Protracted Effects Research Articles

Enhanced wound healing effects of nanoscale lipid-diclofenac conjugates

Cold burn wounds have protracted and destructive effects on the body, like contracture, hypertrophic scars, and necrosis. Around 6.5 million people in the US are affected by chronic wounds every year. Different approaches have been utilized to cure this ailment, including cell-based therapy, drug based therapy, and temporary wound dressings, but no single treatment has been effective. Therefore, researchers are constantly searching for alternative therapeutic options. The present study evaluated the effects of nanoscale lipid-diclofenac conjugate (NLDCs) on cold-induced burn wounds. After NLDCs preparation and characterization, the therapeutic potential of them were evaluated. NLDCs exhibited better cell migration (in vitro), wound regeneration which in turn showed enhanced wound healing potential compared to diclofenac (positive control). Cell migration and wound closure in vitro was monitored by scratch assay. In vivo, a cold burn wound model was developed by direct exposure of the dorsal rat skin to liquid nitrogen. NLDCs were subcutaneously injected after 15 min of burn wound induction. The gross macroscopic examination of wound tissues was performed at days 1, 4, 8, and 16. Wound regeneration was observed in control (untreated) and treated groups (diclofenac and NLDCs). The wound regeneration was subsequently assessed by histological, gene expression, and immunohistochemical analyses at the early (day 8) and late (day 16) phases of wound healing. Scratch assay exhibited enhanced cell migration towards scratch area in the treated groups compared to the control. Macroscopic examination revealed early scab formations at day 8 in treated groups, while complete regeneration was only observed in the NLDCs group at day 16. Histological findings showed enhanced regeneration of skin layers along with hair follicles in the NLDCs treated group, while increased neovascularization was noted in both the treated groups. Gene expression profile of wound healing mediators showed downregulation of inflammatory (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) and Pain (COX-2, YKL-40, and Substance-7) markers and upregulation of angiogenic and remodeling (VEGF, TGFβ, FGF, PDGF, MMP-9, and EGF) markers at respective time points. In conclusion, NLDCs are potential anti-inflammatory, pain relieving, and wound healing agents. Prospects; We are optimistic that the NLDCs development and their scale-up production may pave the way towards clinical translation of nanomedicine in the management of pain, inflammation, and wound complications.

Effects of bone anchored maxillary protraction on patients with unilateral cleft lip/palate or isolated cleft palate and hypoplastic maxilla: a 6-year follow-up case control study.

To evaluate the effects of bone-anchored maxillary protraction (BAMP) treatment and longterm stability in growing cleft lip and palate and isolated cleft palate (CLP/CP) patients with mild maxillary hypoplasia and to compare maxillary growth patterns of BAMP-treated patients to matched control CLP/CP patients. Ten patients with CLP/CP were treated with BAMP; they were compared to the maxillary growth pattern of 10 age-matched cleft control patients with no maxillary protraction treatment, who later received surgical Le Fort I maxillary advancement after the growth period. The assessment of maxillary growth and the occlusion started at mean 8 years of age and continued until mean 18 years of age. The use of BAMP orthopedic traction changed the growth pattern of mild hypoplastic maxilla toward a more anterior direction and advanced the face even above the level of Le Fort lll with only a minor effect on dentoalveolar units. The correction of occlusion and facial convexity were stable in the long term. The using BAMP may improve the position of the maxilla relative to the anterior cranial base for the correction of mild maxillary hypoplasia in adolescent patients with CLP/CP. The achieved results are rather stable in the long term.

Three-dimensional finite element analysis on the effects of maxillary protraction with an individual titanium plate at multiple directions and locations.

: A three-dimensional-printed individual titanium plate was applied for maxillary protraction to eliminate side effects and obtain the maximum skeletal effect. This study aimed to explore the stress distribution characteristics of sutures during maxillary protraction using individual titanium plates in various directions and locations. : A protraction force of 500 g per side was applied at forward and downward angles between 0° and 60° with respect to the Frankfort horizontal plane, after which the titanium plate was moved 2 and 4 mm upward and downward, respectively. Changes in sutures with multiple protraction directions and various miniplate heights were quantified to analyze their impact on the maxillofacial bone. : Protraction angle of 0-30° with respect to the Frankfort horizontal plane exhibited a tendency for counterclockwise rotation in the maxilla. At a 40° protraction angle, translational motion was observed in the maxilla, whereas protraction angles of 50-60° tended to induce clockwise rotation in the maxilla. Enhanced protraction efficiency at the lower edge of the pyriform aperture was associated with increased height of individual titanium plates. : Various protraction directions are suitable for patients with different types of vertical bone surfaces. Furthermore, when the titanium plate was positioned lower, the protraction force exhibited an increase.

Cyberattacks, cash conversion cycle, and corporate performance

AbstractThis study examines the effect of working capital efficiency on the performance of firms that experience cyberattacks. We find robust evidence that an aggressive working capital policy improves the immediate and after‐market stock returns as well as the operating performance of firms that suffer an outside party or a malware hacker attack. Specifically, we document a negative relationship between announcement period abnormal returns and the industry‐adjusted cash conversion cycle, implying that investors react less favorably when breached firms have more conservative working capital policies. We also find a negative association between the cash cycle and long‐horizon buy‐and‐hold abnormal returns indicating that working capital efficacy has a protracted positive effect on stock performance after an attack. The cash conversion cycle is also negatively related to operating performance, as measured by industry‐adjusted market power, industry‐adjusted return on assets, and industry‐adjusted market‐to‐book ratio. In addition, we find that access to trade credit and the ability to delay payments made to suppliers (depicted via days’ payables outstanding) are the most important factors in helping breached firms mitigate the financial and operating costs of cyberattacks. Overall, our results are robust to endogeneity concerns and expand the literature on the firm‐level aspects of data breaches.

Quantifying the effects of neutron dose, dose protraction, age and sex on mouse survival using parametric regression and machine learning on a 21,000-mouse data set

The biological effects of densely-ionizing radiations such as neutrons and heavy ions encountered in space travel, nuclear incidents, and cancer radiotherapy, significantly differ from those of sparsely-ionizing photons and necessitate a comprehensive understanding for improved protection measures. Data on lifespan studies of laboratory rodents exposed to fission neutrons, accumulated in the Janus archive, afford unique insights into the impact of densely ionizing radiation on mortality from cancers and various organ dysfunction. We extracted and analyzed data for 21,308 individual B6CF1 mice to investigate the effects of neutron dose, fractionation, protraction, age, and sex on mortality. As Cox regression encountered limitations owing to assumption violations, we turned to Random Survival Forests (RSF), a machine learning algorithm adept at modeling nonlinear relationships. RSF interpretation using Shapley Additive Explanations revealed a dose response for mortality risk that curved upwards at low doses < 20 cGy, became nearly-linear over 20–150 cGy, and saturated at high doses. The response was enhanced by fractionation/protraction of irradiation (exhibiting an inverse dose rate effect), and diminished by older age at exposure. Somewhat reduced mortality was predicted for males vs females. This research expands our knowledge on the long-term effects of densely ionizing radiations on mammal mortality.

Preparation Of Diosgenin-Encapsulated Microspheres By Spray Drying Technique

Diosgenin, a naturally occurring steroid sapogenin possessing diverse therapeutic properties, represents a bioactive compound of interest. However, its complete pharmaceutical utilization has been impeded by inherent challenges, primarily associated with poor aqueous solubility and stability. In the present investigation, we introduce an innovative methodology for fabricating diosgenin-encapsulated microspheres through the utilization of the spray drying technique. The spray drying process involves the transformation of a solution containing diosgenin into finely dispersed microspheres through atomization, followed by rapid drying in a hot air stream. Various formulation parameters, encompassing the selection of encapsulating material, surfactants, and process conditions, were methodically optimized to attain elevated encapsulation efficiency and precise control over release characteristics. The microspheres thus prepared underwent assessment for percentage yield, encapsulation efficiency, particle size, and in vitro drug release. Results indicate the generation of uniform microspheres exhibiting heightened diosgenin encapsulation and enhanced physical stability. Additionally, in vitro release studies demonstrated sustained and controlled diosgenin release from the microspheres, underscoring their potential for protracted therapeutic effects. Encapsulation efficiency, release kinetics, and physicochemical attributes of the microspheres were found to be contingent upon the choice of encapsulating material and process parameters. In conclusion, the fabrication of diosgenin-encapsulated microspheres employing the spray drying technique represents a promising strategy to augment the bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of diosgenin. These microspheres hold considerable promise for applications within the pharmaceutical and nutraceuticals industries serving as a platform for the advancement of innovative drug delivery systems.

Skeletal and Dentoalveolar Effects of Maxillary Protraction Using Tooth- and Miniscrew-Anchored Devices in Patients with Class III Malocclusion with Maxillary Deficiency: A Retrospective Follow-Up Study

Introduction: This retrospective study aimed to determine skeletal and dental changes after a growth spurt and shortly after treatment using a facemask in skeletal Class III malocclusion with maxillary deficiency. Methods: We retrospectively studied 50 patients (25 patients per group) with skeletal Class III malocclusion who underwent facemask treatment with tooth-anchored (T-A, mean age 7.92) and miniscrew-anchored (M-A, mean age 9.84) intraoral appliances. In both groups, the facemask applied a traction force of 350–400 g to each side, such that the traction was directed 30° forward and downward. Lateral cephalometric radiographs were obtained from all patients before (T1), immediately after (T2), and at an average of 37.11 months after maxillary protraction (T3). A total of 13 cephalometric measurements were analyzed to determine the skeletal and dental changes. A paired t-test was used to verify the effects before, after, and during follow-up periods in each group. Results: An anteroposterior relationship, the values of SNA and ANB, evident in both groups at T2, was significantly improved in the M-A group (p &lt; 0.05). However, the values of ANB and MP–SN, which indicate the relapse of anteroposterior and vertical relation of maxilla and mandible, were significantly higher in the T-A group compared with the M-A group during follow-up period. The maxillary first molars were significantly more extruded and maxillary incisors were more protruded in the T-A group than the M-A group, and this persisted at T3 (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusions: Miniscrew-anchored maxillary protraction increased the skeletal improvement of anteroposterior relationship and reduced the dental and skeletal relapses compared with tooth-anchored maxillary protraction in growing patients with a hyperdivergent patterns and skeletal Class III malocclusion.

Decline and fall of the Ediacarans: late-Neoproterozoic extinctions and the rise of the modern biosphere.

The end-Neoproterozoic transition marked a gradual but permanent shift between distinct configurations of Earth's biosphere. This interval witnessed the demise of the enigmatic Ediacaran Biota, ushering in the structured trophic webs and disparate animal body plans of Phanerozoic ecosystems. However, little consensus exists on the reality, drivers, and macroevolutionary implications of end-Neoproterozoic extinctions. Here we evaluate potential drivers of late-Neoproterozoic turnover by addressing recent findings on Ediacaran geochronology, the persistence of classical Ediacaran macrobionts into the Cambrian, and the existence of Ediacaran crown-group eumetazoans. Despite renewed interest in the possibility of Phanerozoic-style 'mass extinctions' in the latest Neoproterozoic, our synthesis of the available evidence does not support extinction models based on episodic geochemical triggers, nor does it validate simple ecological interpretations centred on direct competitive displacement. Instead, we argue that the protracted and indirect effects of early bilaterian innovations, including escalations in sediment engineering, predation, and the largely understudied impacts of reef-building, may best account for the temporal structure and possible selectivity of late-Neoproterozoic extinctions. We integrate these processes into a generalised model of early eumetazoan-dominated ecologies, charting the disruption of spatial and temporal isotropy on the Ediacaran benthos as a consequence of diversifying macrofaunal interactions. Given the nature of resource distribution in Ediacaran ecologies, the continuities among Ediacaran and Cambrian faunas, and the convergent origins of ecologically disruptive innovations among bilaterians we suggest that the rise of Phanerozoic-type biotas may have been unstoppable.

Sparing and enhancing dose protraction effects for radiation damage to the aorta of wild-type mice

Purpose Our previous work indicated the greater magnitude of damage to the thoracic aorta at 6 months after starting 5 Gy irradiation in descending order of exposure to X-rays in 25 fractions > acute X-rays > acute γ-rays > X-rays in 100 fractions ≫ chronic γ-rays, in which the limitations of the study included a lack of data for fractionated γ-ray exposure. To better understand effects of dose protraction and radiation quality, the present study examined changes after exposure to γ-rays in 25 fractions, and compared its biological effectiveness with five other irradiation regimens. Materials and Methods Male C57BL/6J mice received 5 Gy of 137Cs γ-rays delivered in 25 fractions spread over six weeks. At 6 months after starting irradiation, mice were subjected to echocardiography, followed by tissue sampling. The descending thoracic aorta underwent scanning electron microscopy, immunofluorescence staining and histochemical staining. The integrative analysis of multiple aortic endpoints was conducted for inter-regimen comparisons. Results Exposure to γ-rays in 25 fractions induced vascular damage (evidenced by increases in endothelial detachment and vascular endothelial cell death, decreases in endothelial waviness, CD31, endothelial nitric oxide synthase and vascular endothelial cadherin), inflammation (evidenced by increases in tumor necrosis factor α, CD68 and F4/80) and fibrosis (evidenced by increases in transforming growth factor β1, alanine blue stain and intima-media thickness). The integrative analysis revealed biological effectiveness in descending order of exposure to X-rays in 25 fractions > acute X-rays > γ-rays in 25 fractions > acute γ-rays > X-rays in 100 fractions ≫ chronic γ-rays. Conclusions The results suggest that dose protraction effects on aortic damage depend on radiation quality, and are not a simple function of dose rate and the number of fractions.

The Use of Wearable Activity Monitors to Measure Upper Limb Physical Activity After Axillary Lymph Node Dissection and Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

BackgroundWe suspect that morbidity from both sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) has been inadequately evaluated to date. Current methodologies are subjective and susceptible to bias. Objective assessment using wearable activity monitors (WAMs) would allow quantitative analysis of recovery by measuring physical activity (PA) and could provide evidence for axillary de-escalation.Patients and MethodsA prospective, single center, observational study was conducted from February 2020 to May 2022. Consecutive patients undergoing breast and/or reconstructive surgery and axillary surgeries were identified from the operating schedules. Patients wore WAMs for an average of 3 days prior to surgery and up to 2 weeks following surgery. In total, 56 patients with breast cancer were recruited, of whom 35 underwent SLNB and 21 ALND.ResultsPatients who underwent ALND experienced significantly worse PA compared with those who underwent SLNB in week 2 (median 66.4% versus 72.7%, p = 0.015). Subgroup analysis revealed significantly lower PA in simple mastectomy (Mx)-ALND versus Mx-SLNB (median 90.3% versus 70.5%, p = 0.015) in week 2. The PA for SLNB did not return to baseline at 2 weeks after surgery.ConclusionsCompared with SLNB, ALND results in a lower PA level in week 2. The findings also indicate that SLNB has a protracted effect on PA levels, which extend to 2 weeks postoperatively. Monitoring recovery objectively following breast cancer surgery provides patients and surgeons with more information regarding the predicted outcomes of their surgery, which can drive the development of a personalized rehabilitation program.

Optimal and politically opportune language policies for the vitality of minority languages

Language policies for the purpose of (re)vitalizing a minority language are analyzed as a dynamic cost-effectiveness problem. We focus on policy measures with two types of cost structures: costs largely proportional to the number of beneficiaries (a rival measure) and costs independent of the number of beneficiaries (a non-rival measure). An example of the former is home nursing in the minority language and an example of the latter is street signs in the minority language. Both types of measures are assumed to contribute positively to the vitality of the minority language. We stylize the analysis, letting the rival measure have an immediate direct effect on the vitality and the non-rival one a protracted indirect effect on the language’s status. Two problems are addressed. Firstly, we study how the optimal combination of the two types of measure changes as the policy is implemented and the vitality of the minority language increases and show that a policy with fixed budget shares as a rule is sub-optimal. Secondly, we compare the opportune policy of a policy maker planning with a fixed time horizon with the optimal policy as the time horizon approaches infinity. The policy maker has incentives to plan for a sub-optimal policy with a reduction in the protracted measure for the whole planning period and making it equal to zero at the time horizon. All effects are illustrated in numeric examples.

Voter Disenchantment in the Aftermath of the 2005 EU Constitutional Referendum in France

In a popular referendum in 2005, French voters rejected their country’s adoption of a proposed EU Constitution. Yet, in seeming defiance of the popular vote, the government subsequently proceeded to implement the core of the legislation without consulting the public again. This article empirically examines the electoral impacts of these events. We build a comprehensive fine-grained dataset of nationwide election results for more than 36,000 metropolitan French municipalities. Employing cross-sectional analysis for all national elections held in the decade after the referendum vote, we find that the strength of a municipality’s rejection of the EU Constitution in 2005 is associated with a lower voter turnout, higher shares of blank votes, and larger gains for anti-system parties in subsequent elections. The findings are robust to various modelling choices and the inclusion of a large array of controls. The results indicate that bypassing a popular vote could entail protracted adverse effects on the quality of democratic participation and deliberation.

Maxillary Protraction: A Bibliometric Analysis

ObjectivesThe aim of this analysis was to investigate the historical development, current status, and research hot spots related to maxillary protraction in the treatment of maxillary hypoplasia. MethodsThe term “TS = maxillary protraction” was used to search for articles in the Web of Science Core Collection at the library of Capital Medical University. The results were analysed using CiteSpace6.2.R1 software, including the examination of annual publication trends and analysis of author, country, institution, and keywords. ResultsA total of 483 papers were included in this study. The annual publications showed an overall increasing trend. The top 5 authors with the most published papers were Lorenzo Franchi, Tiziano Baccetti, Seung-Hak Baek, Paola Cozza, and U Hagg. The top 5 countries with the highest publication counts were the US, Turkey, South Korea, Italy, and China. The top 5 institutions in terms of the number of published papers were the University of Florence, the University of Michigan, Kyung Hee University, Seoul National University, and Gazi University. The top 3 journals with the most citations were the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Angle Orthodontist, and the European Journal of Orthodontics. Furthermore, “Maxillary protraction,” “Class III malocclusion,” and “Maxillary expansion” were the most common keywords. ConclusionsThe effective age range for maxillary protraction has been expanded with the introduction of skeletal anchorage and the combination of maxillary expansion and protraction. Skeletal anchorage offers significant advantages over dental anchorage, but there is a need for further research to further substantiate its stability and safety. In recent years, the positive effects of maxillary protraction on the nasopharyngeal area have been well established, but its impact on the oropharyngeal area remains a topic of debate. Therefore, it is crucial to conduct further investigations into the effects of maxillary protraction on the oropharyngeal area and explore the factors that influence different outcomes.

Dentofacial effects of miniscrew-anchored maxillary protraction on prepubertal children with maxillary deficiency: a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundThe introduction of bone-anchored maxillary protraction eliminated the side effects of facemask in the early treatment of patients with maxillary retrusion. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of miniscrew-anchored maxillary protraction (MAMP) and compare them with the growth changes in an untreated control group in growing patients with Class III malocclusion.MethodsForty growing patients with Class III malocclusion and retrognathic maxilla were randomly allocated into two groups: treated and control groups. In the treated group, patients were treated with full-time intermaxillary Class III elastics (C3E) anchored by a hybrid hyrax (HH) in the maxilla and a bone-supported bar in the mandible. Protraction was stopped after obtaining a positive overjet. Cephalometric radiographs were acquired before and after the treatment. Data were statistically analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis. Intergroup comparisons were also made using analysis of covariance with the readings at T0 as a covariate.ResultsForty patients agreed to participate, and 30 of them completed the study (treated group, n = 17; control group, n = 13). The average treatment duration was 11.9 months. MAMP resulted in a significant maxillary advancement (A-VR, 4.34 mm) with significant control over the mandibular growth. No significant increase in the mandibular plane angle was found in the treated group compared with the control group. The upper and lower incisors showed significant protrusion in the treated group.ConclusionsWithin the limitations of this study and high attrition rate, the MAMP protocol can effectively increase maxillary forward growth with good control over the growth of the mandible antero-posteriorly and vertically.

The long-term effects of adolescent Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol on brain structure and function assessed through neuroimaging techniques in male and female rats

Several studies performed on human subjects have examined the effects of adolescent cannabis consumption on brain structure or function using brain imaging techniques. However, the evidence from these studies is usually heterogenous and affected by several confounding variables. Animal models of adolescent cannabinoid exposure may help to overcome these difficulties. In this exploratory study, we aim to increase our understanding of the protracted effects of adolescent Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in rats of both sexes using magnetic resonance (MR) to obtain volumetric data, assess grey and white matter microstructure with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and measure brain metabolites with 1H-MR spectroscopy (MRS); in addition, we studied brain function using positron emission tomography (PET) with 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-d-glucose as the tracer. THC-exposed rats exhibited volumetric and microstructural alterations in the striatum, globus pallidus, lateral ventricles, thalamus, and septal nuclei in a sex-specific manner. THC administration also reduced fractional anisotropy in several white matter tracts, prominently in rostral sections, while in vivo MRS identified lower levels of cortical choline compounds. THC-treated males had increased metabolism in the cerebellum and olfactory bulb and decreased metabolism in the cingulate cortex. By contrast, THC-treated females showed hypermetabolism in a cluster of voxels comprising the entorhinal piriform cortices and in the cingulate cortex. These results indicate that mild THC exposure during adolescence leaves a lingering mark on brain structure and function in a sex-dependant manner. Some of the changes found here resemble those observed in human studies and highlight the importance of studying sex-specific effects in cannabinoid research.

Three-dimensional assessment of short-term effects of Bone-anchored Maxillary Protraction on the oropharyngeal airway volume in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate

Three-dimensional assessment of short-term effects of Bone-anchored Maxillary Protraction on the oropharyngeal airway volume in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate

Antiepileptogenic effects of trilostane in the kainic acid model of temporal lobe epilepsy.

Epileptogenesis after status epilepticus (SE) has a faster onset in rats treated to reduce brain levels of the anticonvulsant neurosteroid allopregnanolone with the 5α-reductase inhibitor finasteride; however, it still has to be evaluated whether treatments aimed at increasing allopregnanolone levels could result in the opposite effect of delaying epileptogenesis. This possibility could be tested using the peripherally active inhibitor of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ5-4 isomerase trilostane, which has been shown repeatedly to increase allopregnanolone levels in the brain. Trilostane (50 mg/kg) was administered subcutaneously once daily for up to six consecutive days, starting 10min after intraperitoneal administration of kainic acid (15 mg/kg). Seizures were evaluated by video-electrocorticographic recordings for 70 days maximum, and endogenous neurosteroid levels were assessed by liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to evaluate the presence of brain lesions. Trilostane did not alter the latency of kainic acid-induced SE onset or its overall duration. When compared to the vehicle-treated group, rats receiving six daily trilostane injections presented a remarkable delay of the first spontaneous electrocorticographic seizure and subsequent tonic-clonic spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRSs). Conversely, rats treated with only the first trilostane injection during SE did not differ from vehicle-treated rats in developing the SRSs. Notably, trilostane did not modify neuronal cell densities or the overall damage in the hippocampus. In comparison to the vehicle group, repeated administration of trilostane significantly decreased the activated microglia morphology in the subiculum. As expected, allopregnanolone and other neurosteroid levels were remarkably increased in the hippocampus and neocortex of rats treated for 6 days with trilostane, but pregnanolone was barely detectable. Neurosteroids returned to basal levels after a week of trilostane washout. Overall, these results suggest that trilostane led to a remarkable increase in allopregnanolone brain levels, which was associated with protracted effects on epileptogenesis.

The COVID-19 pandemic and unemployment: Evidence from mobile phone data from China

Based on mobile phone records for 71 million users and location tracking information for one million users over almost three years, this study examines the labor market impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in China’s Guangdong province, whose GDP is larger than that of all but the top 12 countries in the world. Using a standard difference-in-differences framework, our analysis shows dramatic and protracted effects of the pandemic on the labor market: it increased unemployment by 72% and unemployment benefits claims by 57% even after the full reopening in 2020 relative to their levels in the same period in 2019. The impact was also highly heterogeneous, with women, workers older than 40, and migrants being more affected. Cities that rely more on export or that have a higher share of the hospitality industry in GDP but a lower share of the finance and healthcare industries experienced a more pronounced increase in unemployment. The lingering impact likely reflects the global transmission of the pandemic’s effects through the supply chain and trade channels.

Effect of piezocision-assisted lower second molar protraction on periodontal tissues, alveolar bone height, and lower second molar root resorption.

To assess the effect of piezocision on periodontal tissues and alveolar bone height and to detect lower second molar root resorption in piezocision-assisted mandibular second molar protraction compared to no-piezocision molar protraction. Twenty-one subjects (four males, 17 females, aged 22.43 ± 2.83 years) who presented with bilateral extraction of lower first molars were included. The patients were divided into two groups; Group 1: Piezocision-assisted molar protraction (right or left side of subjects) in which piezocision was performed immediately before lower second molar protraction and, Group 2: No-piezocision molar protraction in which lower second molar protraction was not surgically assisted. Plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), periodontal pocket depth (PPD), width of keratinized gingiva (WKG), gingival recession (GR), lower second molar mesial root resorption, alveolar bone height, and mandibular bone height were recorded at T1 (immediately before molar protraction) and at T2 (after second molar space closure). In the piezocision-assisted molar protraction group, significant changes were detected in the WKG (P < .001), GR (P < .05), and the mandibular bone height (P < .001). Compared to the no-piezocision group, piezocision-assisted molar protraction resulted in an increased WKG (P < .001) and less second molar mesial root resorption (P < .01). Piezocision does not have any detrimental effect on the periodontium and produces less root resorption.

Estimating the effects of stressors on the health, survival and reproduction of a critically endangered, long‐lived species

Quantifying the cumulative effects of stressors on individuals and populations can inform the development of effective management and conservation strategies. We developed a Bayesian state–space model to assess the effects of multiple stressors on individual survival and reproduction. In the model, stressor effects on vital rates are mediated by changes in underlying health, allowing for the comparison of effect sizes while accounting for intrinsic factors that might affect an individual's vulnerability and resilience. We applied the model to a 50‐year dataset of sightings, calving events and stressor exposure of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales Eubalaena glacialis. The viability of this population is threatened by a complex set of stressors, including vessel strikes, entanglement in fishing gear and fluctuating prey availability. We estimated that blunt and deep vessel strike injuries and severe entanglement injuries had the largest effect on the health of exposed individuals, reinforcing the urgent need for mitigation measures. Prey abundance had a smaller but protracted effect on health across individuals, and estimated long‐term trends in survival and reproduction followed the trend of the prey index, highlighting that long‐term ecosystem‐based management strategies are also required. Our approach can be applied to quantify the effects of multiple stressors on any long‐lived species where suitable indicators of health and long‐term monitoring data are available.