Track Momentum Discrimination Using Cluster Width in Silicon Strip Sensors for SLHC

The cluster width of a particle crossing a silicon strip (mini strip) detector can be exploited to measure its transverse momentum when the strips are parallel to the B field. This suggests the discrimination of the clusters widths to filter the majority of low momentum particles. Once performed directly on the detectors, such discrimination can be used both for low level trigger (L1) and for data reduction. This approach is discussed in the context of a first level trigger based on the Tracker for SLHC. The quality of the measurements and their discrimination capability are discussed with respect to the geometry of the sensors and to the detectors layout. Electronics issues and constraints are also reviewed

Microbiological retention on PTFE versus silk suture: a quantitative pilot study in third molar surgery

Background: Mandibular third molar (M3M) removal and management of postoperative complications represent a common matter of interest in oral and maxillofacial surgery. This potential quantitative study assessed the ability of two types of surgical sutures, Silk and polytetrafluoroethylene polymer (PTFE), to carry aerobic and anaerobic bacteria on wounds after mandibular third molar surgery, with a collection of the stitches at the suture removal and study in the laboratory on the basis of colony-forming units. Methods: This prospective quantitative study sampled a total of 10 consecutive healthy patients for mandibular third molar surgery at the Oral Surgery School, Dentistry and Dental Prosthodontics, Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy. The mean age of the patients was 31 years (range 25–40 years), seven patients were male and three patients were female. Inclusion criteria were: presence of a partially impacted mandibular third molar. Exclusion criteria were: smoking and diabetes mellitus. Extraction of the mandibular third molar was performed under local anesthesia: after the third molar surgery, two sutures were applied on the surgical site distally to the second mandibular molar: one single 3/0 silk stitch; one single 3/0 PTFE stitch. No sutures were applied on the release incision. Sutures were removed after 7 days and were immediately conserved and sent to the laboratory to be rated on the basis of colony-forming units (CFUs). CFUs were evaluated and reported on GraphPad Prism and transformed into its base 10 logarithm. Data were analyzed with a non-parametric Wilcoxon test, and p-values < 0.05 were evaluated as statistically significant. Results: All the patients attended the suture removal date, and all the sutures were present in the site. None of the surgical sites presented dehiscence. No stitch loss was reported, and no patient reported mouth washing or tooth brushing in the surgery site. All interventions were uneventful and no major complications were reported after M3M surgery. Bacterial retention resulted as statistically greater in silk sutures rather than PTFE sutures, both in Brain Heart Infusion samples (p = 0.003) and Wilkins-Chalgren anaerobe samples (p = 0.002). Conclusions: We found the PTFE suture to be superior to the silk suture in a reduction in the bacterial biofilm in both aerobic and anaerobic evaluations after M3M surgery

Evolution of production and forage quality in sown meadows of a mountain area inside Parmesan cheese consortium

Received: January 5th, 2021 ; Accepted: April 7th, 2021 ; Published: May 4th, 2021 ; Correspondence: [email protected] meadows, encompassing alfalfa and grass-legume mixtures, are the forage crops on which is based Parmesan cheese production system in the mountain area of the Apennines (central Italy). These grassland types experience, during their development, deep changes in terms of production potentiality, botanical composition and forage quality, thus these meadows have to be periodically renewed to guarantee adequate productive and qualitative performances. To have an accurate assessment of this evolution along time, a survey was performed in different mountain farms inside the Parmesan cheese consortium, analysing alfalfa meadows and grass-legumes mixtures of different ages. Grasslands were monitored during 2019, performing three samplings during growing season. Aboveground biomass production, botanical composition and crude protein content were collected during the survey. Results permitted to evaluate the level of production decrease along years, the evolution of analysed parameters among cutting dates and the dependence of productive and qualitative features on botanical composition and presence of sown species in the swards. Results were useful to hypothesize the composition of future mixtures, to improve management issues and to delineate the possible duration of sown meadows for the area with respect to different purposes in terms of desired productive or qualitative objectives

Evolution of productive and biodiversity features in lucerne fields of different ages

Received: January 10th, 2022 ; Accepted: February 23rd, 2022 ; Published: April 1st, 2022 ; Correspondence: [email protected] sativa is a legume forage crop characterized by high production of forage, with a notable nutritive value, but in mountain areas duration of the crop could be remarkably affected by severe environmental conditions. To assess the vegetation evolution of lucerne crops in relation to crop age, data from fields of lucerne of different ages were collected. The aim is the evaluation of lucerne productive performances, evolution of forage quality and assessment of recovery by autochthonous species that naturally recolonize the studied areas in relation to age of the cropped species. With increasing years, lucerne population was significantly decreased and replaced by different functional types of plants, such as perennial graminoids and short-lived forbs. Biodiversity increased significantly along time, and evolution of similarity indices demonstrated an evolution of vegetation toward that represented by reference grassland of the area. Productive characteristics of forage, in terms of aboveground biomass and quality, were negatively affected by age. Results permitted to assess the evolution of different features of lucerne for a mountain environment and to hypothesize the appropriate management for this resource, that could contemplate also the evolution towards the reconstitution of the reference habitat for the studied area

Upper Second Molar Distalization with Clear Aligners: A Finite Element Study

Among orthodontists and scientists, in the last years, upper molar distalization has been a debated topic in the orthodontic aligner field. However, despite that few clinical studies have been published, no insights on aligners' biomechanics regarding this movement are available. The aim of this study was to assess, through finite element analysis, the force system resulting in the upper arch during second maxillary molar distalization with clear aligners and variable attachments settings. The average tooth distalization was found to be 0.029, with buccal flaring of the upper incisors in all attachment configurations. The mesial deformation of the aligner was registered to be 0.2 mm on average. Different pressure areas on the interface between aligners and upper molars were registered, with the mesial attachment surface to be directly involved when present. Periodontal ligament pressure was reported to range between 67 g/cm(2) and 132 g/cm(2). Configurations with rectangular attachments from second molar-to-canine and from first molar-to-canine present, in an in silico environment, almost equal efficiency in distalizing the upper second molar. However, attachments from the second molar to the canine are suggested to be adopted in clinical environments due to greater feasibility in everyday practice

Error-Free 10.7 Gb/s Digital Transmission over 2 km Optical Link Using an Ultra-Low-Voltage Electro-Optic Modulator

We demonstrate the feasibility of 10.7 Gb/s error-free (BER < 10-12) optical transmission on distances up to 2 km using a recently developed ultra-low-voltage commercial Electro-Optic Modulator (EOM) that is driven by 0.6 Vpp and with an optical input power of 1 mW. Given this low voltage operation, the modulator could be driven directly from the detectors’ board signals without the need of any further amplification reducing significantly the power dissipation and the material budget

Preliminary Report on the Efficacy of Music Therapy to Optimize the Compliance of Rett Syndrome Patients Attending Oral Hygiene Procedures

Background: Individuals with intellectual developmental disability (IDD) often face barriers in accessing dental care. The main aim of the present study was to test the feasibility and the outcome of oral hygiene (OH) procedures in Rett syndrome (RS) patients, and a secondary aim was to test the utility of music therapy during dental hygiene procedures. Methods: A case group (Group 1) of female patients with RS (stage 3 of disease, age &gt; 5 years and &lt;18 years) and a control group of age-matched healthy females (Group 0) were formed, and subgroups received the intervention of oral hygiene combined with a music therapy (Subgroup 1M and Subgroup 0M) or standard oral hygiene (subgroup 1W and subgroup 0W). The Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S) was used to assess the effectiveness of oral hygiene measures. Results: The OHI-S at T0 was 1.41 in Group 1 and 2.58 in Group 0 (p value &lt; 0.001). The mean duration of the oral hygiene treatment was 7018′′ (SD 3272′′) in Group 1 and 873′′ (SD 161′′) in Group 0 (p value &lt; 0.001). The mean duration of OH was significantly higher in Subgroup 1M and Subgroup 0M. Discussion: Based on the results of our case-control study, OH procedures can be successfully performed in RS patients with good compliance and efficacy. In addition, our study provides preliminary evidence to suggest that music therapy may be a useful adjunct, as it appears to improve patient cooperation