Absence Of Decay Research Articles

Fishing for the evidence on community water fluoridation: a commentary on the CATFISH study.

Goodwin M, Emsley R, Kelly M P et al. Evaluation of water fluoridation scheme in Cumbria: the CATFISH prospective longitudinal cohort study. Southampton: National Institute for Health and Care Research, 2022. This longitudinal, prospective cohort study, recruited two populations - a birth cohort and older school cohort - assessing the effects of community water fluoridation (CWF) over a five-year period. The control group received non-fluoridated drinking water in the East of Cumbria, while the intervention group received fluoridated drinking water in the West of Cumbria. The primary outcome measures were the presence or absence of decay into dentine in primary and permanent teeth. Cost effectiveness was assessed by quality-adjusted life-years. Birth Cohort: Modest beneficial effect (17.4% with decay, 21.4% in control). Adjusted Odd Ratios (AOR): 0.74 (95% CI: 0.56 to 0.98). Older Cohort: Insufficient evidence of difference (19.1% with decay and 21.9% in control). AOR: 0.80 (95% CI: 0.58 to 1.09). The authors concluded that CWF was effective in the birth cohort and that the modest absolute reduction in caries should be considered in the context of other preventive measures. A longer follow-up period was recommended to fully understand the benefits and risks of CWF in contemporary low-prevalence populations.

Self-Powered Intelligent Water Droplet Monitoring Sensor Based on Solid-Liquid Triboelectric Nanogenerator.

Real-time monitoring of rainwater is a critical issue in the development of autonomous vehicles and smart homes, while the corresponding sensors play a pivotal role in ensuring their sensitivity. Here, we study a self-powered intelligent water droplet monitoring sensor based on a solid-liquid triboelectric nanogenerator (SL-TENG). The sensor comprises a SL-TENG, a signal acquisition module, a central processing unit (CPU), and a wireless transmission module, facilitating the real-time monitoring of water droplet signals. It is worth noting that the SL-TENG has self-powering characteristics and can convert the kinetic energy of water droplets into electrical energy. The excellent output performance, with open-circuit voltage of 9 V and short-circuit current of 2 μA without any treatment of the SL-TENG, can provide an effective solution to the problem that traditional sensor need battery replacement. In addition, the SL-TENG can generate stable amplitude electrical signals through water droplets, exemplified by the absence of decay in a short-circuit current within 7 days. More importantly, the sensor is equipped with intelligent analytical capabilities, allowing it to assess rainfall based on variables such as amplitude and frequency. Due to its excellent stability and intelligent analysis, this sensor can be used for roof rainwater monitoring, intravenous administration monitoring, and especially in automobile automatic wipers and other fields.

Microscopic features and untargeted metabolomics reveal special features of the black-patterning in spalted heartwood of Diospyros spp.

Spalted heartwood is valued for its vibrant colors, patterns, and decay-free appearance. Using microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and non-targeted metabolomics, we aimed to study some distinctive features of black patterning. The results showed that cocci might be associated with the production of spalted heartwood. There was an absence of decay in the spalted heartwood because the cocci had not aggressively attacked the cell walls. 4-pyridoxine, often associated with the bacterial stimulation of organisms, was identified as an upregulated metabolite in the black-patterned wood compared to non-colored areas. We identified four primary metabolic pathways related to bacterial activity associated with the black patterning: pentose and glucuronate interconversions, ATP-binding cassette transporters, histidine metabolism, and plant hormone signal transduction. These results suggest that microbes might play a significant role in the development of the heartwood’s distinctive black pattern in Diospyros spp.

Quality of cold stored lemon fruit from orchards consociated to ancient olive trees

In the hilly area of Gioia Tauro (Calabria, Southern Italy), lemon orchards are grown in consociation with centuries-old olive trees. Lemons are partially shaded by olive canopies and the microclimate at the level of their canopies is suitable for plants growth and quality productions. Under these conditions, lemon trees are grown even without irrigation, providing, despite this limitation, a quality product. This study aimed to i) investigate the qualitative characterisation of two clonal selections of the lemon cultivar Femminello, F. Siracusano (S) and F. Zagara bianca (ZB), from the described intercropping, on irrigated (I) and non-irrigated (NI) crops; ii) assess the quality preservation during cold storage, in order to evaluate the availability of lemons for marketing in a period of shortage such as the summer season. Fruits were harvested at commercial maturity, and cold stored at 10±1°C and RH 85-90%, for 60 days. Decay incidence, physiological disorders, weight loss, and the main physical-chemical parameters were assessed at harvest (T0) and every 15 days (T15, T30, T45, T60). The absence of decay and physiological disorders was observed throughout the 60-day storage period, in both clonal selections under the two management conditions. The weight loss was greater in fruits from irrigated lemon groves of both S and ZB. S_I showed significantly lower fruits weight and higher titratable acidity than S_NI. Total soluble solids and titratable acidity were statistically lower for ZB_I than for NI fruits.

Evaluation of water fluoridation scheme in Cumbria: the CATFISH prospective longitudinal cohort study

Background Water fluoridation was introduced in the UK against a background of high dental decay within the population. Levels of decay have dramatically reduced over the last 40 years following widespread use of fluoride toothpaste. Objective The aim of the CATFISH (Cumbrian Assessment of Teeth a Fluoride Intervention Study for Health) study was to address the question of whether or not the addition of fluoride to community drinking water, in a contemporary population, lead to a reduction in the number of children with caries and, if so, is this reduction cost-effective? Design A longitudinal prospective cohort design was used in two distinct recruited populations: (1) a birth cohort to assess systemic and topical effects of water fluoridation and (2) an older school cohort to assess the topical effects of drinking fluoridated water. Setting The study was conducted in Cumbria, UK. Broadly, the intervention group (i.e. individuals receiving fluoridated drinking water) were from the west of Cumbria and the control group were from the east of Cumbria. Participants Children who were lifetime residents of Cumbria were recruited. For the birth cohort, children were recruited at birth (2014–15), and followed until age 5 years. For the older school cohort, children were recruited at age 5 years (2013–14) and followed until the age of 11 years. Intervention The provision of a ‘reintroduced fluoridated water scheme’. Main outcome measures The primary outcome measure was the presence or absence of decay into dentine in the primary teeth (birth cohort) and permanent teeth (older school cohort). The cost per quality-adjusted life-year was also assessed. Results In the birth cohort (n = 1444), 17.4% of children in the intervention group had decay into dentine, compared with 21.4% of children in the control group. The evidence, after adjusting for deprivation, age and sex, with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.74 (95% confidence interval 0.56 to 0.98), suggested that water fluoridation was likely to have a modest beneficial effect. There was insufficient evidence of difference in the presence of decay in children in the older school cohort (n = 1192), with 19.1% of children in the intervention group having decay into dentine, compared with 21.9% of children in the control group (adjusted odds ratio 0.80, 95% confidence interval 0.58 to 1.09). The intervention was found to be likely to be cost-effective for both the birth cohort and the older school cohort at a willingness-to-pay threshold of £20,000 per quality-adjusted life-year. There was no significant difference in the performance of water fluoridation on caries experience across deprivation quintiles. Conclusions The prevalence of caries and the impact of water fluoridation was much smaller than previous studies have reported. The intervention was effective in the birth cohort group; however, the importance of the modest absolute reduction in caries (into dentine) needs to be considered against the use of other dental caries preventative measures. Longer-term follow-up will be required to fully understand the balance of benefits and potential risks (e.g. fluorosis) of water fluoridation in contemporary low-caries populations. Limitations The low response rates to the questionnaires reduced their value for generalisations. The observed numbers of children with decay and the postulated differences between the groups were far smaller than anticipated and, consequently, the power of the study was affected (i.e. increasing the uncertainty indicated in the confidence intervals). Study registration This study is registered as Integrated Research Application System 131824 and 149278. Funding This project was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Public Health Research programme and will be published in full in Public Health Research; Vol. 10, No. 11. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Interplay between Landau-Zener transition dynamic and quantum phase transition in dissipative spin chain with Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya interaction

The paper investigates the transition dynamic of a two-level system coupled uniformly to a general XY dissipative spin-chain environment with the Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya interaction. The collective effect of the spin-chain environment is studied and we obtained the exact expression of the final occupation of the system. It is observed that the increase of the decay parameter favors a shortcut to adiabaticity. In the absence of decay, the transition probability oscillations are modulated in time by the renormalized Landau-Zener (LZ) parameter that we derived. We found that in the vicinity of the critical point of the environment, depending on the strength of the system-environment coupling, the decay of the population transfer can be tailored by tuning the other parameters of the model. The critical point and thus the occurrence of the phase transition are observed to be independent of these parameters. It is shown that this quantum state transition is related to the occurrence of the quantum phase transitions in the chain. The adiabatic change for the magnetization observed in some magnetic molecules may be due to the number of spin involved in the chain, the anisotropy parameter of the chain or the external magnetic field strength.

Spin squeezing of the non-Hermitian one-axis twisting model

In the absence of decay, the conditional dynamics for an opensystem is often describable by a non-Hermitian Hamiltonian. This study investigates spin squeezing (SS) in non-Hermitian one-axis twisting (OAT) model. Somewhat surprisingly, SS close to the limit of Hermitian two-axis counter twisting (TACT) Hamiltonian is achievable for some parameters, which significantly improves upon the optimal value realizable by Hermitian OAT model. The drawback is like with all conditional schemes, it takes on average longer time to evolve into steady state, and the probability of no decay or success decreases as number of atoms (spins) increases. The result above for steady state SS in non-Hermitian OAT Hamiltonian is thus limited to small systems. For other parameter regimes, however, desirable SS arrives dynamically before steady state is achieved, with greatly shortened evolution time and enhanced probability of success, while still remain significantly improved over the limit of Hermitian OAT.

Avaliação da higiene bucal de crianças com deficiência mental

Objective: To identify factors associated with the quality of oral hygiene in children with mental disabilities. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 181 mentally disabled children aged three to 12 years and their mothers. The study was conducted in two public hospitals of medical care for special children in the city of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil. The children were examined on the quality of oral hygiene and presence of caries lesions. The examiner was previously calibrated and were obtained kappa values of 0.90 to 0.87 for tooth decay and oral hygiene. The mothers answered a questionnaire addressing individual characteristics, behavioral and medical history of children. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of UFMG. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression, considered to be a significant 90.0%. Results: Most of the children had mild intellectual disability (56.4%) and 43.6% had moderate mental disability. The quality of oral hygiene was considered adequate in 84.0% of children. A total of 172 mothers said that her son’s teeth were brushed daily (95.0%). Among them, the majority reported difficulties in this task (53.0%). Those children diagnosed with mild intellectual disability {OR=2.82 [90% CI (1.15 to 6.86)]} and the absence of decay {OR=7.68 [90% CI (3:03 to 19:45)]} were more likely they belong to the group of children identified with an adequate oral hygiene. Conclusion: The quality of oral hygiene was associated with tooth decay and the degree of mental disability of children.

On the interaction between heterogeneity and decay in two-way flow models

In this article, we examine the role played by heterogeneity in the popular “connections model” of Jackson and Wolinsky (J Econ Theory 71(1):355–365, 1996). We prove that when heterogeneity with respect to the values of resources, or the information decay parameter, depends on the identity of the player who forms the link, and the player who receives the link, all networks can be supported as Nash. Moreover, we show that Nash networks may not always exist. Interestingly, in the absence of decay, neither result occurs in a model with value heterogeneity. Finally, we show that when reducing heterogeneity, all networks cannot be supported as Nash, and the non-existence problem also disappears.

On the Interaction between Heterogeneity and Decay in Two-Way Flow Models

In this paper we examine the role played by heterogeneity in the popular “connections model” of Jackson andWolinsky (1996). We prove that under heterogeneity in values or decay involving only two degrees of freedom, all networks can supported as Nash. Moreover, we show that Nash networks may not always exist. In the absence of decay, neither result can be found in a model with value heterogeneity. Finally, we show that on reducing heterogeneity, both the earlier “anything goes” result and the non-existence problem disappear.

Estimating hinterland exhumation from late orogenic basin volume, NW Borneo

A new approach for restoring sediment volumes onto the sediment source area to estimate uplift timing and magnitude is discussed and used in the context of late Tertiary basin and topographic development in NW Borneo. Sediment volumes for the Baram Deltaic Province were estimated for four time periods (latest Early, Middle and Late Miocene, and Pliocene–Recent), using 2D and 3D seismic horizons, wells and outcrops. Volume restoration onto the palaeo-sediment source area determined exhumation amount at the drainage divide ( c . 5 km from 17 Ma to Recent) and provided a reasonable match with other denudation estimation methods (cooling ages and an older, regional sediment restoration study using 1979 vintage sediment isopach maps). Restoration took into account: (1) changing sediment densities during the erosion–deposition cycle; (2) changing area of the sediment source province with time (e.g. changing shoreline location as a result of eustacy, uplift and delta progradation, tectonic shortening); (3) uplift and partial erosion of Baram Deltaic Province sediment. Denudation at the drainage divide for the Middle Miocene, Late Miocene and Pliocene–Recent has proceeded at a similar rate for each period. Initial uplift of central Borneo has been attributed to buoyancy of thinned continental crust that jammed the subduction zone under NW Borneo in the Early Miocene. However, the absence of decay in the erosion rates with time from the Middle Miocene to Recent suggests operation of an additional uplift mechanism that may be related to delamination of mantle lithosphere; slab detachment is the favoured explanation.

Percolation of a bit-string model

We investigate the effect of mutations on adaptability in a bit-string model of invading species in a random environment. The truncation-like fitness function depends on the Hamming distance between the optimal (wild)-type at each site and the invading species for a square lattice. We allow invasion if the relative fitness is above or equal to an adjustable threshold. We have also allowed for the decay and extinction of a species at a site that it has already invaded. We find that the invading species always percolates through regions of arbitrary size, for all threshold values, with a time parameter which depends on the threshold and the size in the absence of decay. If decay is introduced then there is a critical value of the threshold variable beyond which the invading species is confined. Radius of gyration and average population of a colony of mutants have a power-law dependence with time and relevant fractal dimensions are calculated for percolation.

Trapping time statistics and efficiency of transport of optical excitations in dendrimers.

We theoretically study the trapping time distribution and the efficiency of the excitation energy transport in dendritic systems. Trapping of excitations, created at the periphery of the dendrimer, on a trap located at its core, is used as a probe of the efficiency of the energy transport across the dendrimer. The transport process is treated as incoherent hopping of excitations between nearest-neighbor dendrimer units and is described using a rate equation. We account for radiative and nonradiative decay of the excitations while diffusing across the dendrimer. We derive exact expressions for the Laplace transform of the trapping time distribution and the efficiency of trapping, and analyze those for various realizations of the energy bias, number of dendrimer generations, and relative rates for decay and hopping. We show that the essential parameter that governs the trapping efficiency is the product of the on-site excitation decay rate and the trapping time (mean first passage time) in the absence of decay.

Modified atmosphere packaging affects the incidence of cold storage disorders and keeps ‘flat' peach quality

Firm-breaker and firm-mature flat peaches ( Prunus persica L. Bastch cultivar ‘Paraguayo') were stored in air for 10 days at 20°C, or precooled and sealed in either one of two unperforated or one macroperforated polypropylene film for 14 or 21 days at 2°C. The atmosphere inside the macroperforated film bags remained close to the composition of air during storage. In unperforated bags, steady state atmospheres were reached within 6 and 9 days: firm-breaker fruit (12% CO 2 and 4% O 2 in standard type polypropylene, 23% CO 2 and 2% O 2 in oriented type polypropylene); firm-mature fruit (22% CO 2 and 3% O 2 in standard polypropylene and 21% CO 2 and 2% O 2 in oriented polypropylene). After 14 days storage plus a 3-day shelf-life test, woolliness and slight internal browning developed in fruit stored in macroperforated polypropylene. Ethanol and acetaldehyde accumulated to higher levels in oriented polypropylene bags for both firm-breaker and firm-mature fruit. Modified atmospheres in both unperforated bags were associated with lower weight loss, less senescence and chilling injury, absence of decay, and delayed ripening changes of the fruit after a shelf-life period.

THE EFFECT OF DELAYED COOLING ON THE POSTHAR-VEST LIFE OF AVOCADO (PERSEA AMERICANA CV. HASS)

In southern California, avocados are often left in the field for up to 12 hours after harvest. Fruit in the bin may reach up to 40C during the summer months and may take up to 24 hours to cool to the recommended storage temperature. A study was conducted using `Hass' avocados over two growing season during the months of July and August to determine the effect of delayed cooling on fruit quality. Fruit were held at 20, 30 or 40 C for 0, 6, 12 or 24 hours before storage at 5C for 0, 2, 4, or 6 weeks. Fruit quality was determined by flesh firmness, time to ripe, vascular and flesh discoloration and the presence or absence of decay. The level of damage seen in storage varied with the harvest. Overall, after 4 or 6 weeks in storage, there was a considerable increase in either vascular or flesh discoloration and decay especially when fruit had been held at 30 or 40C prior to storage. The results indicate that harvested avocados should be kept as cool as possible in the field and that fruit should be processed within 12 hours for storage periods greater than 2 weeks.

Psychometric construction of the Rey-Osterrieth complex figure: Methodological considerations and interrater reliability

Formal scoring criteria for the standard 18 elements of the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure were developed and applied to reproductions of 87 healthy young adults. In addition, the effects of immediate recall on delayed performance was investigated. Results indicate (a) the formal scoring criteria can be reliably applied by independent raters; (b) 30-minute recall is significantly higher if immediate reproduction is included compared to 30-minute delay performance without immediate recall; (c) significantly fewer qualitative scoring errors are present at the 30-minute delay if immediate memory is previously assessed; and (d) in addition to an absence of decay over a 30-minute delay, performance significantly improves over this interval. These findings underscore the caution that must be exercised when making specific inferences from test scores alone based upon measures that were obtained in a variety of contexts employing unspecified scoring criteria.

Role of mitochondrial DNA in cell death induced by 125I decay.

The role of mitochondrial DNA in radiation-induced cell death was determined by selective [125I]iododeoxyuridine (125IUdR) incorporation into exclusively nuclear sites compared to labelling in both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA of Chinese hamster cells. Such selectivity was achieved by using berenil (25 micrograms/ml for 24 h), a drug which inhibits mitochondrial DNA synthesis without affecting incorporation of 125IUdR into nuclear DNA but does not result in reduced clonogenicity or cell cycle perturbations or alteration in the X-ray response of cells. There was no difference in cell killing between cells with nuclear labelling alone compared with nuclear plus mitochondrial labelling. The absence of decays in mitochondrial DNA does not affect the ability of 125I to induce lethal cell damage. The two treatment groups have superimposable curves with a D0 of 96 decays/cell. These findings indicate that mitochondrial DNA is not the most sensitive target for radiation-induced cell death from 125I decay.

Influence of Harvesting Methods on Quality of Deciduous Tree Fruits

Abstract Quality of deciduous tree fruits is determined by several factors, including appearance (size, shape, color, absence of decay and other defects), texture, flavor, and nutritive value. Harvesting methods, especially those involving a once-over procedure, may determine uniformity of maturity at harvest, which, in turn, influences these quality attributes. Maturity also affects susceptibility of the fruit to water loss and mechanical injury.

Use of the Shigometer technique to detect decay in eucalypts

Summary In a 40 year old regrowth eucalypt forest, 40–60 stems of each of Eucalyptus bancroftii, E. dealbata, E. macrorhxncha and E. sideroxvlon were probed using a pulsed current resistance meter, the Shigometer, then felled and crosscut at the level of drilling to reveal the actual extent and type of decay (if present). It was possible to predict correctly the presence or absence of decay on ca. 70–80% of the radii probed using the Shigometer. Such a capacity does not encourage more widespread use of the device with eucalypts, since visual inspection or drilling alone may yield similar predictions. Further, the Shigometer was of little assistance in differentiating trees containing advanced decay from those supporting incipient decay only.

Estimation of butt rot in a white spruce plantation

Presence or absence of decay in trees in a 46-year-old white spruce (Piceaglauca) plantation was predicted from ocular observations and from one increment boring in each tree at 15–20 cm from the ground. Amount of decay was estimated from increment cores and compared with measurements taken after tree felling and dissection. Ocular and boring predictions of tree condition were 63.5 and 86.8% correct respectively. This accuracy was increased to 76.1 and 98.0% respectively when 2 dm3 of decay in a tree was considered negligible. There was a linear correlation (r = 0.67) between the estimated area of decay (in square decimetres) from the increment core and the total volume of decay (cubic decimetres) in the tree. A regression equation applicable on a stand basis is given.