Perimeter Values Research Articles

Coexistence of Native and Invasive Freshwater Turtles: The Llobregat Delta (NE Iberian Peninsula) as a Case Study

The global degradation of wetlands is increasing their susceptibility to invasions, which is greatly determined by a niche overlap between native and invasive species. We analyze its role in regulating the coexistence of the native Mediterranean stripe-necked terrapin Mauremys leprosa and the invasive Red-eared Slider Trachemys scripta elegans in a coastal wetland. We analyzed both water chemistry and landscape attributes, using variance-partitioning analysis to isolate the variance explained by each set of variables. Then, the influence of environmental variables on species co-occurrence patterns was assessed by using latent variable models (LVM), which account for correlation between species that may be attributable to biotic interactions or missing environmental covariates. The species showed a very low niche overlap, with clear differences in their response to environmental and landscape filters. The distribution of T. s. elegans was largely explained by landscape variables, preferring uniform landscapes within the daily movement buffer, whereas at larger scales, it was associated with a high diversity of habitats of small and uniform relative sizes. A high percentage of the distribution of M. leprosa was unexplained by the measured variables and may be related to the competitive exclusion processes with T. s. elegans. The species was positively related with large patches with high perimeter values or ecotone area at medium spatial scales, and it was benefited from a marked heterogeneity in the patches’ size at larger scale. According to latent variable models, both species had wide eutrophication and salinity tolerance ranges, but they showed different environmental preferences. T. s. elegans was related to eutrophic freshwater environments, whereas M. leprosa was related to more saline and less eutrophic waters. Our results suggest that M. leprosa modifies its habitat use in order to avoid interaction with the T. s. elegans. Thus, management actions aimed at removing the invasive species from the territory and promoting habitat heterogeneity might be needed to protect M. leprosa and avoid local extinctions.

Investigation of the Relationship Between Texture Coefficient and Electrical Current Consumption of the Cutting Machine with Different Lubricants and Cooling Fluids

Texture coefficient is one of the most effective physical factors in evaluating the engineering characteristics of rocks in various projects, such as drilling, cutting and advanced rate of full-face drilling machines. Evaluation of electricity consumption by disc-cutting machines is critical for monitoring and reducing expenses in the stone processing industry. In this study, the relationship between the textural characteristics of the rocks and the amount of electrical current consumed by the cutting machine in cutting hard stones was evaluated. For this purpose, ten samples of hard rock were investigated. For each rock sample, a microscopic slice was prepared. Then, five digital images were taken using the microscope from each division, and the values of textural characteristics, including area, perimeter, largest diameter, and most minor diameter of all grains in each embodiment, were determined. Then, the texture coefficient of all studied stone samples was computed based on the determined specifications. Finally, the relationship between the texture coefficient and the rate of electrical current consumed by the cutting machine was investigated using statistical models. The results revealed that although the electric current used by the cutting machine decreased when the texture coefficient increased in some samples, no significant relationship between the texture coefficient and the amount of electric current used by the cutting machine was observed for hard stone samples. It was also found that the impact of lubricant type on the cutting machine performance is negligible.

Maternal Vitamin D Concentration in Mid-pregnancy and Its Effect on Fetal Thymus Size: A Report from a Tertiary Center in Iran

Background & Objective: The thymus gland significantly affects fetal immune system maturation. Additionally, there is a linear association between thymus gland size and its performance. Given the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Iran and scarce studies with conflicting results, subjecting maternal vitamin D concentration effect on fetal thymus, we decided to investigate maternal vitamin D concentration and its relation to fetal thymus size in mid-gestation. This study also aimed to generate a race-specific reference range.Materials & Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of ultrasound measurements of the fetal thymus at 18-22 weeks of gestational age in 94 pregnant women and its correlation with maternal serum vitamin D levels from May to July 2021 at the tertiary center of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, Iran.Results: The mean values of thymus perimeter, thymus-thoracic ratio, thymus transverse diameter, and thymus area in all participants were 4.18±0.56 cm, 0.37±0.04, 1.56±0.21 cm, and 1.11±0.76 cm2, respectively. There was a trend toward decreased thymus perimeter and transverse thymus diameter with decreasing level of maternal vitamin D. There was also a significant correlation between thymus perimeter and transverse thymus diameter with fetal biometric indices and gestational age. Furthermore, a significant correlation was observed between the thymus perimeter and transverse thymus diameter. Conclusion: We generated a race-specific nomogram for fetal thymus size in Iranian pregnant women. Moreover, the observed trend toward decreased fetal thymus size with decreasing maternal vitamin D levels requires further prospective investigations. A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and low compliance with daily vitamin D intake during pregnancy was also shown, which requires a solution.

Chemical and morphological characterization of self-etch primers incorporated with nanochitosan

This in vitro study evaluated experimental self-etch primers incorporated with different concentrations of nanochitosan gel (NC gel) and their action on the coronal and radicular dentin surface of bovine incisor teeth and the primer influence on the adhesive interface. Sections of 3 × 3 mm of coronal and root bovine dentin were flattened, and the smear layer was formed and standardized with 400 and 600-grit sandpaper. Root and coronal fragments (n=5) were treated with different primers: Clearfil™ SE Primer, Primer 1 – without NC gel, Primer 2–5% NC gel, Primer 3–10% NC gel, and Primer 4–15% NC gel. Primers were actively applied and left on the surface for 20 s. Images were acquired before treatment and immediately after primer application by confocal 3D laser scanning microscopy (x2160) to assess the degree of surface modification and dentinal tubule alteration. For adhesive interface analysis, dentin specimens (n=5) were treated with the evaluated primers, followed by the bond agent from Clearfil™ SE adhesive system, and restored with composite resin. Morphological analysis of the dentin surface and adhesive interface was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and chemical characterization using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). In coronal dentin, Clearfil™ SE Primer exposed fewer tubules than the experimental primers (p<0.05), and the percentage of open tubules was similar for all groups in root dentin (p>0.05). Primer 2 and Primer 3 showed higher values of perimeter and area for root dentin compared to the other groups (p<0.05), while Primer 1 was similar to Clearfil™ SE Primer (p>0.05). The incorporation of NC gel affected the behavior of the experimental primers. The addition of 10% of NC gel promoted a thicker and continuous hybrid layer with no gaps; however, higher concentrations of nanochitosan gel impaired the formation of a regular hybrid layer which is not favorable for an acceptable adhesion to the dentin substrate.

Classification of Toxic Plants on Leaf Patterns Using Gray Level Co-Occurrence Matrix (GLCM) with Neural Network Method

Poisonous plants are plants that must be avoided and not consumed by humans, because the presence of poisonous plants is also often found in the surrounding environment without realizing it. Because of the lack of knowledge to classify poisonous plant species, it will be more difficult to find out. With the help of a computer system, it will be easier to identify the types of poisonous plants. There are 3 types of poisonous plants that will be used in this study, namely cassava, jatropha, and amethyst. There are also 3 types of non-toxic plants with almost the same morphology as a comparison, namely cassava, figs, and eggplant. In this study, researchers tried to classify poisonous plant species using leaf pattern features that would be extracted using shape features and Gray Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM). The value taken from the shape feature is the values ​​of area, width, diameter, perimeter, slender, and round. While the value of contrast, entropy, correlation, energy, and homogeneity for Gray Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM) attributes. To classify data using Neural Network with RapidMiner application. From this study, it is known that from 300 total datasets used, the highest accuracy is 96.13% using the Neural Network method. With an AUC value of 0.986 and is included in the very good category.

Conocimiento del cardiólogo clínico sobre diabetes mellitus tipo 2 de alto riesgo. ¿Qué sabemos y cómo podemos mejorar?

Introduction and objectivesType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is mainly a cardiovascular disease. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge of clinical cardiologists about the diagnosis and management of T2DM in patients with ischemic heart disease or high/very high risk of cardiovascular disease. MethodsThe “self-audit” methodology was used. A scientific committee designed a questionnaire that was answered by the participants before and after viewing 4 training videos. The results between both moments were compared. ResultsA total of 140 clinical cardiologists non-expert in T2DM participated. Knowledge about the diagnosis and treatment of T2DM in patients with ischemic heart disease or high/very high risk of cardiovascular disease was good in some points, such as considering the body mass index to decide treatment, or the oral glucose load test in case of a glycosylated hemoglobin value of 5.8%-6.4%. After the training, establishing a control value of abdominal perimeter<88cm in women and<102cm in men, and a stricter control of arterial hypertension were significantly more valued, as did low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Other aspects represent training opportunities, such as assessing the lipid profile more thoroughly or differentiating the cardiovascular protection profile of the different treatments of T2DM. ConclusionsThe clinical cardiologist's knowledge about the diagnosis and treatment of T2DM in patients with ischemic heart disease or high /very high risk of cardiovascular disease is high, but it presents opportunities for improvement and training.

Evaluation of the band-shaped isthmuses in the mesiobuccal root canal system using micro-computed tomography.

This micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) study analyzed band-shaped isthmuses having their floor at the apical third of the mesiobuccal roots of maxillary molars in terms of 2D and 3D morphological parameters. A total of 199 maxillary first molars were scanned with micro-CT. Twenty-seven specimens, confirmed to have a band-shaped isthmus, were further examined in terms of the isthmus length, volume, structure model index (SMI), and surface area. The distance of apical foramina of mesial canals from the isthmus floor and major-minor diameters, roundness, perimeter, and area of the isthmus roof and floor were compared. Statistical analyses were performed with descriptive statistics and t-test with a 5% significance threshold. The band-shaped isthmus frequency was 13.5% and its length reached up to 5.5mm. The distances of the apical foramina of mesiobuccal canals (MB1 and MB2) from the isthmus floor were similar (p > .05). Isthmus roof and floor showed significant differences in terms of their major diameter and area (p < .05), whereas their minor diameter, roundness, and perimeter values were similar (p > .05). The band-shaped isthmuses are not rare and can reach through the half of the root length with oval cross-sections in the floor and roof anatomy. The distance between the isthmus floor and apical foramina did not differ between MB1 and MB2. The band-shaped isthmus morphology contributes to the complexity of the apical anatomy of maxillary first molar teeth with various lengths and diameters.

The anatomy of two species of emergent macrophytes of the genus Polygonum differentially changes in response to water‐level fluctuations

AbstractTemporal fluctuations in water levels are important ecological driving forces in shallow aquatic ecosystems. Alterations to fluviometric levels are even more conspicuous after the construction of dams, and aquatic macrophytes respond with anatomical and morphological adaptations to such changes. We performed an experiment to analyse the anatomical responses of two common Neotropical species of emergent macrophytes (Polygonum ferrugineum and P. acuminatum) to water‐level fluctuations. The experiment simulated three water‐level variations: constant low water, constant deep water and fluctuating water levels (0.8‐m oscillation/6 days; commonly caused by dam operation). We measured anatomical responses of roots (perimeter and number of the intercellular spaces), stems (perimeter and number of the intercellular spaces and cortical thickness) and leaves (palisade and lacunous parenchyma thickness). Water level affected all anatomical traits we measured and all increased when plants remained submerged (high‐depth treatment). Compared with P. ferrugineum, P. acuminatum had higher values of both perimeter of the intercellular space in the roots and number of intercellular spaces in the stems. These results indicate that water‐level fluctuations influence the anatomy of both species and that, compared with P. ferrugineum, P. acuminatum has greater plasticity and better tolerates submersion. These responses may be explained by the different survival strategies of each species when growing under submersion. Thus, our results reflect the different selective pressures from water levels experienced by these two species during their evolution.

Impact of several NiTi-thermally treated instrumentation systems on biomechanical preparation of curved root canals in extracted mandibular molars.

To evaluate the shaping ability of several heat-treated nickel-titanium systems used to prepare root canals with moderate and severe curvature, in extracted mandibular molars, by micro-computed tomography, considering their variation in kinematics and design. Curved-mesial roots of mandibular molars were randomly selected and assigned into 4 balanced experimental groups (n=10), established by determining homogeneous 3D parameters of volume and surface area: R-Motion (RM) size 30, 0.04 taper (RM; FKG Dentaire), Reciproc Blue (RCB) size 25, 0.08 taper (RCB; VDW GmbH), HyFlex CM (HFX) size 30, 0.04 taper (HFX; Coltène Whaledent) and XP-endo Shaper size (XPS) 30, 0.01 taper (XPS; FKG Dentaire). The volume of irrigation was established at 10ml of 2.5% NaOCl. Throughout the entire root canal preparation procedures, the samples were fixed in a vice submerged in a container with water monitored at 37°C. Dimensional cross-sectional measures of area, perimeter, roundness, major/minor diameters and 3-dimensional (volume, surface area, structure model index - SMI) parameters as well as the smallest dentine thickness along the cervical and middle root thirds were evaluated by micro-CT. Data were analysed using analysis of variance and post hoc Tukey tests (α=5%). Reciproc Blue and XPS had significantly greater mean increases in cross-sectional area measurements, only in the middle third, when compared with RM and HFX (p<.05). RM, RCB and XPS had a similar increase in measurements of length and width of perimeter (p>.05), and HFX had significantly lower mean increases in perimeter values only when compared with XPS (p<.05). RCB and XPS had significantly greater mean increases in volume when compared with RM and HFX (p<.05). RM had a significantly lower difference in SMI after preparation, compared with RCB, HFX and XPS (p<.05). The smallest dentine thickness was observed after the use of RCB (p<.05), in the danger and safety zones. XP-endo Shaper and RM had a shaping ability similar to that of instruments with larger tapers, achieved with less dentine removal in danger and safe zones in curved-mesial canals of extracted molar teeth treated on a laboratory benchtop.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a Tool for Positive Identification from Frontal Sinus Radiographs

Frontal sinus radiographs are frequently used to identify human remains. However, the method of visually comparing antemortem (AM) to postmortem (PM) cranial radiographs has been criticized for being a subjective approach that relies on practitioner experience, training, and judgment rather than on objective, quantifiable procedures with published error rates. The objective of this study was to explore the use of ArcMap and its spatial analysis tool, Similarity Search, as a quantifiable, reliable, and reproducible method for identifying frontal sinus matches from cranial radiographs. Using cranial radiographs of 100 individuals from the William M. Bass DonatedSkeletal Collection, the frontal sinuses were digitized to create two-dimensional polygons. Similarity Search was evaluated on its ability to identify the correct AM radiograph using three variables: the number of scallops and the area and perimeter values of the polygons. Using all three variables, Similarity Search correctly identified the true match AM polygon in 58% of the male groups and in 62% of the female groups. These results indicate that ArcMap can be used with frontal sinus radiographs. However, further analysis of the three variables revealed that scallop number did not provide sufficient information about frontal sinus shape to increase the accuracy of Similarity Search, and area and perimeter only captured the size of the frontal sinus polygons, not shape. This research is a first step in developing a user-friendly, quantifiable frontal sinus comparison method for the purpose of positive identification.

Histogenetic morphotypes of rats respiratory system at the stages of early and late fetogenesis

Aim. Morphological analysis of the deployment of histogenetic information of pulmonary parenchyma at the stages of late embryogenesis and fetogenesis in laboratory rats within the limits of the norm of reaction with verification according to morphometric criteria of individual morphotypes.Materials and methods. Comparative morphological study of histogenesis of endodermal derivatives of the lungs of rats at critical periods of intrauterine development – late embryogenesis (day 14 of gestation), and late fetogenesis (day 20 of gestation) was performed using morphometric identification of plane parameters and a complex of plane form factors of epithelial structures of the lung. Morphometric studies were carried out in the Morphometer program on semi-thin sections of the rat lung.Results. Two critical stages of histogenesis of entodermal beginnings of fetal lungs are described – pseudoglandular and canalicular. The options of discordance of individual development within the response norm are justified. The lungs of the fetus at the pseudoglandular stage and the canalicular stage show significant fluctuations in the plane values of the pulmonary parenchyma, the presence in different individuals of variants of the plane values of entodermal derivatives, which indicated individual morphotypes of the development of the rat lung. At the pseudoglandular stage, in fetus with type I, called “compact”, the total area of the tubular system and the total perimeter are significantly inferior (p&lt;0.001) to the same indicators of the lung II morphotype, designated as “air”. The values of one tubule (the outer perimeter, its area, the dimensions of the X-projection and Y-projection, the length of the epithelial tubes) in type I, on the contrary, are significantly larger than in type II (p&lt;0.01). Among form factors, reliable differences have elongation (FE), squareness (FQ) and equivalent radius (FR) (p&lt;0.01), less significant compactness (FF) and roundness (FC) (p&lt;0.05). The discordance of development is established by a number of reliable values at the stage of late fetogenesis: the area of the tubule (p&lt;0.01), the area of the epithelium of the preacinar department (p&lt;0.001), the value of the outer perimeter of the tubule, the length and, to a lesser extent, the width of the tubule (p&lt;0.05) significantly exceed such type II indicators. In this regard, the dimensions of X- and Y-projections for type I are also increased (p&lt;0.05).Conclusion. As a result of morphological studies, the development of entodermal derivatives of pulmonary parenchyma at the pseudoglandular stage (day 14 of gestation) and the canalicular stage (day 20 of gestation) in rat fetus was verified; morphometric criteria for assessing the histogenesis of entodermal parenchyma units at critical stages of development have been introduced; comparative analysis of morphometric indices of different individuals in gestation dynamics; individual variants of two morphotypes are objectified – “compact-I” and “air-II” in the process of histogenesis of the fetal lungs.

The Value of the Left Atrial Appendage Orifice Perimeter of 3D Model Based on 3D TEE Data in the Choice of Device Size of LAmbre™ Occluder

Preoperative optimal selection of the occluder size is crucial in percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion, and the maximal width of the LAA orifice is the main reference index, however it cannot fully meet the practical operation requirements.

Leaf Morpho-Colorimetric Characterization of Different Grapevine Varieties through Changes on Plant Water Status

(1) Background: Currently, some ampelographic methods are developing in order to identify grapevine varieties. For this purpose, morpho-colorimetric parameters in leaves have been analyzed by digital imagen analysis, but some environmental conditions may affect their determinations. (2) Methods: A research study was conducted to characterize leaf morpho-colorimetric parameters in five grapevine varieties growing under different plant water status and to discriminate them under these conditions. Leaves were collected in vines, and twelve leaf morpho-colorimetric and fractal dimension variables were assessed. (3) Results: Merlot presented the highest values of perimeter and area to perimeter ratio in leaves and higher leaf area than Chardonnay in both plant water conditions. Most of the leaf morpho-colorimetric variables allowed discriminating the grapevine varieties under the contrasted hydric conditions. Under non-water stress, Carmenère was not related to any measured parameters. Merlot was positively related to most of the leaf morphometric parameters, whereas Chardonnay presented the opposite behavior. RGB color system variables allowed discriminating the grapevine varieties under water stress conditions, and Sauvignon Blanc was not related to any measured parameter. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir were positively related to green color and negatively related to most of the leaf morphometric parameters, whereas Merlot showed the opposite behavior. (4) Conclusions: Leaf morpho-colorimetric and fractal dimension parameters were affected by plant water stress and more variables should be incorporated into the new ampelographic methods in order to characterize leaf morpho-colorimetric parameters of the different grapevine varieties more clearly.

Evaluation of Plant Distribution Regularity in Sowing With Different Guidance Systems by GPS, GIS and Voronoi Polygons

In this study, sowing was carried out with 3 different tractor guidance methods: operator-controled, GPS-controled and automatic-controled. The optimum nutrient areas required for each plant were evaluated using voronoi polygons. Voronoi polygons were used to obtain nutrient areas. Voronoi polygons were used to obtain living spaces. The plant coordinates taken with CORS-RTK GPS were loaded into the CBS program and the voronoi polygon for each plant was obtained. Comparison of nutrient areas was made with shape coefficients calculated using polygon area and perimeter values. Shape coefficient was 0.731 in operator-controlled application, 0.746 in GPS-controlled application and 0.715 in automatic-controled application. Compared to operator-controlled application, shape coefficients were found to be 2 % more in GPS-controlled application and 2 % less in automatic-controlled application. Although the shape coefficients are relatively less in the automatic-controlled system, it can be seen that better results can be obtained in terms of field success due to the advantages such as low workload on the operator, ease of application at night and improvements in time utilization coefficient. As a result of the statistical analysis, it has been found that there is no difference between the applications and can be used interchangeably. As a result, when the systems are compared with each other, it is seen that the automatic-controlled application is more successful.

Comparison of static and dynamic balance measurements among chronic and episodic migraine patients.

Migraine is one of the most frequent and incapacitating headaches, with a high degree of impairment of balance control and postural stability. To investigate the effects of episodic and chronic migraine on postural balance through using static and dynamic balance tests. The study included 32 chronic and 36 episodic migraine patients and a control group of 36 healthy volunteers. Right/left single-leg static and dynamic balance tests were performed in each group with eyes open and closed using a posturographic balance platform (Techno-body Prokin). No significant difference was found among episodic and chronic migraine patients and control subjects with regard to eyes-open and eyes-closed area values (eyes-open area values: p=0.559, p=0.414 and p=0.906; eyes-closed area values: p=0.740, p=0.241 and p=0.093, respectively). However, the area values were significantly higher in episodic and chronic migraine patients than in the control group, which indicates that migraine patients may have lower balance performance. Perimeter values were relatively higher which supports the idea that migraine patients have lower balance performance. Additionally, the average number of laps was significantly lower among migraine patients than in the control group, which also implies that migraine patients may have lower balance performance. Although no significant difference was detected between chronic and episodic migraine patients and the control group and between chronic and episodic migraine patients with regard to balance performance, chronic migraine patients seemed to have relatively lower performance than episodic migraine patients. Further studies with larger numbers of patients are needed, to investigate the relationship between these parameters and balance.

Геоинформационный анализ компонентов агроландшафта для целей землеустройства, кадастра и мониторинга орошаемых земель

Agro-landscape complexes of the Volgograd oblast are indispensable sources of production and form the food-safety policy of the region. Timely monitoring unstable natural zones is a necessary factor of maintaining the ecological stability of the region, which prevents withdrawing the land from the agricultural turnover. As a result of geoinformation monitoring, 1424 contour of irrigated and 931 ones of rainfed arable land were examined. 44 % of that is rainfed arable land having an area of 50 hectares, and 56 % of the irrigated one up to 10 ha; refined characteristics such as perimeter, angle, slope, maximum and minimum elevation values and their differences. Geoinformation modeling of the studied territory revealed discrepancies in the actual use of land and legally fixed borders that had passed cadastral registration by more than 30 %. The data lack on the location of existing forest stands and other elements of the agricultural landscape challenges the reliability and completeness of the state cadastral records. The resulting cartographic model of the irrigated agricultural landscapes enables assessing their spatial location, nature of use, etc. Making a register of irrigated lands arises the opportunity of considering them as a separate type of use that requires constant monitoring and accounting in order to prevent the destruction of the agricultural landscape.

Low Energy Availability Interferes With Exercise-Associated Bone Effects in Female Long-Distance Triathletes as Detected by HR-pQCT

Female Athlete Triad, initially described as the association of disordered eating, amenorrhea and osteoporosis, was further redefined to focus on low energy availability (EA), which has a central role in development of hypoestrogenism and low bone mineral density (BMD). However, the contribution of each variable, that is, low EA and hypoestrogenism, for bone derangements is still an open question. To evaluate body composition and bone status in long-distance triathletes without hypoestrogenism, as compared to non-athletes, using DXA and HR-pQCT, and the influence of EA. Population comprised 23 triathletes who had completed at least one long-distance race in the previous year, and 17 non-athletic healthy controls. The athletes denied previous oligo-amenorrhea and had spontaneous regular menses or were on hormonal contraceptives. Control patients also had regular menses. Energy deficiency (low EA) was defined as energy intake below the recommended level for athletes, that is, 45 kcal/kg free fat mass/day. Only femoral neck BMD Z-score measured by DXA trended higher in athletes (p = 0.05), whereas high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography detected significantly higher values of entire bone and trabecular bone area, cortical perimeter, trabecular vBMD and trabecular bone volume/tissue volume, and lower trabecular separation and trabecular inhomogeneity in athletes. No difference was found between athletes with spontaneous menses and those on hormone contraceptives in respect to all parameters. The effects of exercise on bone were not so pronounced in athletes with low EA, although they still had better bone parameters than controls. Stress fractures were reported by 4:12 athletes with low EA and by 2:11 athletes with adequate EA. Long-distance female triathletes without hypoestrogenism show higher values of cortical perimeter, bone area, volumetric density and trabecular microstructure, but low EA interferes with exercise-associated bone effects. These innovative findings reinforce the importance of adequate EA in female athletes to guarantee skeletal health.

Invisalign appliance: aesthetic and efficiency.

The patients' request for treatment with clear aligners is constantly increasing. The aligners permit to the clinicians a valid way to solve a lot of orthodontic cases but the patients' compliance and the clinicians' capabilities and knowledge of the technique is fundamental for the outcome. Seventy-two digital models of 18 consecutive patients treated with Invisalign and Smart Track aligners for 14 weeks were analyzed. The operator positioned 24 points on each model and were obtained the values of arch depth and perimeter of arch before and after the treatment. The variations of measurement were calculated with t student test. A decrease of arch depth and perimeter was found from t0 to t1 and the most relevant difference was observed in the upper arch depth with a decrease of 1.3 mm and in the upper arch perimeter with a difference of 1.1 mm. There was always a decrease of the values of arch depth and arch perimeter at the end of the treatment, especially in the upper arch. These changes must be considered by the clinicians to perform a better treatment to obtain the most predictable results and a patient's higher satisfaction.

Microbial Inoculation for Productivity Improvements and Potential Biological Control in Sugar Beet Crops.

Used mainly for sucrose production, sugar beet is one of the most important crops in Castilla y León (Spain). Several studies have demonstrated the benefits of microorganisms in different crop management programs, among which Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR). This research aims to assess the beneficial effects of two PGPRs strains (Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf0-1 and Pseudomonas chlororaphis CECT 462) on sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) production. Three treatments: a PGPRs co-inoculation assay of untreated seeds without any chemical treatment (TB), a conventional treatment with commercial seeds and fungicide application (TT); and a control with seeds without protective coating, bacterial inoculation and chemical treatment (ST). The efficacy of PGPRs inoculation on sugar beet production was determined measuring periodically the photosynthetic status of plants, and the final yield and quality of tubers. Aerial and root plant biomass, maximum beet perimeter, polarization, and sugar values of the sugar beet plants inoculated with PGPRs showed higher values and significant differences to sugar beet subjected to other treatments. We could see that PGPRs inoculation (TB treatment) produced significant differences in the quantum yield of PSII (ΦPSII). TB showed the highest value for ΦPSII and the NPQ (non-photochemical quenching), the lowest value, even though the PSII (maximum quantum yield of photosystem II) was very similar in all treatments. The two assayed PGPR strains triggered a significant increase in sugar beet production yield and quality. PGPRs inoculation techniques could be used in different crops and they could be applied as biofertilizers, improving the agricultural production.

Gut‐Brain Axis Exploration

The pathophysiology of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) is associated with dysfunction at various levels of the gut-brain axis. Hypervigilance can result in an increased tendency to report pain. In the present study, we aimed to explore whether hypervigilance can influence attentional processing in postural control in children with FGIDs. Fifty-nine participants classified into healthy subjects, those with FGIDs, and those with organic diseases (Org) based on Rome IV criteria were enrolled. Postural control under 6 sensory conditions was evaluated using a stabilometric platform. The mean velocity of the center of pressure (CoP) displacement in the anteroposterior direction and the mediolateral direction, the length of the CoP trajectory, and the sway area were also measured. With visual and somatosensorial normal inputs, participants with FGIDs showed a higher number of anteroposterior (FGIDs: 4[interquartile range [IQR] 3-7], control [Cntl] 3 [IQR 3-4], P < 0.05) latero-lateral oscillations (FGIDs: 3 [IQR 3-6], Cntl 3 [IQR 2-3], P < 0.05) and a higher perimeter value (FGIDs: 148 [IQR 121-240], Cntl 124 [IQR 111-140], P = 0.056) compared to healthy subjects. With normal visual but altered somatosensorial input, subjects with FGIDs showed higher values of all parameters (anteroposterior: FGIDs 6[IQR 5-8], Cntl and Org 5 [IQR 4-6], P < 0.05; latero-lateral FGIDs 6 [IQR 4-8], Cntl 4 [IQR 4-5], Org 4[IQR 3-5], P < 0.05; perimeter FGIDs 253 [IQR 167-305], Cntl 185 [IQR 161-217], Org 176 [IQR 142-219], P < 0.05; area FGIDs 98 [IQR 81-233], Cntl 86 [IQR 59-114], Org 56 [IQR 41-97], P < 0.05). The higher number of oscillations in subjects with FGIDs who had normal visual input could be expression of alteration in attention and therefore hypervigilance as hypothesized in the context of gut-brain axis alterations.