial accuracy, removes artefacts not related to real edges, increases stability and that it is fast to implement and execute. The direction of lower density or susceptibility can also be automatically determined representing, for example, the downthrown side of a fault. Here, ACLAS is demonstrated on magnetic anomalies calculated from a simple slab model and from a synthetic continental margin model with noise added to the result. The approach helps to identify and discount artefacts of the different techniques, although the success of the combination is limited by the appropriateness of the individual techniques and their inherent assumptions. ACLAS has been applied separately to gravity and magnetic data from the NW Australia shelf displaying results from the two data sets together helps the appreciation of similarities and differences between gravity and magnetic results and indicates the application of the new approach to large scale structural mapping. Future developments could include refinement of depth estimates for ACLAS lineaments

Integrins: A flexible platform for endothelial vascular tyrosine kinase receptors.

Compared to lower metazoans, vertebrates built up an exclusively new set of adhesion-related genes involved in the tissue development and in their functions. They include a large variety of extracellular matrix proteins and their heterodimeric integrin adhesive receptors. Integrins control the adhesive state of the cell through complex molecular mechanisms. Outside-in signalling informs the cell about the extracellular matrix environment, while Inside-out signalling results in changes in integrin functional activity. In the last 10 years it has well established a reciprocal integration of signals originating from integrins and receptors for soluble growth factors. This review summarizes the current understanding of this connection in vascular endothelial cells and highlights how integrins regulate a genetic program triggered by angiogenic inducers during embryo development and in adult life

Stable interaction between α5β1 integrin and Tie2 tyrosine kinase receptor regulates endothelial cell response to Ang-1

During angiogenic remodeling, Ang-1, the ligand of Tie2 tyrosine kinase, is involved in vessel sprouting and stabilization through unclear effects on nascent capillaries and mural cells. In our study, we hypothesized that the Ang-1/Tie2 system could crosstalk with integrins, and be influenced by the dynamic interactions between extracellular matrix and endothelial cells (ECs). Here, we show that α5β1 specifically sensitizes and modulates Tie2 receptor activation and signaling, allowing EC survival at low concentrations of Ang-1 and inducing persistent EC motility. Tie2 and α5β1 interact constitutively; α5β1 binding to fibronectin increases this association, whereas Ang-1 stimulation recruits p85 and FAK to this complex. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Ang-1 is able to mediate selectively α5β1 outside-in FAK phosphorylation. Thus, Ang-1 triggers signaling pathways through Tie2 and α5β1 receptors that could crosstalk when Tie2/α5β1 interaction occurs in ECs plated on fibronectin. By using blocking antibodies, we consistently found that α5β1, but not αvβ3 activation, is essential to Ang-1-dependent angiogenesis in vivo. © The Rockefeller University Press

Technology and teaching in higher education: A simulation applied to the integration of concepts taught in postgraduate courses

Introducción: El objetivo de este trabajo fue implementar tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TIC) a nivel de posgrado. En este caso particular se usó USINA, un simulador para la toma de decisiones diseñado por el Centro de Innovaciones en Tecnología y Pedagogía (CITEP), de la Universidad de Buenos Aires. Ésta permite trabajar con narraciones, estudio de casos y utilizar el “error” como método pedagógico. Métodos: 1) Diseñar una secuencia de pantallas para ser montadas en USINA utilizándola como herramienta de integración de conceptos en dos cursos de posgrado: Downstream Processing de proteínas (DSP) y Aplicaciones, Síntesis y Análisis de Péptidos Sintéticos (ASAP). 2) Aplicar una encuesta anónima para evaluar la eficiencia de USINA. 3) Realizar una clase presencial para intercambiar opiniones sobre la experiencia. Resultados y Discusión: En ambos cursos (DSP y ASAP) la experiencia resultó exitosa. El alumnado consideró que el uso de USINA permitió el andamiaje de conocimientos y la integración de conceptos al situarlo en el rol de experto. El uso de las TIC en los niveles educativos superiores sigue siendo una asignatura pendiente. A través de la experiencia aquí analizada, se abre la posibilidad de llevar esta herramienta a cursos de pregrado y con mayor número de estudiantesIntroduction: The aim of this work was to implement information and communication technologies (ICTs) at postgraduate level. In this particular case, USINA, a decision-making simulator designed by the Center for Innovation in Technology and Education (CITEP), of the University of Buenos Aires, was used. It allows working with stories, case studies and uses the "error" as a teaching method. Methods: 1) Design a sequence of screens to be mounted in the USINA platform to use it as a tool for the integration of concepts in two postgraduate courses: Protein Downstream Processing (DSP) and Applications, Synthesis and Analysis of Synthetic Peptides (ASAP). 2) Apply anonymous quiz to evaluate the efficiency of USINA. 3) Perform a class attendance to exchange opinions on the experience. Results: During both courses (DSP and ASAP) the experience was very successful. The students felt that the use of USINA enhanced learning and helped integrating concepts by situating them in the role of experts. Discussion: The use of ICTs in higher levels of education remains a pending issue. Through the experience here analyzed the possibility to bring this tool to undergraduate courses and more students is opene

Film Blowing of Biodegradable Polymer Nanocomposites for Agricultural Applications

Films for agricultural applications, such as greenhouses films or mulching films are generally made of polyolefins such as linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) or low-density polyethylene. However, the use of biodegradable and/or compostable polymers is increasing, which enjoy the additional advantage that they can be left on the site since a fine life would be gradually assimilated to the underlying soil. Nevertheless, biodegradable polymeric films often do not have suitable mechanical performances. In this work, biodegradable polymer-based nanocomposite films are prepared by film blowing and compared with traditional LLDPE based nanocomposites. In particular, a biodegradable polymer blend and two different inorganic nanofillers (an organo-modified clay and a calcium carbonate with a hydrophobic coating) are used for the preparation of the nanocomposites. A detailed investigation of obtained materials is performed through rheological, mechanical, and optical characterizations. Adding nanofillers led to an increase of rigidity and tear strength of blown films without negatively affecting their ductility

lipid oxidation in buffalo meat from animals with dietary supplementation of vitamin e

Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) meat is not widely used in the diet, but it is recently reconsidered due to its valuable nutritional qualities. New strategies aiming to improve the quality of buffalo meat have to be applied particularly to face the problem of lipid peroxidation, one of the most important causes of meat food deterioration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the lipid oxidation of buffalo meat (muscles Caput longum tricipitis brachii, Longissimus dorsi and Semimembranosus), coming from animals fed with two different amount of vitamin E (600 IU/die and 1500 IU/die for 102 -123 days) considering, as markers for lipid oxidation, the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) by HPLC-UV and TBA test. Moreover it was evaluated, by HPLC-DAD, vitamin E concentration in the meat samples. Muscles coming from animals with vitamin E supplementation were in mean 2 times more enriched of vitamin E than control (p < 0.05). Meat from buffalo fed with 600 IU/die vitamin E had significant lower MDA concentration in comparison with control (in mean -53%, n= 4). Both for MDA and vitamin E concentrations not significant differences were found between the supplementation of 600 IU/die and 1500 IU/die. It is concluded that dietary supplementation with Vitamin E is a promising strategy to prevent lipid oxidation of buffalo meat and to prolong its shelf-life

Evaluating the accuracy of two: In situ optical sensors to estimate DOC concentrations for drinking water production

Two in situ optical sensors, a single-excitation fluorescence-based sensor (fDOM) mounted on a multi-parameter EXO2 sonde (YSI), and a stand-alone, multispectral absorbance-based instrument (spectro::lyser, scan Messtechnik GmbH), were evaluated for their capability to (i) estimate river dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations and (ii) provide oversight of drinking water production. The sensors were deployed between March and November 2017 in the river Fyris, which drains a mixed forested and agricultural 2003 km$^{2}$ catchment and serves as a drinking water source by managed aquifer recharge. Grab samples were collected every 2 to 3 weeks and compared with logged sensor data collected at 15 minute intervals. The fDOM probe signal was used to estimate DOC concentrations in the range of 10.4 to 24.4 mg L$^{-1}$ using linear regression (R$^{2}$ = 0.71, RMSE = 2.5 mg L$^{-1}$), after correction for temperature, turbidity and inner-filter effects. Temporal changes in DOC character associated with the mixed land use landscape, as indicated by optical indices, reduced this sensor accuracy for estimating DOC concentration. Nevertheless, humic substance concentrations, the fraction of DOC that is preferentially removed during artificial infiltration, were well captured. The spectrolyser signal was used to establish a 2-component partial least square model that captured DOC fluctuations from 10.2 to 29.4 mg L$^{-1}$ (R$^{2}$ = 0.92; RMSE = 1.3 mg L$^{-1}$). This multiple-wavelength model (220 to 720 nm) effectively handled the changes in DOC composition while accurately estimating DOC concentrations. This study explores the advantages and limitations of optical sensors for their use in managed aquifer recharge and drinking water production in relation to DOC levels