Play&Tune: user-feedback in the development of a serious game for optimising hearing aid orientation

Many hearing aid (HA) users are dissatisfied with HA performance in social situations. One way to improve HA outcomes is training users to understand how HAs work. Play&Tune was designed to provide this training, and to foster autonomy in hearing rehabilitation. We carried out two prototype evaluations and a pre-release evaluation of Play&Tune with 71 HA users, using an interview or online survey. Users gave detailed feedback on their experiences with the app. Most participants enjoyed learning about HAs and expressed a desire for autonomy over their HA settings. Our case study reinforces the importance of user-feedback during app development

The activation of irrigation solutions in Endodontics: a perfected technique

AbstractAimIn endodontics a complete chemo mechanical cleansing of the complex root canal system is essential in order to achieve a theraupetic success.MethodologySodium hypoclorite due to its antimicrobial and proteolytic characteristic, is an efficient endodontic irrigant and it is the most commonly used.The following article introduces a refined technique in order to increase the degree of cleansing during endodontic treatment.The technique involves intracanal heating of the irrigants through a heat source.ResultsThe described technique is able to enhance simply and considerably the use of sodium hypochlorite, making it easily accessible even to generic operators.ConclusionsTo confirm the validity of this improved technique, further research and scientific studies are needed, although at the clinical level, the results by using it are very satisfactory

Bayesian and Multi-Armed Contextual Meta-Optimization for Efficient Wireless Radio Resource Management

Optimal resource allocation in modern communication networks calls for the optimization of objective functions that are only accessible via costly separate evaluations for each candidate solution. The conventional approach carries out the optimization of resource-allocation parameters for each system configuration, characterized, e.g., by topology and traffic statistics, using global search methods such as Bayesian optimization (BO). These methods tend to require a large number of iterations, and hence a large number of key performance indicator (KPI) evaluations. In this paper, we propose the use of meta-learning to transfer knowledge from data collected from related, but distinct, configurations in order to speed up optimization on new network configurations. Specifically, we combine meta-learning with BO, as well as with multi-armed bandit (MAB) optimization, with the latter having the potential advantage of operating directly on a discrete search space. Furthermore, we introduce novel contextual meta-BO and meta-MAB algorithms, in which transfer of knowledge across configurations occurs at the level of a mapping from graph-based contextual information to resource-allocation parameters. Experiments for the problem of open loop power control (OLPC) parameter optimization for the uplink of multi-cell multi-antenna systems provide insights into the potential benefits of meta-learning and contextual optimization

Measles Outbreak Among Healthcare Professionals: Operational Response and Remedial Measures

Given the numerous cases recorded in 2017, a descriptive epidemiological study was conducted in the Viterbo Local Health Unit (LHU) area, Italy. Hospital Discharge Sheets (HDSs) and the notifications of infectious diseases (NOIDs) were used.We were able to trace the distribution of the disease both in the general population and, in particular, among the staff of Belcolle Hospital in Viterbo. In 2017, 50 cases of measles were detected among the population in the area of Viterbo. Of these, 10 concerned healthcare professionals and 3 employees of the Viterbo LHU.Due to the education and information campaign on the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and the close monitoring of the vaccination coverage among the employees of the hospital (performed for the first time), only 4 cases were registered from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 in the same area, and no healthcare workers were involved

Superconducting tunable flux qubit with direct readout scheme

We describe a simple and efficient scheme for the readout of a tunable flux qubit, and present preliminary experimental tests for the preparation, manipulation and final readout of the qubit state, performed in incoherent regime at liquid Helium temperature. The tunable flux qubit is realized by a double SQUID with an extra Josephson junction inserted in the large superconducting loop, and the readout is performed by applying a current ramp to the junction and recording the value for which there is a voltage response, depending on the qubit state. This preliminary work indicates the feasibility and efficiency of the scheme.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure

Monumental chestnut trees: source of genetic diversity, cultural and landscape value

The monumental trees are unique individuals of venerable age and considerable size, which represent a heritage of inestimable historical, cultural, landscape, and scientific value for the territtory. They also constitute a source of genetic diversity which confers them longevity and ability to adapt to climate and environmental changes. In this context, studies on centennial trees can be useful for interpretatiton of species history as migration events, selection and anthropogenic actiton. The aim of this research was to evaluate the genetic variability of ancient Castanea sativa trees and relate them to actual natural/naturalized populatitons and varieties in order to enhance our knowledge about the demography, cultivatiton processes and the impact of these giant trees on the genetic diversity of the species. We selected a total of 182 ancient trees from Spain and Central - Southern Italy. For each tree, more than one sample was collected to test for genetic integrity and grafing. The samples were genotyped by means of nuclear microsatellite markers and the variability of plastid DNA regitons (trnH-psbA and trnK/matK) was also tested. Using the sofware GeneALex and HPrare, we evaluated observed (Hto) and expected (He) heterozygosity, allelic richness (Ar) private allelic richness (pAr). A Bayesian analysis was performed using the sofware STRUCTURE to identify the different gene pools and gentotypes. The obtained genetic data were compared with those of natural populations and cultivars collected in the same geographic areas. Higher values of allelic richness were observed in the ancient chestnut trees, a genetic similarity of these individual trees to the natural populations was highlighted. A phylogetographic structure of plastid diversity was alsto established. Eleven genotypes were coincident with 11 cultivars in the EU database. Based on the putative age of giant trees we can hyptothesize that the grafing practice occurred in the Iberian peninsula in the 15th century and in the 17th century in Italy. This work provides new knowledge about the history and domesticatiton tof European chestnut, the results are relevant for the conservatiton and management of Castanea sativa genetic resources

Adherence of systematic reviews to Cochrane RoB2 guidance was frequently poor : A meta epidemiological study

Objectives To assess whether the use of the revised Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized trials (RoB2) in systematic reviews (SRs) adheres to RoB2 guidance. Methods We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library from 2019 to May 2021 to identify SRs using RoB2. We analyzed methods and results sections to see whether risk of bias was assessed at outcome measure level and applied to primary outcomes of the SR as per RoB2 guidance. The relation between SR characteristics and adequacy of RoB2 use was examined by logistic regression analysis. Results Two hundred-eight SRs were included. We could assess adherence in 137 SRs as 12 declared using RoB2 but actually used RoB1 and 59 did not report the number of primary outcomes. The tool usage was adherent in 69.3% SRs. Considering SRs with multiple primary outcomes, adherence dropped to 28.8%. We found a positive association between RoB2 guidance adherence and the methodological quality of the reviews assessed by AMSTAR2 (p-for-trend 0.007). Multivariable regression analysis suggested journal impact factor [first quartile vs. other quartiles] was associated with RoB2 adherence (OR 0.34; 95% CI: 0.16-0.72). Conclusions Many SRs did not adhere to RoB2 guidance as they applied the tool at the study level rather than at the outcome measure level. Lack of adherence was more likely among low and very low quality reviews

Improving atomic displacement and replacement calculations with physically realistic damage models

Atomic collision processes are fundamental to numerous advanced materials technologies such as electron microscopy, semiconductor processing and nuclear power generation. Extensive experimental and computer simulation studies over the past several decades provide the physical basis for understanding the atomic-scale processes occurring during primary displacement events. The current international standard for quantifying this energetic particle damage, the Norgett-Robinson-Torrens displacements per atom (NRT-dpa) model, has nowadays several well-known limitations. In particular, the number of radiation defects produced in energetic cascades in metals is only similar to 1/3 the NRT-dpa prediction, while the number of atoms involved in atomic mixing is about a factor of 30 larger than the dpa value. Here we propose two new complementary displacement production estimators (athermal recombination corrected dpa, arc-dpa) and atomic mixing (replacements per atom, rpa) functions that extend the NRT-dpa by providing more physically realistic descriptions of primary defect creation in materials and may become additional standard measures for radiation damage quantification.Peer reviewe

Evaluation of cyclic fatigue resistance of modern Nickel–Titanium rotary instruments with continuous rotation

Abstract Aim The aim of present study was to compare cyclic fatigue resistance of three modern Ni–Ti instruments used with continuous rotation. Materials and methods For this study 3 groups of rotating instruments with continuous rotation (HyFlex EDM, Twisted File Adaptive, Revo S SU) have been used, each group consisted of 20 files. The various groups were subjected to cyclic fatigue testing through an artificial metal device. A statistical analysis with Kruskal–Wallis test and Mann–Whitney test was performed. Results There were statistically significant differences between the three groups. The HyFlex EDM instruments have a fracture resistance slightly higher than the Twisted file and far higher than Revo S SU. Conclusions Modern Ni–Ti alloys increase resistance of the rotating instruments to cyclic fatigue