Slurry preparation methods affect dental porcelain reliability

One-step and incremental mixing procedures are currently used to produce dental ceramic pastes. In the ceramic industry, high quality is obtained using one-step mixing, but in dentistry, the best method has not been yet determined. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of 2 mixing techniques on the biaxial flexural strength and microstructure of dental porcelain. Feldspathic porcelain discs (2 × 15 mm in diameter) were produced and divided according to the ceramic paste preparation method, powder-liquid incremental mixing group (n=50) or one-step mixing, as a control group (n=50). Specimens were tested for biaxial flexural strength and characterized using porosimetry, relative humidity, SEM/EDS, XRD, and FT-IR analyses. Statistical analysis was conducted using Weibull statistics. The Weibull modulus, characteristic strength and relative humidity were compared between groups, using Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney U test (a=.05). The powder-liquid incremental mixing group showed significantly higher values (SD) of Weibull modulus (6.74 (0.70), P<.001) and characteristic strength (79.87 (2.01) MPa, P<.001) when compared to the one-step mixing group (4.94 (0.94) and 75.95 (2.61) MPa). Significantly lower mean (SD) relative humidity values (P=.009) were found for powder-liquid incremental mixing group (20% (0.5%)) compared to one-step mixing group (22% (1%)). XRD spectra showed that the one-step mixing group produced higher amounts of the amorphous phase. Specimens produced by the incremental mixing technique showed higher biaxial flexural strength than one-step mixing

Costo efectividad de la vacunación contra influenza en menores de 2 años y mayores de 65 años en colombia

Objetivo  Estimar la carga de enfermedad asociada a influenza y modelar el impacto epidemiológico y económico de la introducción de la vacuna para influenza  en Colombia. Métodos Se realizó un estudio de evaluación económica completa de la introducción de la vacuna de influenza en dos grupos poblacionales. Los desenlaces seleccionados en menores de dos años fueron la frecuencia de enfermedad respiratoria (ERA), consultas y hospitalizaciones por ERA. En mayores de 65 años se adicionaron las muertes y hospitalizaciones por enfermedad cardiosvascular y cerebrovascular.  Resultados En el escenario sin vacunación, el virus de influenza produciría anualmente 4 300 casos, 2 700 consultas, 900 hospitalizaciones y 230 muertes por ERA en menores de dos años. En mayores de 65 años, se presentarían anualmente  670 muertes por neumonía, 1 150 muertes por enfermedad cardiovascular y 720 muertes por enfermedad cerebrovascular relacionadas con influenza. El costo efectividad de la vacuna en menores de dos años oscila entre US $1 900 y US$ 2 967 por muerte evitada mientras que para mayores de 65 años la razón de costo efectividad seria costo ahorrativa. Conclusiones Los resultados del presente estudio apoyarían la decisión del Ministerio de la Protección Social y algunas Secretarias de Salud de introducir la vacunación en Colombia para menores de dos años y  mayores de 65 años

Long-term thermal sensitivity of Earth’s tropical forests

The sensitivity of tropical forest carbon to climate is a key uncertainty in predicting global climate change. Although short-term drying and warming are known to affect forests, it is unknown if such effects translate into long-term responses. Here, we analyze 590 permanent plots measured across the tropics to derive the equilibrium climate controls on forest carbon. Maximum temperature is the most important predictor of aboveground biomass (−9.1 megagrams of carbon per hectare per degree Celsius), primarily by reducing woody productivity, and has a greater impact per °C in the hottest forests (>32.2°C). Our results nevertheless reveal greater thermal resilience than observations of short-term variation imply. To realize the long-term climate adaptation potential of tropical forests requires both protecting them and stabilizing Earth’s climate

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

DETERMINACIÓN DE CARNE PSE (PÁLIDA, SUAVE Y EXUDATIVA) EN CANALES DE CERDO DETERMINATION OF PSE (PALE, SOFT AND EXUDATIVE) MEAT IN PORK CARCASSES

La condición PSE (pálida, suave y exudativa) altera el color, la textura y el sabor de la carne, acidificándola y ocasionándole baja retención de agua, menor valor nutricional y rechazo por el consumidor. Para determinar la presencia de la característica PSE se hace medición de pH a 45 minutos (pH45) y a 24 horas post-mortem (pH24), en 520 canales de cerdo. Los valores medios de pH45 indican que el 33.65% de las canales son PSE, el 47.12% es carne normal y el 19.23% se clasifica como DFD (oscura, firme y seca). El pH24 indica aumento de PSE llegando al 68% de las canales, mientras que los porcentajes de carne normal (31.23%) y DFD (0.77%) disminuyen. Al comparar el cambio de los estados de la carne entre 45 minutos y 24 horas, el 62.44% de la carne normal pasa a ser PSE, el 87% de carne DFD pasa a ser PSE, y el 94.85% de carne PSE continua igual. Las canales presentan alta incidencia de la condición PSE tanto a 45 minutos, como a 24 horas, indicando problemas antes y después del sacrificio. Existe diferencia altamente significativa (P The PSE (pale, soft and exudative) meat condition alters the color, the texture and the flavor of pork, increasing its acidity and occasioning low water retention, low nutritional level and rejection by the consumer. To determine the presence of the PSE characteristic, the pork carcasses are evaluated by pH measurements at 45 minutes (pH45) and 24 hours (pH24 after the slaughter of the pigs. The mean pH45 values indicate that 33.65% of the carcasses present the PSE condition, 47.12% are Normal and 19.23 % can be described as DFD (dark, firm and dry). The pH24 values indicate an increase in the PSE carcasses up to 68% while the normal and DFD ones decrease to 31.23 % and 0.77%, respectively. Comparing the change of the meat characteristics from 45 min to 24 hours, after the pig slaughter , it is observed that 62.44% of the normal meat and 87% of DFD one become PSE meat and 94.85% of the initial PSE one does not suffer any transformation. The pork carcasses present high incidence of the PSE characteristics at 45 minutes as well as 24 hours, indicating that there is problems before and after the slaughter of the pigs. High statistically significant difference (P < 0.01) is found for the three meat conditions evaluated at pH45 and pH24

Aplicación del análisis de factor de correspondencia múltiple en un estudio de válvulas cardíacas en porcinos Application of Multiple correspondence factor analysis to aheart valve study in pigs

El análisis factorial de correspondencia múltiple es una extensión del análisis de correspondencia simple al análisis de dos conjunto de características. Permite estudiar las relaciones de interdependencia entre variables categóricas o cualitativas; es decir, no métricas. Esta técnica va más allá de analizar la relación existente entre las variables, porque permite conocer como esta estructurada esta relación. Este análisis ha tenido amplia difusión en diferentes campos de investigación principalmente en ciencias humanas. El objetivo de este trabajo, fue entonces, aplicar esta técnica a una investigación relacionada con aspectos de la Medicina veterinaria, específicamente, sobre el estudio &ldquo;Estudio anatomopatológico de válvulas aórticas porcinas a seleccionar para la elaboración de bioprótesis cardiacas&rdquo;. El trabajo permitió establecer correlaciones entre los hallazgos de lesiones macroscópicas y microscópicas para los dos grupos de válvulas aórticas estudiados, con lesión y sin lesión valvular. Se destacan las relaciones entre lesiones degenerativas tipo endocardiosis y alteraciones vasculares como las hemorragias y las congestiones.The multiple correspondence factorial analyses is an extension of simple correspondence analysis for two set of characteristics. It permits the study of interdependence relationship between categorical or qualitative variables, that is, not metric. This model goes beyond the analysis of existing relationship between variables, because it allows knowing how this relationship is structured. This analysis has had a wide diffusion in different fields of research mainly in life sciences. The aim of this study was to apply this model to a previously reported study focused on the analysis of pig aortic valves entitled &ldquo;Estudio anatomopatológico de válvulas aórticas porcinas a seleccionar para la elaboración de bioprótesis cardiacas&rdquo;. By this model, it was possible to establish interrelationships between findings of macroscopic and microscopic lesions for two groups of aortic valves studied, with or without valve lesions. Of key relevance were the relationship found between endocardiosis-like degenerative lesions and vascular alterations like hemorrhage and congestion

Fungal planet description sheets: 625-715

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Australia:Apiognomonia lasiopetali on Lasiopetalum sp Blastacervulus eucalyptorum on Eucalyptus adesmophloia,Bullanockia australis (incl. Bullanockia gen. nov.) on Kingia australis, Caliciopsis eucalypti on Eucalyptus marginata, Celerioriella petrophiles on Petrophile teretifolia, Coleophoma xanthosiae on Xanthosia rotundifolia, Coniothyrium hakeae on Hakea sp Diatrypella banksiae on Banksia formosa, Disculoides corymbiae on Corymbia calophylla, Elsinoë eelemani on Melaleuca alternifolia, Elsinoë eucalyptigena onEucalyptus kingsmillii, Elsinoë preissianae on Eucalyptus preissiana, Eucasphaeria rustici on Eucalyptus creta, Hyweljonesia queenslandica (incl. Hyweljonesia gen. nov.) on the cocoon of an unidentified microlepidoptera, Mycodiella eucalypti (incl. Mycodiella gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus diversicolor,Myrtapenidiella sporadicae on Eucalyptus sporadica, Neocrinula xanthorrhoeae (incl. Neocrinula gen. nov.) on Xanthorrhoea sp, Ophiocordyceps nooreniae on dead ant, Phaeosphaeriopsis agavacearum on Agavesp, Phlogicylindrium mokarei on Eucalyptus sp, Phyllosticta acaciigena on Acacia suaveolens,Pleurophoma acaciae on Acacia glaucoptera, Pyrenochaeta hakeae on Hakea sp, Readeriella lehmannii onEucalyptus lehmannii, Saccharata banksiae on Banksia grandis, Saccharata daviesiae on Daviesia pachyphylla, Saccharata eucalyptorum on Eucalyptus bigalerita, Saccharata hakeae on Hakea baxteri,Saccharata hakeicola on Hakea victoria, Saccharata lambertiae on Lambertia ericifolia, Saccharata petrophiles on Petrophile sp, Saccharata petrophilicola on Petrophile fastigiata, Sphaerellopsis hakeae onHakea sp, and Teichospora kingiae on Kingia australis. Brazil: Adautomilanezia caesalpiniae (incl. Adautomilanezia gen. nov.) on Caesalpina echinata, Arthrophiala arthrospora (incl. Arthrophiala gen. nov.) on Sagittaria montevidensis, Diaporthe caatingaensis (endophyte from Tacinga inamoena), Geastrum ishikawae on sandy soil, Geastrum pusillipilosum on soil, Gymnopus pygmaeus on dead leaves and sticks,Inonotus hymenonitens on decayed angiosperm trunk, Pyricularia urashimae on Urochloa brizantha, andSynnemellisia aurantia on Passiflora edulis. Chile: Tubulicrinis australis on Lophosoria quadripinnata.France: Cercophora squamulosa from submerged wood, and Scedosporium cereisporum from fluids of a wastewater treatment plant. Hawaii: Beltraniella acaciae, Dactylaria acaciae, Rhexodenticula acaciae,Rubikia evansii and Torula acaciae (all on Acacia koa). India: Lepidoderma echinosporum on dead semi-woody stems, and Rhodocybe rubrobrunnea from soil. Iran: Talaromyces kabodanensis from hypersaline soil.La Réunion: Neocordana musarum from leaves of Musa sp. Malaysia: Anungitea eucalyptigena onEucalyptus grandis × pellita, Camptomeriphila leucaenae (incl. Camptomeriphila gen. nov.) on Leucaena leucocephala, Castanediella communis on Eucalyptus pellita, Eucalyptostroma eucalypti (incl.Eucalyptostroma gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus pellita, Melanconiella syzygii on Syzygium sp, Mycophilomyces periconiae (incl. Mycophilomyces gen. nov.) as hyperparasite on Periconia on leaves of Albizia falcataria,Synnemadiella eucalypti (incl. Synnemadiella gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus pellita, and Teichospora nephelii onNephelium lappaceum. Mexico: Aspergillus bicephalus from soil. New Zealand: Aplosporella sophorae onSophora microphylla, Libertasomyces platani on Platanus sp, Neothyronectria sophorae (incl.Neothyronectria gen. nov.) on Sophora microphylla, Parastagonospora phoenicicola on Phoenix canariensis, Phaeoacremonium pseudopanacis on Pseudopanax crassifolius, Phlyctema phoenicis onPhoenix canariensis, and Pseudoascochyta novae-zelandiae on Cordyline australis. Panama: Chalara panamensis from needle litter of Pinus cf. caribaea. South Africa: Exophiala eucalypti on leaves ofEucalyptus sp, Fantasmomyces hyalinus (incl. Fantasmomyces gen. nov.) on Acacia exuvialis,Paracladophialophora carceris (incl. Paracladophialophora gen. nov.) on Aloe sp, and Umthunziomyces hagahagensis (incl. Umthunziomyces gen. nov.) on Mimusops caffra. Spain: Clavaria griseobrunnea on bare ground in Pteridium aquilinum field, Cyathus ibericus on small fallen branches of Pinus halepensis, Gyroporus pseudolacteus in humus of Pinus pinaster, and Pseudoascochyta pratensis (incl. Pseudoascochyta gen. nov.) from soil. Thailand: Neoascochyta adenii on Adenium obesum, and Ochroconis capsici on Capsicum annuum. UK: Fusicolla melogrammae from dead stromata of Melogramma campylosporum on bark ofCarpinus betulus. Uruguay: Myrmecridium pulvericola from house dust. USA: Neoscolecobasidium agapanthi (incl. Neoscolecobasidium gen. nov.) on Agapanthus sp, Polyscytalum purgamentum on leaf litter,Pseudopithomyces diversisporus from human toenail, Saksenaea trapezispora from knee wound of a soldier, and Sirococcus quercus from Quercus sp. Morphological and culture characteristics along with DNA barcodes are provided. © 2017 Naturalis Biodiversity Center & Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute

Data and R-code from 'Mode of death and mortality risk factors in Amazon trees'. Nature communications. 2020

The carbon sink capacity of tropical forests is substantially affected by tree mortality. However, the main drivers of tropical tree death remain largely unknown. Here we present a pan-Amazonian assessment of how and why trees die, analysing over 120,000 trees representing > 3800 species from 189 long-term RAINFOR forest plots. While tree mortality rates vary greatly Amazon-wide, on average trees are as likely to die standing as they are broken or uprooted—modes of death with different ecological consequences. Species-level growth rate is the single most important predictor of tree death in Amazonia, with faster-growing species being at higher risk. Within species, however, the slowest-growing trees are at greatest risk while the effect of tree size varies across the basin. In the driest Amazonian region species-level bioclimatic distributional patterns also predict the risk of death, suggesting that these forests are experiencing climatic conditions beyond their adaptative limits. These results provide not only a holistic pan-Amazonian picture of tree death but large-scale evidence for the overarching importance of the growth–survival trade-off in driving tropical tree mortality