Complex Roots Research Articles

Combined metabolome and transcriptome analysis reveals a critical role of lignin biosynthesis and lignification in stem-like pneumatophore development of the mangrove Avicennia marina.

Transcriptional and metabolic regulation of lignin biosynthesis and lignification plays crucial roles in Avicennia marina pneumatophore development, facilitating its adaptation to coastal habitats. Avicennia marina is a pioneer mangrove species in coastal wetland. To cope with the periodic intertidal flooding and hypoxia environment, this species has developed a complex and extensive root system, with its most unique feature being a pneumatophore with a distinct above- and below-ground morphology and vascular structure. However, the characteristics of pneumatophore lignification remain unknown. Studies comparing the anatomy among above-ground pneumatophore, below-ground pneumatophore, and feeding root have suggested that vascular structure development in the pneumatophore is more like the development of a stem than of a root. Metabolome and transcriptome analysis illustrated that the accumulation of syringyl (S) and guaiacyl (G) units in the pneumatophore plays a critical role in lignification of the stem-like structure. Fourteen differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) and 10 differentially expressed genes involved in the lignin biosynthesis pathway were targeted. To identify genes significantly associated with lignification, we analyzed the correlation between 14 genes and 8 metabolites and further built a co-expression network between 10 transcription factors (TFs), including 5 for each of MYB and NAC, and 23 enzyme-coding genes involved in lignin biosynthesis. 4-Coumarate-CoA ligase, shikimate/quinate hydroxycinnamoyl transferase, cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase, caffeic acid 3-O-methyltransferase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, and peroxidase were identified to be strongly correlated with these TFs. Finally, we examined 9 key candidate genes through quantitative real-time PCR to validate the reliability of transcriptome data. Together, our metabolome and transcriptome findings reveal that lignin biosynthesis and lignification regulate pneumatophore development in the mangrove species A. marina and facilitate its adaptation to coastal habitats.

Aortic valve leaflets are asymmetric and correlated with the origin of coronary arteries.

Asymmetry of the aortic valve leaflets has been known since Leonardo Da Vinci, but the relationship between size and shape and origin of the coronary arteries has never been examined. Our aim was to evaluate this anatomy in a population of pediatric patients using a cross-sectional study design. Consecutive pediatric patients with trans-esophageal echocardiography (TEE), with or without trans-thoracic echocardiography (TTE), were included in our study. Exclusion criteria: (I) bicuspid aortic valve; (II) aortic valve stenosis; (III) hypoplasia of aortic valve annulus, or aortic root; (IV) truncal valve; (V) coronary artery atresia; (VI) previous surgery on aortic valve and/or coronary arteries. In pre-operative TTE and intra-operative TEE inter-commissural distance and length of aortic valve leaflets were measured in short axis view in the isovolumic phase of systole. Echocardiography investigations, anonymized and randomly coded, were independently reviewed by at least two readers. Echocardiography, angiography, cardiac computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and operative notes were reviewed to identify origin of coronary arteries. Two hundred sixty-one pediatric patients were identified, 93 excluded per our criteria, leaving 168 patients, age 2.6±4.3 years, weight 12.87±17.34 kg, 128 (76%) with normal and 40 (24%) with abnormal coronary arteries. In TTE and TEE measurements the non-coronary leaflet had larger area (P<0.001), while the right and left had equal areas, but different shape, with the left leaflet longer (P<0.001) and narrower (P=0.005) than the right. With the major source of blood flow from the right coronary sinus, the non-coronary leaflet was still the longest. However, there was no statically significant difference between the size and shape previously observed between the right and left leaflets. Our study showed asymmetry of size and shape among aortic valve leaflets, and a relationship with coronary artery origin. The complex aortic root anatomy must be approximated to optimize function of any surgical repair. These findings also may prove useful in the pre-operative definition of coronary artery anatomy and in the recognition of coronary artery anomalies.

Efficient Inverse Fractional Neural Network-Based Simultaneous Schemes for Nonlinear Engineering Applications

Finding all the roots of a nonlinear equation is an important and difficult task that arises naturally in numerous scientific and engineering applications. Sequential iterative algorithms frequently use a deflating strategy to compute all the roots of the nonlinear equation, as rounding errors have the potential to produce inaccurate results. On the other hand, simultaneous iterative parallel techniques require an accurate initial estimation of the roots to converge effectively. In this paper, we propose a new class of global neural network-based root-finding algorithms for locating real and complex polynomial roots, which exploits the ability of machine learning techniques to learn from data and make accurate predictions. The approximations computed by the neural network are used to initialize two efficient fractional Caputo-inverse simultaneous algorithms of convergence orders ς+2 and 2ς+4, respectively. The results of our numerical experiments on selected engineering applications show that the new inverse parallel fractional schemes have the potential to outperform other state-of-the-art nonlinear root-finding methods in terms of both accuracy and elapsed solution time.

Social-psychological and socio-structural correlates of negative attitudes towards asexuals’ parenting rights

ABSTRACT This study examined relations between political ideology, religiosity, individual characteristics, personal belief in a just world, and attitudes towards asexuals’ parenting rights, aiming to understand the complex roots of sexual prejudice better. An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted via an online survey in Greece between May 2 and 30 July 2021. Two hundred and four participants were recruited for this study. A between-subject, correlational design was employed. Bivariate correlation was generated to explore the associations between variables of interest. Next, a bootstrapping analysis for simple mediation models was conducted. Also, a multiple regression model was employed to predict attitudes towards asexuals’ parenting rights from the study measures. This study suggests that religious opposition to asexuals’ parenting rights is attributable, at least in part, to political ideology. In addition, gender is also a significant factor influencing the formation of attitudes towards asexuals’ parenting rights. In light of the current debates regarding expanding sexual and gender minority rights in several countries, this study presents a timely investigation into the underpinnings of opposition to asexuals’ parenting rights. Research data in this scarcely researched field may support the efforts of advocacy groups to promote social justice.

The Complexity of the Root Canal Anatomy and Its Influence on Root Canal Debridement in the Apical Region: A Review.

The main goal of root canal treatment is to eliminate the infection in the complex root canal system for the long-term preservation of a functional tooth. Proper debridement of the root canal system, especially in the apical portion, is essential for successful root canal treatment. The complexity of the canal anatomy in the apical region plays a crucial role in reducing the microbial load. Therefore, clinicians must have a thorough knowledge of the anatomy of the root canal system and its variations, especially in the apical portion. Root canal configurations in cross-section have been classified as round, oval, long oval, flattened, or irregularly shaped. Treating oval, long oval, flattened, or irregularly shaped canals is challenging and should be approached differently than a circular canal. Recognizing the root canal shape and apical anatomy determines the different strategies to be used in cleaning, shaping, and obturation to achieve the best result of root canal treatment. The recent development of the instrumentation system improves the treatment outcome for clinicians and patients. This review aimed to discuss the definition, prevalence, and instrumentation for cleaning and shaping in the apical area with the complexity of root canal systems. Therefore, with the aid of this review, we can better understand the variations in the anatomy of the root canal, especially at the apical portion.

Investigating the effect of Er,Cr:YSGG laser agitation of sodium hypochlorite on the removal of mature biofilm in the complex root canal systems using atomic force microscopy.

Endodontic infections caused by remaining biofilm following disinfection with chemical fluids encourage secondary bacterial infection; hence, employing laser pulses to activate the fluids is advised to improve microbial biofilm clearance. This study investigated the performance of Er,Cr:YSGG laser in photon-induced photoacoustic streaming (PIPS) agitation of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) to enhance the removal of mature Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) biofilms in complex root canal systems. The mesial roots of the lower first and second molars were separated and inoculated with E. faecalis bacteria for 30 days. The roots were irrigated with 5.25% NaOCl, some of them were agitated with passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI), and the other roots were agitated by Er,Cr:YSGG laser using PIPS at 60 µs/pulse, 5 Hz, and 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, and 1.25 W. An atomic force microscope (AFM) was used as a new method to obtain the results in the isthmus area; the results that have been obtained from each group were compared with each other. ANOVA was utilized to compare the means of the test groups. Based on the AFM and SEM analyses, laser agitation and passive ultrasonic activation groups have shown higher antimicrobial efficacy than the conventional syringe irrigation group (P<0.05). Based on the findings of this investigation, the agitation of 5.25% NaOCl solution by Er,Cr:YSGG laser in PIPS at (60 µs/pulse, 5 Hz, 1.25 W) offers better mature bacterial biofilm removal in the mesial root of lower human molars than the same irrigant with syringe irrigation and passive ultrasonic activation technique.

Influence of pulse energy, tip design and insertion depth during Er:YAG‐activated irrigation on cleaning efficacy in simulated severely curved complex root canal systems in vitro

AbstractAimTo investigate the influence of pulse energy, tip geometry and tip position in simulated 3D‐printed root canals with multiple side canals at different levels in all directions on the cleaning performance of laser‐activated irrigation (LAI) compared to sonic activation (EDDY) and conventional needle irrigation (NI).Methodology3D‐printed root canal models (25/.06, length 20 mm, curvature 60°, radius 5 mm) with side canals (diameter 0.2 mm) at 2, 5 and 8 mm from the apex were filled with coloured biofilm‐mimicking hydrogel. LAI (Morita AdvErL Evo, Kyoto, Japan) was performed with six settings (n = 20; pulse‐energy, pulses per second [PPS], tip position): LAI1 (50 mJ, 25 PPS, P400FL, canal entrance [CE]), LAI2 (same as LAI1, but insertion depth 9 mm before the apical endpoint [AE] [corresponding to 1 mm above the first lateral canals]), LAI3 (80 mJ, 25 PPS, P400FL, 9 mm before AE), LAI4 (same as LAI 3, but at CE) for 3 × 20 s each, LAI5 (50 mJ, 25 PPS, P400FL 2 × 20 s, CE &amp; R200T (30 mJ, 25 PPS, 1 × 20 s, 9 mm before AE), LAI6 (30 mJ, 25 PPS, R200T, 9 mm before AE, 3 × 20 s). A continuous irrigation (3 mL/20 s) using distilled water accompanied the irrigation cycles. NI and EDDY (3 × 20 s each; 3 mL/20 s irrigation, insertion AE minus 1 mm, amplitude 4 mm) served as control groups. Biofilm‐mimicking hydrogel removal (ImageJ, NIH) was assessed for the entire system, the central canal and the lateral canals using standardized photographs with a microscope (Expert DN, Müller‐Optronic) and statistically analysed was performed using Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn tests (p = .05). Irrigant extrusion beyond the foramina was also recorded.ResultsLAI2 (99.08%; interquartile range [IQR]: 96.85–100.00) and LAI3 (97.50%; 96.24–100.00) achieved the significantly best and LAI6 (80.08%; 73.41–84.69) the significantly worst removal of hydrogel from the entire root canal system amongst all LAI configurations (p &lt; .05). There were no significant differences between LAI6, EDDY (72.89%; 67.49–76.22) and manual irrigation (54.39%; 51.01–56.94) (p &gt; .05). R200T laser tip caused significantly more often irrigant extrusion than all other techniques (p &lt; .05).ConclusionTip design, energy settings, and the positioning of the laser tip below the canal entrance caused an improvement in cleaning performance of the LAI. However, the small R200T tip created significantly more procedural errors (irrigant extrusion) due to higher concentrated energy.

Cone beam computed tomography evaluation of c-shaped canal morphology in mandibular premolar teeth.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and the morphology of c-shaped root canal(s) in mandibular premolars using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. CBCT images of 1095 mandibular premolars were examined at coronal, middle, and apical levels of the root canals. The type, the level, and the position (buccal or lingual) of the c-shaped anatomy were recorded. Absolute counts and percentages of different groups and subgroups of C-shape morphologies were calculated. The Chi-square test was used to compare the prevalence of C-shaped morphology between mandibular first and second premolars. The Z-test for proportions in independent groups was used to analyze the differences in mandibular C-shaped premolar proportions between location (left and right side) and tooth (first or second premolars) (p=0.05). C-shaped root canal morphology was present in 44 teeth. The percentage of c-shaped morphologies was 6.9% and 1.6% in mandibular first and second premolars, respectively. Comparison of the first and the second premolars showed that C1 type (p=0.008) and C4b type (p=0.013) configurations are more common in the first premolars at the coronal level. In contrast, the C2 type configuration showed significantly higher prevalence in the second premolars (p=0.009). Additionally, the C4c type configuration was significantly frequent on the right premolars at the coronal level (p=0.038). C-shape canal morphology is a rare but complex anatomic feature in mandibular premolars. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of this complex root canal anatomy for the success of endodontic treatment in mandibular premolar teeth.

The magnitude optimum design of the PI controller for plants with complex roots and dead time

The magnitude optimum design of the PI controller for plants with complex roots and dead time

Tri-Parametric Fractional-Order Controller Design for Integrating Systems With Time Delay

This work introduces a new fractional-order integral derivative (FOIλD1-λ) controller for a class of integrating systems involving time delays. The stability region is explored through the complex root boundary (CRB) analysis which explicitly provides the search space of FOIλD1-λ parameters for integrating time delay systems of any order. The optimal settings are obtained through a three-step optimization algorithm based on the CRB knowledge and the desired performance measures. Comparisons with other recent sophisticated tuning methods are also provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the suggested control scheme through numerical study. Finally, a case study on a non-linear continuously stirred reactor under model uncertainties is presented to check the efficacy of the new method.

On equivalence classes of Butson Hadamard Matrices BH(4,2k)

A Butson Hadamard matrix of order n over the kth root of unity is a square matrix H which entries are some complex kth root of unity such that HH∗ = nIn, where H∗ is the complex conjugate of H. A set of Butson Hadamard matrices of order n over the kth root of unity is denoted by BH(n,k). It is well-known that a Butson Hadamard matrices is a generalization of a Hadamard matrix. In this paper, we give some properties of Butson Hadamard matrices of order 4 which implies to the upper and the lower bounds of the number of its equivalence classes. We also showed that the entries of Butson Hadamard matrices of order 4 is 2kth root of unity for some integer k. Furthermore, we describe the equivalence classes of Butson Hadamard matrices of order 4 by constructing the representative of the class.

Zinc oxide-ozonated olive oil as a new root canal filling material in primary molars: a clinical randomized controlled trial

ObjectivesThe complex root canal anatomy of primary teeth keeps it very tricky to attain appropriate cleansing by biomechanical instrumentation, so obtaining an obturating material with excellent antimicrobial properties is a challenge in current clinical pulpectomy practice. So, this study aimed to assess the clinical and radiographic performance of zinc oxide-ozonated olive oil as a primary root canal filling material.Materials and methodsNinety non-vital primary molars in children ranging from 4 to 8 years were allocated into three groups in which root canals were filled with zinc oxide-ozonated olive oil, zinc oxide-olive oil, and zinc oxide-eugenol (ZOE) according to each group after pulpectomy procedure. Clinical and radiographic evaluations were done at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up periods. Statistical analysis was performed for the collected data.ResultsAll study groups showed a significant improvement regarding clinical signs and symptoms during follow-up periods. Ozonated-olive oil group revealed a significant increase in furcation radiodensity and a decrease in periodontal ligament space at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up intervals compared to other groups.ConclusionZinc oxide-ozonated olive oil and zinc oxide-olive oil paste had shown good clinical and radiographic success for primary teeth pulpectomy.Clinical relevanceThe intricate torturous primary root canal anatomy, in addition to the child’s negative behavior, interferes with the complete debridement, so the long-lasting antibacterial effect of the primary root canal filling material aids in the pulpectomy success.

Representing the impact of Rhizophora mangroves on flow in a hydrodynamic model (COAWST_rh v1.0): the importance of three-dimensional root system structures

Abstract. Coastal wetland vegetation modulates water flow by exerting drag, which has important implications for sediment transport and geomorphic dynamics. This vegetation effect on flow is commonly represented in hydrodynamic models by approximating the vegetation as an array of vertical cylinders or increased bed roughness. However, this simple approximation may not be valid in the case of Rhizophora mangroves that have complicated three-dimensional root structures. Here, we present a new model to represent the impact of Rhizophora mangroves on flow in hydrodynamic models. The model explicitly accounts for the effects of the three-dimensional root structures on mean flow and turbulence as well as for the effects of two different length scales of vegetation-generated turbulence characterized by stem diameter and root diameter. The model employs an empirical model for the Rhizophora root structures that can be applied using basic vegetation parameters (mean stem diameter and tree density) without rigorous measurements of the root structures. We tested the model against the flows measured by previous studies in a model mangrove forest in the laboratory and an actual mangrove forest in the field, respectively. We show that, compared with the conventional approximation using an array of cylinders or increased bed roughness, the new model significantly improves the predictability of velocity, turbulent kinetic energy, and bed shear stress in Rhizophora mangrove forests. Overall, the presented new model offers a more realistic but feasible framework for simulating flows in Rhizophora mangrove forests with complex root structures using hydrodynamic models.

Apollonian de Casteljau–type algorithms for complex rational Bézier curves

We describe a new de Casteljau–type algorithm for complex rational Bézier curves. After proving that these curves exhibit the maximal possible circularity, we construct their points via a de Casteljau–type algorithm over complex numbers. Consequently, the line segments that correspond to convex linear combinations in affine spaces are replaced by circular arcs. In difference to the algorithm of Sánchez-Reyes (2009), the construction of all the points is governed by (generically complex) roots of the denominator, using one of them for each level. Moreover, one of the bi-polar coordinates is fixed at each level, independently of the parameter value. A rational curve of the complex degree n admits generically n! distinct de Casteljau–type algorithms, corresponding to the different orderings of the denominator's roots.

Management of a Case of External Infection-related (Inflammatory) Root Resorption in Communication with the Root Canal System

Resorption is a physiological or pathological process resulting in the loss of dental hard tissue with or without bone loss. We present the case of a 19-year-old patient who presented with a discoloured and symptomatic mandibular canine tooth with complex root canal morphology. The tooth was located at the site of a previous alveolar fracture. Delayed presentation had led to severe external infection-related (inflammatory) root resorption. The protocol and rationale for non-surgical management of the case in a multi-visit approach is outlined. CPD/Clinical Relevance: The aetiology and presentations of external root resorption is useful information for clinicians

3D printing – A Revolutionary Change in Pediatric Dentistry

3D printing has emerged as a promising technology in the field of dentistry which has become a topic of great interest. 3D printing along with CAD-CAM technology is being able to construct a three- dimensional object by adding material layer by layer. Recently, 3d printing technology have played a major role in pediatric dentistry from printing of individualized imprint trays, orthodontic models, maxillo-facial growth evaluation, fabrication of a variety of prosthetics, crowns, during fracture, surgical cases, navigating complex root canal treatments in pediatric patients. 3D-printed models could be used for educational purposes in training students and trainees. The treatment outcomes could be visualized with 3D printing technology which has made it a promising clinical tool. 3D printing technology has the capacity to revolutionize dentistry and in the near future, it is going to change the face of pediatric dentistry.

Basins of attraction of a one-parameter family of root-finding techniques

Abstract Initial conditions can have a substantial impact on the behavior of iterative root-finding techniques for nonlinear equations. By allowing complex starting points and complex roots, it is possible to examine the basins of attraction in the complex plane in order to compare the performance of various iterative techniques. In this paper, a one-parameter family of third-order root-finding methods is studied by varying its parameter A within −2.0 and 2.4 and applying it to a polynomial equation of high degree (degree 25). This family includes the Euler–Chebyshev’s (A = 0), Halley’s (A = 1) and BSC (A = 2) techniques. According to the results, the one-parameter family provides the best performance for values near A = 1, which equals to the Halley’s method.

MANGROVE AND ITS IMPACTS ON WATER WAVES: A MODEL-SCALE LABORATORY STUDY USING 3D REPLICAS OF TYPICAL RHIZOPHORA

Mangroves, a major type of nature-based solution in the tropics and subtropics, were evidenced capable of reducing wave energy in tsunami and storm events. The typical species, Rhizophora with its complex root system, was found effective in wave attenuation (Tanaka et al. 2007) and was studied experimentally using artificial tree models (e.g. Maza et al. 2019). To investigate the impacts of mangrove roots on water waves at a finer scale, we conducted experiments using 3D-printed models that replicated the geometry of natural Rhizophora. This study discusses the resistance of mangrove roots and their impacts on fluid velocity and turbulence.

CTA-UNet: CNN-transformer architecture UNet for dental CBCT images segmentation

In view of the limitations of current deep learning models in segmenting dental cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images, specifically dealing with complex root morphological features, fuzzy boundaries between tooth roots and alveolar bone, and the need for costly annotation of dental CBCT images. We collected dental CBCT data from 200 patients and annotated 45 of them for network training, and proposed a CNN-Transformer Architecture UNet network, which combines the advantages of CNN and Transformer. The CNN component effectively extracts local features, while the Transformer captures long-range dependencies. Multiple spatial attention modules were included to enhance the network’s ability to extract and represent spatial information. Additionally, we introduced a novel Masked image modeling method to pre-train the CNN and Transformer modules simultaneously, mitigating limitations due to a smaller amount of labeled training data. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieved superior performance (DSC of 87.12%, IoU of 78.90%, HD95 of 0.525 mm, ASSD of 0.199 mm), and provides a more efficient and effective approach to automatically and accurately segment dental CBCT images, has real-world applicability in orthodontics and dental implants.

Traditional and Recent Root Canal Irrigation Methods and Their Effectiveness: A Review.

According to contemporary dental standards, the primary goal of endodontic therapy is the chemo-mechanical cleaning of the complex root canal system. Watering root canals with approved solutions and activating them are essential parts of this operation. This review outlines various irrigant activation methods for root canal therapy. Specifically, a comparison among the methods of manual dynamic activation, sonics (subsonic, sonic, and ultrasonic), internal heating, and lasers, was conducted. The results in this work were gathered using Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and PubMed databases by searching the following keywords: sodium hypochlorite, cleaning, activation, and irrigation methods. The present work concluded that the use of irrigant activation has a greater benefit than its absence. Regardless, it is impossible to point to a single effective activation method.