Axion monodromy inflation with multi-natural modulations

We study parameter space in the axion monodromy inflation corrected by dynamically generated terms involving with the axion. The potential has the linear potential with multiple sinusoidal functions, which play a role in generating modulations. We show that this potential leads both to a large tensor-to-scalar ratio $r_T \sim 0.16$ and to a large negative running of spectral index $\alpha_s \sim - (0.02 -0.03)$. To realize these results, a small hierarchy among dynamical scales is required whereas the decay constants in sinusoidal functions remain sub-Planckian in this model. We discuss also reheating process after the inflation in a bottom-up approach.Comment: 22 pages, 7 figures, version accepted for publication in JCAP: references and some comments added, and typos correcte

A Unique Case of Primary Failure of Tooth Eruption with Mandibular Deformity

Primary failure of tooth eruption, which is extremely rare, has serious consequences and several possible causative factors. Teeth in the posterior quadrants of the upper and lower jaw are preferentially affected and when it occurs it usually results in an open bite extending from anterior to posterior. We report the case of a 29-year-old female patient who presented with primary failure of tooth eruption and mandibular deformity. The patient, who had no family history of tooth eruption failure, presented with impactions of the mandibular left molars. We discuss the clinical and radiographic features of this patient and describe the limitations of treatment for patients with eruption failure

Mandibular Deviation and Unilateral Posterior Crossbite Treated with Intraoral Vertical Ramus Osteotomy and Sagittal Split Ramus Osteotomy

Adult patients with severe mandibular asymmetry are often treated with a combination of surgery and orthodontic treatment to improve facial esthetics and occlusion. Intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy is a useful surgical procedure for mandibular setback in patients with mandibular prognathism or mandibular asymmetry. A 17-year-old woman presented with a Class III malocclusion with facial asymmetry and a unilateral posterior crossbite. The patient was treated orthodontically with edgewise appliances and surgically with intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy and sagittal split ramus osteotomy. The combined surgical-orthodontic treatment resulted in facial symmetry and optimal occlusion

Comparison of cerebral cortex activation induced by tactile stimulation between natural teeth and implants

The purpose of this study was to assess the cortical-level sensory differences between natural teeth with a periodontal membrane and dental implants. We used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to measure brain activity in the cerebral cortex of 12 patients who had both natural teeth and dental implants in the lower molar region. Painless vibratory tactile stimulation was performed on both the natural teeth and the dental implants. Activation was seen in the somatosensory cortex during stimulation of both natural teeth and dental implants. A comparison of cortical activation showed no significant differences between natural teeth and dental implants. These results indicate the possible existence of sensory input to the cerebral cortex via dental implants as well as natural teeth, and thus suggest that may not only the periodontal membrane be involved in the signaling pathway. The data from this experiment may help us for understanding the neural mechanisms underlying natural teeth and dental implants

Applicative Characteristics of a New Zirconia Bracket with Multiple Slots

We have developed a new orthodontic bracket with three slots with lubricative properties on the working surfaces and proposed a new orthodontic treatment system employing 0.012−0.014-inch Ni-Ti arch wires. We recruited 54 patients, of which 27 received treatment with the new zirconia bracket with multiple slots system (M group), and the others received treatment with standard edge-wise appliances (control group [C group]). We compared the (1) tooth movement rate at the early stage of leveling; (2) changes in the dental arch morphology before and after leveling; and (3) pain caused by orthodontic treatment. Student’s t-test was used in all assessments. The tooth movement rate in the maxillomandibular dentition was higher in the M group. The basal arch width, anterior length, and the intercanine width in the maxillary dentition were not significantly different in the two groups; however, the intercanine width in the mandibular dentition was higher in the C group. In assessments of treatment-related pain, the visual analogue pain score was 56.0 mm and 22.6 mm in the C and M groups, respectively. A new zirconia bracket with multiple slots system provided better outcomes with respect to tooth movement rate, treatment period, and postoperative pain, thus indicating its effectiveness over conventional orthodontic systems

Quantitative Assessment of Cervical Vertebral Maturation Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography in Korean Girls

This study was aimed to examine the correlation between skeletal maturation status and parameters from the odontoid process/body of the second vertebra and the bodies of third and fourth cervical vertebrae and simultaneously build multiple regression models to be able to estimate skeletal maturation status in Korean girls. Hand-wrist radiographs and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images were obtained from 74 Korean girls (6–18 years of age). CBCT-generated cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) was used to demarcate the odontoid process and the body of the second cervical vertebra, based on the dentocentral synchondrosis. Correlation coefficient analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were used for each parameter of the cervical vertebrae (P<0.05). Forty-seven of 64 parameters from CBCT-generated CVM (independent variables) exhibited statistically significant correlations (P<0.05). The multiple regression model with the greatest R2 had six parameters (PH2/W2, UW2/W2, (OH+AH2)/LW2, UW3/LW3, D3, and H4/W4) as independent variables with a variance inflation factor (VIF) of <2. CBCT-generated CVM was able to include parameters from the second cervical vertebral body and odontoid process, respectively, for the multiple regression models. This suggests that quantitative analysis might be used to estimate skeletal maturation status