Attachment Procedure Research Articles

Pioneering Laser Applications In Modern Strategies For Sterilizing Periodontal Tissues

The integration of laser technology into periodontal therapy represents a revolutionary leap forward in the management of periodontal diseases, as it provides a highly precise and minimally invasive alternative to traditional mechanical methods such as air turbines and ultrasonic scalers, which frequently cause significant patient discomfort. Lasers, with their advanced delivery systems—including articulated arms, hollow waveguides, and fiber optics—leverage mechanisms such as photo thermal and photomechanical ablation, as well as photochemical effects, aids in accomplishing improved bacterial reduction, tissue coagulation, and regeneration. These innovations extend to a wide array of clinical applications, from soft tissue procedures like gingivectomy and laser-assisted new attachment procedures to hard tissue treatments and implant maintenance. Recent breakthroughs, including femto second and pico second pulsed lasers, continuous-wave lasers, and laser-induced plasma; have markedly enhanced precision and efficacy in periodontal care. Innovations in photo activated antimicrobial agents and laser-assisted microbial detection further optimize sterilization and treatment outcomes. This review accentuates the transformative impact of these cutting edge technologies, demonstrating their ability to enhance patient outcomes, reduce postoperative discomfort, and hasten up recovery. However, despite these promising advancements, continued research is crucial to establish lasers as a standard component of periodontal care. Hence, this ongoing exploration will pave the way for laser technology's further progression and incorporation into contemporary periodontal treatment strategies,ultimately redefining the parameters of care and establishing new benchmarks for patient comfort and clinical efficacy

Pain Perception Following Periodontal Decontamination Treatment with Laser Therapies: Comparison between Oxygen High-Level Laser Therapy (OHLLT) and Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP)

Introduction: Within the field of periodontology, there has been a proposal for the utilization of noninvasive laser therapy as a potential treatment for persistent periodontitis. The Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP) employs an Nd:YAG laser as a specific technique. Through its interaction with endogenous chromophores, the Nd: YAG laser exhibits a selective effect on the evaporation of granulation tissue, therefore establishing a correlation with reduced bleeding. The study also examined Oxygen High-Level Laser Therapy (OHLLT). The OHLLT technique employs a high-power diode laser in combination with hydrogen peroxide solutions to facilitate the liberation of singlet oxygen, which possesses antibacterial attributes, within the periodontal pockets. The existing literature indicates their potential to promote the regeneration of tooth support tissues. Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the subjective pain levels reported by patients who have undergone surgery using the OHLLT protocol versus those who have undergone surgery using the LANAP technique. Methods: A total of 20 individuals with a stage III–IV periodontitis diagnosis were recruited for the study. The participants were randomly divided into two groups, each consisting of 10 individuals: Group 1, comprising patients treated according to the LANAP protocol, and Group 2, comprising patients treated according to the OHLLT protocol. After their initial session of nonsurgical periodontal therapy, individuals provided feedback regarding their level of pain, utilizing a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) comprising time intervals of 0 h (T0), 6 h (T1), 12 h (T2), 24 h (T3), 48 h (T4), and 7 days (T5). The Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney statistical test was employed to assess the variations in NRS scores between Group 1 and Group 2 at each recording period. (p ≤ 0.05). In addition, a microbiological assessment of the bacterial load in the periodontal region was conducted on all subjects using real-time PCR testing at two time points: prior to treatment (T0) and seven days post-treatment (T5). Results: The findings of this study indicate that the OHLLT group exhibited significantly lower pain levels compared to the LANAP group at all time intervals, except for the preoperative period, where no significant difference was observed (p < 0.05). Group 2 exhibited a more rapid decrease in pain, as demonstrated by a score test approaching zero within 24 h. The quantity of periodontal bacteria seen seven days post-treatment was similar between the two groups and was found to be decreased compared to the pre-treatment levels. Conclusions: The OHLLT and LANAP regimens have demonstrated efficacy in the nonsurgical management of periodontal disease. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the OHLLT approach does not subject the patient to any thermal hazards, unlike the LANAP method. The postoperative discomfort experienced following the OHLLT procedure is indeed reduced, as this technique is characterized by lower invasiveness and reduced dependence on the operator.

Comparative evaluation of Indocyanine Green and 810nm Diode Laser Assisted Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy with 810nm Diode Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure as adjuncts to Scaling and Root Planning in Supportive Periodontal Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Split-Mouth Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive nonsurgical management of recurrent periodontal pockets remains the most viable option during supportive periodontal therapy (SPT), but with inconclusive results. The purpose of this study is to evaluate and compare the adjunctive use of Indocyanine green (ICG) and 810nm Diode laser assisted photodynamic therapy (IG-PDT) with 810nm Diode laser assisted new attachment procedure (LANAP) in the management of persistent pockets in SPT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This single blinded randomized controlled split mouth clinical trial included 20 participants with at least two adjacent teeth with PPD ≥5mm and Clinical attachment level (CAL) ≥3mm in the contralateral quadrants. IG-PDT group received application of 5mg/ml solution of ICG for one minute followed by 810±10nm diode laser with 1W power density. LANAP group received 810±10nm diode laser application at 3W power density with 100ms and 650ms pulse duration at two consecutive passes. Clinical parameters i.e., Plaque index (PI), Gingival index (GI), PPD, CAL gain were recorded at baseline, 3 and 6 months. Landry’s Healing index was assessed on the 7th day and 1 month postoperatively. Patient comfort was assessed using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) immediate post-operatively. RESULTS: Student t test and repeated measures of ANOVA were used for statistical analysis. Both site level and patient level assessments of clinical parameters showed improvement in clinical parameters in both groups. However, IG-PDT group showed significantly greater improvements in PPD (<0.001) and CAL (<0.001) at 3 and 6 months evaluation. IG-PDT showed better healing (P-0.03) at 7th post-operative day. However, LANAP showed less discomfort (2.40±0.50) compared to IG-PDT group (3.20±0.61). CONCLUSION: IG-PDT is shown to provide better clinical outcomes compared to LANAP in management of patients under SPT.

Single-Step Functionalization Strategy of Graphene Microtransistor Array with Chemically Modified Aptamers for Biosensing Applications.

Graphene solution-gated field-effect transistors (gSGFETs) offer high potential for chemical and biochemical sensing applications. Among the current trends to improve this technology, the functionalization processes are gaining relevance for its crucial impact on biosensing performance. Previous efforts are focused on simplifying the attachment procedure from standard multi-step to single-step strategies, but they still suffer from overreaction, and impurity issues and are limited to a particular ligand. Herein, a novel strategy for single-step immobilization of chemically modified aptamers with fluorenylmethyl and acridine moieties, based on a straightforward synthetic route to overcome the aforementioned limitations is presented. This approach is benchmarked versus a standard multi-step strategy using thrombin as detection model. In order to assess the reliability of the functionalization strategies 48-gSGFETs arrays are employed to acquire large datasets with multiple replicas. Graphene surface characterization demonstrates robust and higher efficiency in the chemical coupling of the aptamers with the single-step strategy, while the electrical response evaluation validates the sensing capability, allowing to implement different alternatives for data analysis and reduce the sensing variability. In this work, a new tool capable of overcome the functionalization challenges of graphene surfaces is provided, paving the way toward the standardization of gSGFETs for biosensing purposes.

Comparative oral health outcomes before and after periodontitis treatment: Scaling and root planning alone versus Nd: YAG Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure.

Abstract Introduction: Periodontitis is a multifactorial condition that impacts the support tissues of the teeth. The purpose of the research was to correlate the results obtained in the treatment of patients with at least stage II periodontitis by scaling and root planing alone (SRP), or by the laser-assisted new attachment procedure (LANAP), and to assess the outcomes and patients' perceptions regarding the influence of these therapies on their quality of life by using The Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) questionnaire. Materials and methods: The oral cavities of 15 patients were divided into quadrants, and, according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, two quadrants were allocated to one of the groups after the effectuated therapy: SRP or LANAP. The patient’s periodontal status (VPI, PPD, BOP, and CAL) was assessed and filed in a periodontal chart at baseline and 6 weeks after the implementation of the treatments, along with the OHIP-14 questionnaire. SRP was conducted for the first group of patients, in the selected quadrant and in the two remaining quadrants that were not included in the study. The LANAP protocol was applied to the quadrant belonging to the second group (LANAP) using a 1064 nm Nd: YAG laser (Lightwalker AT-S, Fotona®, Slovenia). Results: The results showed that both noninvasive treatments are effective in diminishing VPI, PPD, BOP, and CAL in periodontal patients, and the scores obtained 6 weeks after the end of the periodontal treatments determined the improvement of the patient's perception in the questionnaire. Conclusion: Both the association of the Nd: YAG laser with scaling and root planing (LANAP) and SRP alone provided safe and efficient outcomes, resulting in high levels of satisfaction among patients at 6 weeks after treatment.

Attachment procedure

During criminal proceedings, the competent judicial bodies have the authority to order certain procedural measures to guarantee and ensure the normal conduct of proceedings, the execution of the sentence, the regulation of the damage caused by the crime and the prevention of antisocial acts. Preventive, precautionary, safety and immediate redress measures, defined by doctrine as the return of property and restoration of previous condition, are examples of procedural measures that might be required during criminal proceedings. Precautionary measures are procedural, coercive and effective measures taken by judicial authorities to freeze certain movable or immovable property by confiscating it, to prevent the destruction, concealment, theft or disposal of property subject to special or extended confiscation, to ensure enforcement of fines or court costs, or to make good the damage caused by the criminal offence. Confiscation, seizure and attachment are examples of preventive tactics. As for the functionality of precautionary measures, they are only protective, not remedial. Precautionary measures are intended to prevent the concealment, destruction, disposal or theft of property which may be subject to special or extended confiscation or which may be used to enforce fines or court fees or to make good the damage caused by the criminal offence.

The Clinical and Microbiological Effects of LANAP Compared to Scaling and Root Planing Alone in the Management of Periodontal Conditions.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of two therapeutic procedures clinically and microbiologically in the management of periodontally affected teeth: scaling and root planing alone and the laser-assisted new attachment procedure (LANAP). Molecular biological determinations of bacterial markers through the polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) method with standard PET tests (species-specific DNA probes at a time) were used for the quantification of three of the most important periodontal pathogens (Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Treponema denticola). Both nonsurgical periodontal therapies were proven effective in patients with chronic periodontal disease; however, LANAP was associated with a greater reduction in pocket depth and improved clinical outcomes, associated with a significant decrease in the amount of Porphyromonas gingivalis. The clinical results included a decrease in periodontal pocket depth, bleeding on probing, and dental plaque, with LANAP having better overall outcomes than SRP alone. The use of Nd:YAG lasers in LANAP therapy is a safe and effective procedure that is well accepted by patients.

Fluorescence-guided Cryo-lift-out using an Integrated Fluorescence Light Microscope and an Optimized Sample-needle Attachment Procedure.

Fluorescence-guided Cryo-lift-out using an Integrated Fluorescence Light Microscope and an Optimized Sample-needle Attachment Procedure.

가사소송법상 사전적 이행확보제도

In family cases, it generally takes long time for a judgment to be confirmed or for family mediation to take effect. The Family Litigation Act thus provides the preliminary order, provisional attachment, and provisional injunction systems in family litigation, family non-litigation, and family mediation to preserve the satisfaction of a latent judgment(or mediation). They are collectively called the Provisional Remedies.
 There are overlapping parts between the preliminary order systems and the provisional attachment and injunction system, but there are essential differences between them in requirements for application and hearing, which raises a need to review them according to the nature of a family case. This study set out to examine the unique nature and procedure of preliminary order, provisional attachment and injunction under the Family Litigation Act, and the major content of the revised bill by including the content of the revised bill as well as the current Act in its scope.
 The current Act has an issue of no effectiveness since preliminary order had no ability to be enforced even in the case of a strong need for emergency order. The revised bill adds a provision to grant power of execution to preliminary order. This issue must be solved fundamentally by a fast legislative measure. Caution should be taken not to postpone the issue of preliminary order as the future hearing practice of preliminary order places importance on the probability of citing the original bill(preserved right) for the reason of preliminary order's power of execution. The hearing of preliminary order should focus on the need for preservation.
 Both the current Act and its revised bill have no substantive enactment to allow a appeal against a decision to dismiss or reject a preliminary order application. The revised bill needs to be revised to include substantive enactment to allow the applicant to file an immediate appeal.

Stochastic optimal power flow analysis of power system with renewable energy sources using Adaptive Lightning Attachment Procedure Optimizer

The integration of several renewable energy sources (RESs), such as photovoltaic generation (PVG) and wind turbine generation (WTG), introduces a significant amount of uncertainty for the optimal planning of the electrical power systems. The optimal power flow (OPF) problem became more difficult to solve when RESs uncertainties were taken into account. In this research, the stochastic OPF problem is solved using an Adaptive Lightning Attachment Procedure Optimizer (ALAPO) with the integration of RESs. The ALAPO is proposed in this study to improve both the exploration and exploitation process of the conventional Lightning Attachment Procedure Optimizer (LAPO). In order to create a number of scenarios that account for the uncertainties associated with load demand, wind speed, and solar irradiation, the scenario based reduction method is utilized. Further, to determine the optimal setting of active power of generators, tap setting of the transformers, reactive power of the capacitor banks, and the voltage profile at the generator buses for each scenario of RESs the objective function considered in this study is to minimize the power loss, voltage deviation, and voltage stability index of the power system. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is tested on IEEE 57-bus system. The results in this study show that the proposed ALAPO is superior for solving the OPF with the integration of RESs compared to the conventional methods like LAPO, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Sand Cat Swarm Optimizer (SCSO), Gray Wolf Optimizer (GOW), Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA), Black Widow Optimization Algorithm (BWO), and Capuchin Search Algorithm (CapSA).

Comparative Evaluation of ENAP Vs Gingival Curettage in Pocket Reduction in Periodontitis Patients – A Clinical Study

Scaling and root planning (SRP) is essential for preventing bacterial infection, it is always the first step of periodontal treatment. The treatment of periodontal pockets with excisional new attachment procedure (ENAP) and gingival curettage as an adjunct to SRP in the treatment of periodontitis represents yet another novel causative therapy

Tooth Retention and Clinical and Radiographic Long-Term Results Among Patients Treated with the Full-Mouth Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP): A Case Series.

There are limited long-term treatment results for patients who receive full-mouth laser-assisted new attachment procedure (LANAP). The present study examined cases of full-mouth LANAP therapy for tooth retention, including clinical and radiographic changes. Sixty-six generalized stage III/IV periodontitis patients aged 30 to 76 years were identified via consecutive retrospective chart reviews in a private practice limited to periodontics. Following treatment with the LANAP protocol, differences between baseline and the patient's most recent periodontal maintenance visit (mean: 6.7 years) were determined regarding interproximal probing depths (iPD) and interproximal bone loss (iBL) percentages. Factors affecting tooth loss were analyzed using Cox proportional hazard regression survival analysis. The average tooth loss for the study population was 0.11 teeth/patient/year. Premolars were more likely to be retained compared to the reference group of incisors (hazard ratio = 0.38; 95% CI = 0.16 to 0.90; P = .03), adjusting for canines, molars, and other potential confounding factors. Age at the time of LANAP treatment, gender, history of diabetes, and baseline iBL and iPD were all significantly associated with tooth loss after full-mouth LANAP treatment. Clinical changes in iPD were more significant among premolars and molars when followed up for a period of less than 7 years. Tooth retention after full-mouth LANAP treatment was favorable in this cohort of private practice patients. Int J Periodontics Restorative Dent 2023;43:181-191. doi: 10.11607/prd.6418.

Clinical evaluation of Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure® (LANAP®) surgical treatment of chronic periodontitis: a retrospective case series of 1-year results in 22 consecutive patients.

Treatment for periodontitis has evolved over the years as new technologies have become available. Currently, lasers seem attractive as a treatment modality, but their effectiveness needs to be verified. The purpose of this project was to evaluate Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure® (LANAP®) surgery as a single treatment modality. As part of a mandatory training program for periodontists and other dentists, 22 consecutive patients diagnosed with moderate to severe periodontitis (probing depth [PD] up to 11 mm) were treated with the LANAP® surgical approach using a 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser as part of a multi-step protocol. Following single-session active therapy, they were entered into a maintenance program. Their clinical status was re-evaluated at 12-18 months following surgery. All 22 patients completed the 12- to 18-month follow-up. PD, clinical attachment level, and furcation (FURC) showed substantial improvement. Recession was minimal (mean, 0.1 mm), while 93.5% of PD measurements were 3 mm or less at re-evaluation. Furthermore, 40% of grade 2 FURC closed clinically. Within the limits of this case series, LANAP® was found to be an effective, minimally invasive, laser surgical therapy for moderate to advanced periodontitis.

Lightning attachment procedure optimization algorithm for optimal design of digital FIR band stop filter

This study uses the Lightning Attachment Procedure Optimization (LAPO) method to show how to design a digital finite impulse response (FIR) 20th order band stop filter (BSF). LAPO is a physical-based metaheuristic optimization algorithm. One of the main goals of filter design is the simultaneous reduction of pass band ripples and stop band ripples. The aim is to identify such ideal filter coefficients that reduce the magnitude and phase errors. Comparing the LAPO method to the Cuckoo Search Algorithm (CSA) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), the comprehensive simulation results and Wilcoxon rank-sum test at 99% level of confidence demonstrate how effectively the LAPO algorithm works in determining the optimal coefficients of the digital FIR BSF. For this design, the LAPO method achieves its global best solution in 11.94 seconds which is 25.84%, 25.19% and 0.83% better as compared to time taken by PSO, CSA and Integrated Optimization Technique (IOT), respectively since LAPO technique has no parameter adjustment.

Fast and Versatile Functionalization of Glassy Carbon

A rapid procedure for the functionalization of glassy carbon surfaces (GCSs) is disclosed. A three-step sequence of bromomethylation, azide displacement, and copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) allows ethynylated molecules to be attached covalently to the carbon surface through a methylene functional group. Redox-active ethynyl ferrocene and [RuII(Cl)(DMSO)(ethynyl-TPA)]1+ (DMSO = dimethylsulfoxide; TPA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) are attached with high coverages as assessed by cyclic voltammetry, and the elemental composition of the surface is confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In less than 1 h, surface coverages of 1 × 1014 molecules/cm2 are possible that exhibit good durability in both acidic and basic media. Attached [RuII(Cl)(DMSO)(ethynyl-TPA)]1+ catalytically oxidizes alcohols, yet the currents and potentials are less impressive compared to an attachment without the intervening methylene group. The advantages of this covalent attachment procedure for GCSs are its short reaction times, mild reaction conditions, and the use of standard laboratory reagents and glassware, allowing for many types of ethynylated molecules to be attached rapidly to the surface.

Case Report: Interstitial-intralesional laser therapy and laser-assisted new attachment procedure for the treatment of alveolar bone loss provoked by an aggressive pyogenic granuloma

A pyogenic granuloma (PG) is a common benign vascular lesion found in the oral cavity. The gold standard treatment of this lesion, comprising surgical excision and the elimination of etiological factors, cannot avoid tooth loss in the case of an aggressive pyogenic granuloma. Because of the prominent properties of 980 nm and 635 nm diode lasers in photocoagulation and photobiomodulation, we applied these wavelengths in the treatment of a large pyogenic granuloma with alveolar bone loss. Our objective was to use a combination of interstitial-intralesional laser therapy, photocoagulation and laser-assisted new attachment procedure (LANAP) to preserve the teeth and periodontal tissue in a case of an aggressive pyogenic granuloma. The patient was a 13-year-old Thai male with a pyogenic granuloma involving the interdental papilla and lingual gingiva of the lower left first and second molars. The teeth were also displaced by the lesion. After treatment with three sessions of photocoagulation, three sessions of interstitial-intralesional laser therapy and two sessions of LANAP, the lesion was completely resolved. The periodontal status of the teeth was improved at the six-month follow-up. The combination of interstitial-intralesional laser therapy, photocoagulation and LANAP was able to treat an aggressive pyogenic granuloma with tooth preservation.

Ecological inference using data from accelerometers needs careful protocols.

Accelerometers in animal‐attached tags are powerful tools in behavioural ecology, they can be used to determine behaviour and provide proxies for movement‐based energy expenditure. Researchers are collecting and archiving data across systems, seasons and device types. However, using data repositories to draw ecological inference requires a good understanding of the error introduced according to sensor type and position on the study animal and protocols for error assessment and minimisation.Using laboratory trials, we examine the absolute accuracy of tri‐axial accelerometers and determine how inaccuracies impact measurements of dynamic body acceleration (DBA), a proxy for energy expenditure, in human participants. We then examine how tag type and placement affect the acceleration signal in birds, using pigeons Columba livia flying in a wind tunnel, with tags mounted simultaneously in two positions, and back‐ and tail‐mounted tags deployed on wild kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla. Finally, we present a case study where two generations of tag were deployed using different attachment procedures on red‐tailed tropicbirds Phaethon rubricauda foraging in different seasons.Bench tests showed that individual acceleration axes required a two‐level correction to eliminate measurement error. This resulted in DBA differences of up to 5% between calibrated and uncalibrated tags for humans walking at a range of speeds. Device position was associated with greater variation in DBA, with upper and lower back‐mounted tags varying by 9% in pigeons, and tail‐ and back‐mounted tags varying by 13% in kittiwakes. The tropicbird study highlighted the difficulties of attributing changes in signal amplitude to a single factor when confounding influences tend to covary, as DBA varied by 25% between seasons.Accelerometer accuracy, tag placement and attachment critically affect the signal amplitude and thereby the ability of the system to detect biologically meaningful phenomena. We propose a simple method to calibrate accelerometers that can be executed under field conditions. This should be used prior to deployments and archived with resulting data. We also suggest a way that researchers can assess accuracy in previously collected data, and caution that variable tag placement and attachment can increase sensor noise and even generate trends that have no biological meaning.

An Efficient 5G Data Plan Approach Based on Partially Distributed Mobility Architecture.

Reaching a flat network is the main target of future evolved packet core for the 5G mobile networks. The current 4th generation core network is centralized architecture, including Serving Gateway and Packet-data-network Gateway; both act as mobility and IP anchors. However, this architecture suffers from non-optimal routing and intolerable latency due to many control messages. To overcome these challenges, we propose a partially distributed architecture for 5th generation networks, such that the control plane and data plane are fully decoupled. The proposed architecture is based on including a node Multi-session Gateway to merge the mobility and IP anchor gateway functionality. This work presented a control entity with the full implementation of the control plane to achieve an optimal flat network architecture. The impact of the proposed evolved packet Core structure in attachment, data delivery, and mobility procedures is validated through simulation. Several experiments were carried out by using NS-3 simulation to validate the results of the proposed architecture. The Numerical analysis is evaluated in terms of total transmission delay, inter and intra handover delay, queuing delay, and total attachment time. Simulation results show that the proposed architecture performance-enhanced end-to-end latency over the legacy architecture.

Immediate effect of Nd:YAG laser monotherapy on subgingival periodontal pathogens: a pilot clinical study.

PurposeThis pilot study assessed the immediate in vivo effect of high peak pulse power neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser monotherapy on selected red/orange complex periodontal pathogens in deep human periodontal pockets.MethodsTwelve adults with severe periodontitis were treated with the Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP®) surgical protocol, wherein a free-running, digitally pulsed, Nd:YAG dental laser was used as the initial therapeutic step before mechanical root debridement. Using a flexible optical fiber in a handpiece, Nd:YAG laser energy, at a density of 196 J/cm2 and a high peak pulse power of 1,333 W/pulse, was directed parallel to untreated tooth root surfaces in sequential coronal-apical passes to clinical periodontal probing depths, for a total applied energy dose of approximately 8–12 joules per millimeter of periodontal probing depth at each periodontal site. Subgingival biofilm specimens were collected from each patient before and immediately after Nd:YAG laser monotherapy from periodontal pockets exhibiting ≥6 mm probing depths and bleeding on probing. Selected red/orange complex periodontal pathogens (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Prevotella intermedia/nigrescens, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Parvimonas micra, and Campylobacter species) were quantified in the subgingival samples using established anaerobic culture techniques.ResultsAll immediate post-treatment subgingival biofilm specimens continued to yield microbial growth after Nd:YAG laser monotherapy. The mean levels of total cultivable red/orange complex periodontal pathogens per patient significantly decreased from 12.0% pre-treatment to 4.9% (a 59.2% decrease) immediately after Nd:YAG laser monotherapy, with 3 (25%) patients rendered culture-negative for all evaluated red/orange complex periodontal pathogens.ConclusionsHigh peak pulse power Nd:YAG laser monotherapy, used as the initial step in the LANAP® surgical protocol on mature subgingival biofilms, immediately induced significant reductions of nearly 60% in the mean total cultivable red/orange complex periodontal pathogen proportions per patient prior to mechanical root instrumentation and the rest of the LANAP® surgical protocol.

Optimal integration of photovoltaic and shunt compensator considering irradiance and load changes

This paper introduces an efficient two-stage procedure for assigning the optimal sites and sizes of the photovoltaic-based distributed generator (PV-DG) and distribution static synchronous compensator (DSTATCOM). This procedure is applied for radial distribution network (RDN) under seasonal variations of irradiance and load demand. In the first stage, the voltage loss sensitivity index (VLSI) is utilized to identify the high potential buses for integration of the PV-DG and DSTATCOM while in the second stage, two recent optimization algorithms including the lightning attachment procedure optimization (LAPO) and the equilibrium optimizer (EO) are utilized to identify the best sizes and locations of the PV-DG and DSTATCOM from the candidate nodes. The proposed algorithms are tested on a 118-bus distribution system and the obtained results are compared with the Whale optimization algorithm (WOA) and sine cosine algorithm (SCA). The computational study shows the superiority of the application of the new optimization techniques (LAPO and EO) compared with WOA and SCA.