Changes In Demand Research Articles

TRENDS OF FLUCTUATION IN AVERAGE PRICES OF DAIRY PRODUCTS IN UKRAINE IN 2003-2023

Dairy products in Ukraine are in a high demand among the population of all age groups. Milk production is a source of useful nutrients that support vital processes in humans. According to the official statistics, the long-term decrease in milk production in farms is due to the decrease in the number of dairy cattle that is lasting from year to year. At the same time, our country has access to foreign markets and is effectively developing the domestic one. It is worth noting that the internal market has its own peculiarities. It is the main task to understand what the specific features are of this market. Various characteristics can indicate the peculiarities and trends of milk and dairy production. The price value is one of the indicators that can respond to changes in demand, the emergence of competitors, updates in legislation, and other factors. Data from the official website of the State Statistics Service of Ukraine were used to analyze changes in behavior of the dairy industry that may be appeared in the price fluctuations. Investigated data base includes sales prices of milk and dairy products for 254 months for the period of 2003-2023. Fourier transformation was applied in the research. It allowed us to reconstruct general trends and build a forecast for several months ahead. Based on the results of the analysis, formulated conclusions include several points. The first one is about the deterministic trend of price growth with seasonal changes, but almost significant rapid ups and downs (the exception is 2017 year, when there was a rapid increase in product prices). The seasonality is manifested in a double change of direction according to the scheme: half a year of decline and half a year of rise, then the algorithm repeats. As usual, decreases can be observed in spring and summer months. The second point of conclusion is about controlled processes in the price forming in contemporary milk market conditions. Moreover, it would be reasonable to find factors that form such a stable tendency or keep prices on this unchangeable trajectory despite negative impacts, such as inflation, threats of war, population demand, reduction in purchase prices for raw materials, shortage in milk production and others. Data analysis was performed using Python tools.

Research on the Impact Mechanism and Response Strategy of Population Aging on Economic Growth

With the development of society, the problem of population aging is increasingly prominent. The impact mechanism of population aging on economic growth is complicated and diverse. In terms of the labor market, the increase in the proportion of the elderly population has led to a decrease in labor supply, increased labor costs, and affected the production efficiency of enterprises. In the field of consumption, changes in consumer demand and the structure of the elderly may lead to adjustment of some industrial markets. In terms of social security, the burden of pensions is increasing, and fiscal pressure has increased. To cope with population aging, a series of strategies are needed. First, improve the pension security system to ensure the quality of life of the elderly. Encourage people to choose the employment direction of the type of pension and give full play to their experience and skill advantages. Secondly, developing the elderly industries to meet the special needs of the elderly, while creating new economic growth points. Third, strengthen education and training, improve the quality of labor, strengthen the fertility system, and vigorously promote the country. Through these measures, the negative impact of population aging on economic growth is reduced, and sustainable development is achieved.

Enhancing Inventory Management in E-Commerce: A Case Study on Inventory Binding and Reservation Optimization

The rapid growth of e-commerce has increased the demand for efficient and flexible inventory management solutions in warehouses, particularly for high-volume fulfillment centers that handle diverse and fluctuating order requirements. Traditional inventory binding methods, which pre-allocate containers and items upon order receipt, often fail to account for dynamic changes in demand and the complexities of physical storage, such as stackable bins. These early-binding processes can lead to inefficiencies in the picking stage, increased labor costs, and delays in outbound order fulfillment. This paper presents a novel approach to inventory reservation and binding, designed to address the limitations of early allocation by delaying inventory binding until the picking stage. By decoupling the binding process from order receipt, the system enhances responsiveness to real-time conditions, allowing inventory to be assigned dynamically based on current operational needs and priorities. This approach also introduces a Container Loading Plan (CLP) processor, enabling the real-time creation and management of CLPs that align with specific customer and order requirements. The enhanced inventory binding system includes several key components: a reservation manager for validating and securing inventory, an adaptive binding component for binding items as needed at the picking stage, and an inventory tracking system that monitors movements and alerts operators to potential issues. Together, these components provide a scalable, latency-sensitive solution that optimizes order fulfillment by prioritizing picking efficiency and resource allocation. The system is particularly beneficial in environments that use stackable bins, where sequential access constraints make it challenging to pre-assign inventory effectively. Results demonstrate significant improvements in picking efficiency, inventory accuracy, and order processing speed, with a 20% reduction in pick times and a 15% reduction in allocation errors. These outcomes highlight the importance of flexible, real-time inventory binding for meeting the dynamic demands of modern e-commerce, underscoring this system’s potential for broad application across high-volume warehouse operations. Keywords: Inventory Management, Warehouse Optimization, Dynamic Inventory Binding, Order Fulfillment Efficiency, Just-in-Time Logistics, Adaptive Binding Process

Intelligent Cloud Systems: AI-Driven Enhancements in Scalability and Predictive Resource Management

This research article explores the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in cloud computing, with a focus on its influence on scalability, resource management, and predictive analytics within distributed systems. As cloud infrastructure becomes integral to organizational operations, AI technologies have emerged as vital tools for enhancing performance and efficiency. The study emphasizes how AI enables scalability through dynamic resource allocation and auto-scaling, allowing systems to adapt seamlessly to changing demands. It also examines AI-driven resource management strategies, which utilize machine learning algorithms to optimize operations, lower costs, and ensure system resilience through predictive maintenance and anomaly detection. Furthermore, the article highlights predictive analytics, demonstrating how AI processes large datasets to support informed decision-making and improve system reliability. By integrating intelligent automation with cloud computing, this article underscores AI's pivotal role in advancing the capabilities of distributed systems

CA1 ensembles expressing immediate-early genes are driven by context switch, shrink with sustained presence, and show no effect of change of task demands.

The hippocampus (HPC) is essential for navigation and memory, tracking environmental continuity and change, including navigation relative to moving targets. CA1 ensembles expressing immediate-early gene (IEG) Arc and Homer1a RNA are contextually specific. While IEG expression correlates with HPC-dependent task demands, the effects of behavioral demands on IEG-expressing ensembles remain unclear. In three experiments, we investigated the effects of context switch, sustained presence, and task demands on dorso-proximal CA1 IEG+ ensembles in rats. Experiment 1 showed that the size of IEG+ (Arc, Homer1a RNA) ensembles dropped to baseline during uninterrupted 30-minute exploration, reflecting familiarization, unless a context switch was present. Context-specificity of the ensembles depended on both environment identity and timing of the context switch. Experiment 2 found no effect of HPC-dependent mobile robot avoidance or HPC-independent avoidance of a stationary robot on IEG+ ensembles beyond mere exploration. Experiment 3 replicated these findings for c-Fos protein. The data suggest that IEG+ ensembles are driven by a context switch and shrink over time during sustained presence in the same environment. We found no evidence of task demands or their change affecting the size, stability over time, or task-specificity of IEG+ ensembles. These results shed light on the temporal dynamics of CA1 IEG+ ensembles, and their control by contextual and behavioral factors.

Greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet pattern in the United States is associated with sustainability trade-offs

BackgroundThe Mediterranean diet pattern has been consistently associated with health benefits but less is known about the association with environmental and economic sustainability in the United States (US). This information is needed to support sustainable policy agendas and provide consumers with evidence-based information needed to make informed food choices. This study fills this research gap by evaluating the environmental sustainability and diet cost associated with adherence to the Mediterranean diet pattern in the US.MethodsDietary data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011–2018, n = 17,079) were merged with data on environmental impacts (greenhouse gas emissions, cumulative energy demand, water scarcity footprint), agricultural resource demand (land, fertilizer nutrients, and pesticides), and food prices from multiple publicly available databases. The Mediterranean Diet Score was used to evaluate adherence to the Mediterranean diet pattern. Multivariable linear regression models were used to evaluate the association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet pattern and environmental impacts, agricultural resource demand, and diet cost. Sensitivity analyses were used to evaluate adjustment of loss and waste and food-away-from-home prices.ResultsGreater adherence to the Mediterranean diet pattern was associated with lower greenhouse gas emissions (p < 0.001), land use (p < 0.001), fertilizer nutrient use (p < 0.001), and pesticide use (p < 0.001), higher water scarcity footprint (p < 0.001) and diet cost (p < 0.001), and no change in cumulative energy demand (p = 0.147). These changes were driven primarily by reduced intake of animal-sourced foods such as beef dishes, meat sandwiches, and dairy, as well as decreased intake of refined carbohydrate foods such as refined grain dishes and soft drinks.ConclusionsThis nationally representative study demonstrates that greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet pattern is associated with sustainability trade-offs. These findings have implications for the development of sustainable dietary guidelines and clinical practice guidelines that can be used to inform consumer food choices.

Prior memory responses modulate behavior and brain state engagement

Memory encoding and retrieval constitute neurally dissociable brain states and prior behavioral work suggests that these states may linger in time. Thus memory states may influence both the current experience and subsequent events; however, this account has not been directly tested. To test the hypothesis that memory judgments induce brain states that persist for several hundred milliseconds, we recorded scalp electroencephalography while participants completed a recognition task. We used an independently validated multivariate mnemonic state classifier to assess memory state engagement. We replicate previous behavioral findings, yet we find that memory states are modulated by response congruency. We find strong retrieval state engagement on incongruent trials, when the response switches between two consecutive trials. These findings indicate that cortical brain states are influenced by prior judgments and suggest that a non-mnemonic, internal attention state may be recruited in the face of changing demands in a dynamic environment.

TRENDS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RESTAURANT SERVICES MARKET: METHODS OF DETERMINATION AND CHARACTERISTICS

Methodical approaches to determining the current state and development trends of the restaurant services market which serve as a toolkit for forecasting future dynamic changes in the industry and planning measures for the adaptation of enterprises to the new conditions of the organization of their activities are considered in the article. The purpose of this article is the study of modern trends in the development of the restaurant services market and the formation of methodical approaches to their determination. In this study, based on the analysis of the external environment of restaurant establishments, the main methods for determining the current state of the catering services market are established, which include the methods of analyzing market stability, consumer preferences, competitive environment, and segmentation. With the help of the formed methodological toolkit, the following is carried out: survey of consumers; study of new popular dishes, recipes, technologies and trends in the industry; analysis of menus, concepts, price policy; forecasting future directions of industry development. The use of these methods allows: to determine the features of demand, supply and market equilibrium; evaluate and characterize changes in consumer needs; establish competitive advantages and disadvantages in the operation of the enterprise; determine the target audience according to established criteria. Based on the mentioned approaches and methods, the main trends affecting the development of the restaurant services market were identified and characterized. Thus, it was proven that the key directions of the development of the restaurant services market are the growing popularity of healthy food, the development of social media and information technologies, technological progress, and the development of gastronomic tourism. Certain methods are used as a tool for determining trends in the development of the industry, which provide the ability to adapt restaurant enterprises to dynamic changes in the service market. They include: marketing research methods, analysis of trends in the gastronomic industry, observation of competitors, cooperation with specialists and experts, analysis of changes in consumer demand. With the help of these methods, the main trends in the development of the restaurant business were determined, namely: economic, gastronomic, technological innovations, macroeconomic and demographic factors. These trends characterize the demand for restaurant services, the development of the restaurant business, digital development, changing consumption habits and the state of the consumer market.

Navigating motherhood: biological and landscape factors affecting postpartum movement in white-tailed deer

BackgroundPopulation growth and management in cervid species is dependent on reproductive ecology and factors influencing juvenile survival. Aspects of the female’s movement behavior likely affect juvenile survival and movement patterns of pregnant and lactating females differ from non-pregnant or non-lactating females. Explanations for these differing movement patterns include change in nutritional demands for the female, isolation during parturition, and predator avoidance. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are an important managed cervid and a better understanding of their reproductive ecology, including the relationships between resources, movement, and juvenile survival, can better inform management.MethodsOur objective was to determine if biological factors, such as female age, fawn age, number of fawns, as well as characteristics of prepartum range affected the female’s postpartum daily movement or overlap of space used pre- and postpartum in Sussex County, Delaware, USA (2,420 km2). We collected GPS locations 2 weeks pre- and postpartum on 22 individual females from 2016 to 2017. In total, we recorded data from 263 days of postpartum movement for an average of 12 days/individual. We used a hierarchical modeling process to test biological factors and prepartum home range characteristics on two aspects of postpartum movement behavior, mean hourly displacements and daily use of prepartum home range.ResultsMean hourly displacement decreased with increased female age and increased with number of known fawns alive and the female’s home range size prior to parturition. We found that as fawns aged the doe increased use of the prepartum home range.ConclusionsOur results indicate that younger females are moving more than older females during lactation potentially to access higher quality habitat. This increased movement increases nutritional demand and may play a role in fawn survival. Females are more likely to use more of their prepartum home range as fawns age, a finding congruent with previous research. This differentiation in metric response (movement rate vs. space use) emphasizes the complexities of movement ecology and the importance of considering multiple dependent variables for complex behavior.

Public fertility preservation programme for cancer patients in Hong Kong.

Fertility preservation (FP) offers cancer patients the opportunity to have biological children after completing treatment. This study was performed to review the experience and changes in service demand since the implementation of a public FP programme for cancer patients in Hong Kong. This retrospective study included men and women who attended an assisted reproduction unit for public FP services before cancer treatment from August 2020 to February 2023. Their medical records were reviewed and the results were compared with findings from our previous study to evaluate trends in service demand. During the study period, there were 48 consultations for female FP, compared with 72 women who presented for FP from 2010 to 2020 prior to establishment of the public FP programme. The median time from referral to consultation was 3 days (interquartile range [IQR]=2-5). Eighteen women (37.5%) underwent 19 cycles of ovarian stimulation for oocyte or embryo cryopreservation. Thirty women (62.5%) received gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists during cancer treatment. There were 58 consultations for male FP during the study period, compared with 265 men who presented for sperm cryopreservation from 2005 to 2020. The median time from referral to consultation was 4 days (IQR=2-7). Fifty-five men (94.8%) attempted sperm cryopreservation, and 49 (84.5%) successfully preserved sperm. Since the establishment of a public FP programme for cancer patients, there has been an increase in the demand for FP services at our centre. Regular review of FP services is warranted to assess changes in demand and identify areas for improvement.

Load-Balanced Dynamic SFC Migration Based on Resource Demand Prediction.

In network function virtualization, the resource demand of network services changes with network traffic. SFC migration has emerged as an effective technique for preserving the quality of service. However, one important problem that has not been addressed in prior studies is how to manage network load while maintaining service-level agreements for time-varying resource demands. Therefore, we propose the Resource Predictive Load Balancing SFC Migration (RP-LBM) algorithm in this paper. The algorithm uses CNN-AT-LSTM to predict VNF resource demands in advance, eliminating the delays associated with dynamic migrations and determining the optimal migration timing. It leverages the PPO algorithm's perceptual capabilities in complex environments to develop SFC migration strategies and ensure network load balancing. Additionally, it reduces the number of subsequent migrations and minimizes the service interruption rate. The simulation results show that the service interruption rate of the RP-LBM algorithm is on average 27.3% lower than that of the passive migration method. The PPO-based migration algorithm has lower SFC migration times and service interruption rates compared to the DQN algorithm, ensuring service continuity with low migration costs.

THE ROLE OF CLOUD COMPUTING IN SCALING E-COMMERCE BUSINESSES

In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, e-commerce has emerged as a cornerstone of global trade, necessitating robust, scalable solutions to accommodate increasing consumer demands. Cloud computing has become integral to this transformation, offering e-commerce businesses the flexibility and resources needed to scale effectively. This paper explores the multifaceted role of cloud computing in enhancing the scalability of e-commerce enterprises, addressing both its benefits and challenges. Cloud computing, defined as the delivery of computing services over the internet, encompasses various models such as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). These models provide e-commerce businesses with on-demand access to computing resources, allowing for rapid scaling in response to fluctuating market conditions. The inherent flexibility of cloud solutions enables companies to allocate resources dynamically, which is crucial during peak shopping seasons, such as Black Friday or Cyber Monday. This elasticity not only optimizes costs but also enhances the overall customer experience by ensuring high performance and reliability. The adoption of cloud computing can significantly mitigate common challenges faced by e-commerce businesses, including infrastructure limitations and performance bottlenecks. By leveraging cloud services, businesses can achieve load balancing, disaster recovery, and enhanced data security, thereby maintaining operational continuity and protecting sensitive customer information. Furthermore, the compliance features offered by major cloud providers assist businesses in adhering to regulatory requirements, fostering consumer trust. Case studies of prominent e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Shopify illustrate the successful implementation of cloud computing strategies. These companies have demonstrated substantial growth metrics, attributing their scalability to the strategic deployment of cloud technologies. For instance, Amazon’s use of its own cloud service, AWS, has allowed it to seamlessly manage millions of transactions daily while maintaining a robust infrastructure that can adapt to changing demands. Such examples provide valuable insights into best practices and the potential for innovation in cloud-driven e-commerce environments. Despite the myriad benefits, the transition to cloud computing is not without challenges. Businesses must consider potential drawbacks, such as dependency on internet connectivity, concerns regarding data privacy, and the complexity of managing cloud resources. To address these issues, organizations are advised to conduct thorough assessments of their specific needs and to carefully select cloud service providers that align with their operational goals and security requirements. Looking forward, the integration of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, with cloud computing is set to revolutionize e-commerce scalability further. These advancements will enable more personalized customer experiences, enhanced data analytics capabilities, and greater operational efficiency. In conclusion, cloud computing serves as a vital enabler for scaling e-commerce businesses, providing them with the necessary tools to navigate the complexities of the digital marketplace. As the e-commerce landscape continues to evolve, the strategic adoption of cloud solutions will remain essential for businesses seeking to maintain competitiveness and drive growth. KEYWORDS : E-Commerce, Cloud Computing, Scalability, Infrastructure As A Service (Iaas), Platform As A Service (Paas), Software As A Service (Saas), On-Demand Resources, Dynamic Resource Allocation, Load Balancing, Disaster Recovery, Data Security, Compliance, Consumer Trust, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Shopify, Peak Shopping Seasons, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Performance Optimization, Internet Connectivity, Data Privacy, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Operational Efficiency, Digital Marketplace, Strategic Deployment, Innovation, Regulatory Requirements, Customer Experience.

Development And Transformation of Moral Education in Japan

Over the past century, moral education in Japan has undergone significant transformations, particularly in the context of globalization. This essay explores the main components of the three forms of Japanese moral education: specialized moral courses, subject-based moral education, and special activities. It argues that Japanese moral education exemplifies the processes of localization, nationalization, and globalization through three key qualities. First, there is the integration of Eastern and Western philosophical ideas, reflecting a blend of traditional Confucian values with modern Western democratic principles. Second, the promotion of collaboration between families, communities, and schools is emphasized, creating a comprehensive support system for students' moral development. Third, there is the fusion of local characteristics with international perspectives, ensuring that moral education is both culturally relevant and globally aware. These qualities highlight Japan’s dynamic approach to moral education, showing how it has evolved to meet the changing demands of a globalized world while retaining its unique.

Molecular insights into the elevator-type mechanism of the cyanobacterial bicarbonate transporter BicA.

Cyanobacteria are responsible for up to 80% of aquatic carbon dioxide fixation and have evolved a specialized carbon concentrating mechanism to increase photosynthetic yield. As such, cyanobacteria are attractive targets for synthetic biology and engineering approaches to address the demands of global energy security, food production, and climate change for an increasing world's population. The bicarbonate transporter BicA is a sodium-dependent, low-affinity, high-flux bicarbonate symporter expressed in the plasma membrane of cyanobacteria. Despite extensive biochemical characterization of BicA, including the resolution of the BicA crystal structure, the dynamic understanding of the bicarbonate transport mechanism remains elusive. To this end, we have collected over 1ms of all-atom molecular dynamics simulation data of the BicA dimer to elucidate the structural rearrangements involved in the substrate transport process. We further characterized the energetics of the transition of BicA protomers and investigated potential mutations that are shown to decrease the free energy barrier of conformational transitions. In all, our study illuminates a detailed mechanistic understanding of the conformational dynamics of bicarbonate transporters and provides atomistic insights to engineering these transporters for enhanced photosynthetic production.

Comprehensive Review of Healthcare Workforce Challenges, Technological Solutions, And Training Programs

The healthcare workforce is under pressure from, among other things, workforce deficit, staff fatigue, and changes in demand for skills due to the changing technological environment. This review, therefore, reviews these workforce challenges and examines how AI, telemedicine technology, EHRs, and wearable technology can suggest some of the mentioned workforce pressures. Moreover, it evaluates the changing trends in healthcare training programs and explores the need to adopt new technologies for innovation. Healthcare organizations can take advantage of the right technological solutions and increase the medical staff's and patients' effectiveness through increased efficiency, education, and training. Based on the arguments made throughout this paper, the following suggestions are made for healthcare organizations, policymakers, and educators to prepare the workforce for future needs.

The Social and Psychological Challenges Faced by The Graduate Group in Shenzhen

Shenzhen is one of the metropolises with highest economy growth and people are often attracted by such cities as there would be more opportunities. Also, in order to appeal and recruit talents, Shenzhen government has implemented several polices which favor them to migrate settle down. There are three major types of labors: undergraduate students, migrant workers and workers from talent programs. In this paper, undergraduate students will be the focus. Undergraduate students are facing with severe unemployment problem. The insufficient market demand and changing demand are the main reasons for difficulties of employment for undergraduate students. On top of that, there are many other factors, such as weak global economic growth, China’s low economic growth rate, slow adjustment and upgrading of China’s industrial structures, to name just a few, have challenged the employment of graduates. This paper will discuss about undergraduate students’ psychological and social dilemmas as well as analyze the general social problems.

Using agent-based modelling to simulate the emission reduction potential of CCUS technologies in China under alternative policy packages

Abstract Carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) technologies are essential for achieving the 1.5 °C target. Predicting the emission reduction potential of CCUS technology is particularly important for countries to pursue carbon neutrality. However, the existing literature assessing the potential lacks consideration of the structural changes in industrial product demand and the trade-offs companies face between CCUS and traditional emission reduction technologies. This study used agent-based modelling (ABM) to simulate the emission reduction potential of CCUS in China's thermal power, steel, cement, and chemical industries from 2022 to 2060 under scenarios of different carbon prices, subsidies, and technology progress rates. The possible biases of the traditional prediction model were corrected incorporating the structural changes in industrial product demand and the marginal abatement cost curves of traditional emission reduction technologies for the four major industries into the ABM model. The simulation results indicate that under each of the 10 possible scenarios, China's CCUS technologies will reach 100% penetration in the four mentioned industries by 2060, with the emission reduction potential fluctuating between 2,222 and 1,568 Mt of CO2 (corresponding to 40% and 10% share of thermal power, respectively). The difference comes in the scaled-up threshold time point and the growth trend. Sensitivity analyses show that the carbon price affects changes in the emission reduction potential of CCUS technologies the most, while the impact of subsidies, rates of technological progress and oil prices were not significant. The stepped carbon price policy can effectively regulate and promote the expansion of CCUS emission reduction potential, which is worth considering for policymakers.&amp;#xD;

How did South Korean multiplexes survive the pandemic?: A dynamic capabilities perspective

Purpose The film industry is going through a period of upheaval and crisis. This study aims to examine the movie theater industry’s survival strategies by analyzing South Korean multiplex management strategies during the pandemic from a dynamic capabilities perspective. Design/methodology/approach This study conducted a case study to analyze the management strategies of South Korean multiplexes using Teece's (2007) proposed components of sensing, seizing and transforming. Data was collected from business reports, websites, publications, news releases and interviews beginning in January 2020, when COVID-19 began to spread in South Korea, until June 2023. Findings South Korean multiplex theaters’ sensing capabilities have enabled companies to understand the changing demands of consumers and respond quickly. The seizing capability also enabled the development of distinctive business models, and the transforming capability contributed to equipping growth engines from a long-term perspective. Originality/value This study confirmed that the dynamic capabilities perspective and the three components conceptualized by Teece (2007) can explain the strategic choices of firms during acute crises such as pandemics. Additionally, these findings have practical implications for global film industry stakeholders.

A morphological post mortem profile in minor salivary glands changes in females.

Women experience several systemic changes over all stages of life, many due to hormonal fluctuations. The sensation of dry mouth is the most common oral clinical symptom in women from climacteric period onwards, suggesting that sex hormones are important in maintaining salivary glands and oral homeostasis. Although the oral cavity is not conventional considered a target tissue for oestrogen, the extent to which salivary glands morphology and function are impacted by ageing and hormonal variations remain unknown. Due to the clinical demand for understanding oral changes related to the ageing process, this study aimed to portray the glandular morphological aspects in female during the different stages of life. To achieve this, 85 post-mortem specimens of labial minor salivary glands were obtained from females; they were distributed into three groups: group I (reproductive phase: up to 44years, n = 18); group II (climateric phase: 45-55years, n = 21) and group III (post-menopausal phase: over 56years, n = 46). The most significant changes observed included degenerative parenchymal aspects including the replacement of parenchymal structures by fibrous tissue, inflammatory infiltrate as well as vascular and endothelial changes. Ageing was associated with acinar serous metaplasia (p = 0.011), acinar fibrosis (p = 0.042) and ductal ectasia (p = 0.003). The process of acinar atrophy was observed in all groups, with an increase in severity in group III. These degenerative aspects appear to be age-dependent.

Comprehensive Review of Advanced Techniques in Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry

Aesthetic and reconstructive dental treatment has changed not only within the last two decades due to improvements in materials, technologies, and methods. Within this review, the author discusses the major contemporary developments in aesthetic and reconstructive treatments and techniques: New materials, minimally invasive approaches, digital technologies, and patient-centered treatment planning. The review also examines how these advancements enhance patient satisfaction, health, and survival. Also, problem areas and prospects of cosmetic and restorative dentistry are considered, particularly cost and accessibility barriers and customer demand changes.