Association of tidal channel tributaries with mainstem meander bends: Landform patterns to inform tidal marsh restoration design

Finite element analysis (FEA) is increasingly used in conservative and restorative dentistry to investigate the mechanical behavior of adhesive direct and indirect polymer-based restorations. Despite the growing number of FEA-based studies, the literature currently lacks a dedicated critical synthesis specifically addressing the methodological validity and clinical interpretability of FEA in adhesive restorative dentistry. This narrative review critically examines the current literature on the application of FEA in adhesive restorative dentistry, with particular attention to class I to class V cavities in anterior and posterior teeth restored with direct or indirect polymeric materials, including inlays, onlays, overlays, and tabletop restorations. A structured, non-systematic search of major databases was conducted, and selected studies were qualitatively appraised with emphasis on modeling assumptions, stress distribution, and clinical meaning. Unlike previous broad overviews of dental biomechanics, this review provides a clinically oriented framework for interpreting FEA findings across restorative strategies. FEA consistently identifies trends related to cavity configuration, cuspal support, restoration design, material stiffness, polymerization shrinkage, and adhesive interface behavior, helping to explain clinically observed failure patterns and supporting minimally invasive approaches. However, simplified material models, idealized bonding conditions, and static loading protocols limit prediction of long-term performance. When interpreted within these constraints and integrated with experimental and clinical evidence, FEA remains a valuable complementary tool for rational restorative decision-making.

Objective: To map and analyze the available scientific evidence on the limitations of Artificial Intelligence in dental aesthetic planning, with emphasis on the definition of the width of the maxillary central incisor. Materials and methods: This is a scoping review conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the Joanna Briggs Institute. Studies published between 2022 and 2025 that addressed the use of digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence applied to dental aesthetic planning were included. The selection included methodological, observational, clinical and diagnostic studies, with no language restrictions. The data were extracted, organized and synthesized in a descriptive way, considering methodological, technological, aesthetic characteristics and the methodological quality of the studies. Results: Ten studies were included, predominantly developed in China, with samples ranging from large databases to clinical studies with a small number of cases. Wide adoption of digital technologies was observed, with recurrent use of Artificial Intelligence associated with CAD-CAM flows, Digital Smile Design, dental segmentation, radiographic diagnosis and automated design of restorations. Despite the satisfactory technical performance and the low risk of methodological bias, the studies showed limitations related to aesthetic individualization, with a predominance of the use of standardized models and population means, especially in the definition of the width of the maxillary central incisor. Final considerations: Artificial Intelligence has high potential to optimize dental aesthetic planning; however, its limitations regarding personalization reinforce the need to incorporate individualized craniometric parameters and clinical judgment into algorithms, aiming at a more accurate, humanized and evidence-based planning.

Moderate coronal destruction cases have recently been repaired using minimally invasive adhesive overlays with varying cavity depths and occlusal preparations. The optimal cavity preparation (criteria and dimensions) varies according to clinical crown length, patient age and inter occlusal space. Consequently, design and thickness of restoration will affect esthetics, function and fracture resistance necessitates the employment of new materials capable of meeting their full potential. However, there are numerous available materials and different preparation designs. However, there is insufficient data on the selection of appropriate material, preparation thickness and their effect on fracture resistance. To evaluate the fracture resistance of chairside (CAD/CAM) lithium disilicate using two diverse overlay restoration designs for premolars. Specimens were prepared using a CNC milling machine, according to two different overlay designs: (A) overlay with 2mm cavity depth & 1.5mm occlusal thickness, (B) overlay with 1.5mm cavity depth & 2mm occlusal thickness. 42 restorations were designed and fabricated with a chairside CAD/CAM system (Mc XL, Dentsply Sirona) using 3 CAD/CAM lithium disilicate blocks (IPS e.max CAD, Amber Mill, CEREC Tessers) (14 specimens/group). Restorations were luted to 3D printed resin dies using standard resin luting cement (Breeze, Pentron) and then loaded with a steel indenter until fracture. The group findings were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance, and the medians were assessed independently using Kruskal-Wallis. The null hypothesis states that there will be no significant difference in the fracture resistance between the three CAD/CAM lithium disilicate materials and the two preparation designs. The fracture force of CAD/CAM lithium disilicate restorations varied significantly based on the restoration design. Among the two overlays, the restorations with design A showed significantly higher fracture force than the restorations with design B (p < 0.001). Within design A: there was no significant difference between the materials. Within design B: there was a significant difference in fracture resistance between materials. Design A, including more cavity depth (2mm) related to less occlusal reduction(1.5mm) provides more fracture resistance values than design B using lithium disilicate overlay preparation design. Preparation design has a great effect on fracture resistance values of overlay restorations, while material type has negligible effect. Despite the presence of additional virgilite crystals in CT, it did not produce any increase in fracture resistance.

Tooth replacement from extraction to restoration. 4. Restoration design and delivery.

Exploring ecological facilitation toward precision coral reef restoration.

This study presents a comprehensive subsurface characterization methodology integrating electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) geophysics with traditional geotechnical investigations for river restoration planning at a former dam site. The investigation was conducted on Little Sugar Creek (contributing watershed area of 222 km² and mean annual discharge of 7 m³/s) in Bentonville, Arkansas, following the 2021 failure of the 5-m tall Lake Bella Vista dam. Eleven ERT surveys, incorporating both terrestrial and underwater electrodes, were validated with thirteen borehole investigations to characterize subsurface conditions across the study area. Results showed that near-surface low-resistivity zones (<100 Ωm) corresponded to water-saturated fine-grained sediments are prone to erosion, while moderate-resistivity layers (100-600 Ωm) indicated more stable coarse-grained materials. High-resistivity zones (>1000 Ωm) marked competent bedrock. The findings indicate that the creek is currently undergoing distinct geomorphic adjustment phases in different reaches after dam failure, characterized by the accumulation of coarse-grained deposits such as gravel bars and increased susceptibility to erosion in cases of severe flooding. The "event-driven" phase of adjustment is particularly erosive in the upstream area, where thick sediment deposits and shallow shale bedrock provide less resistance to erosion. The integrated approach enabled detailed mapping of bedrock topography, identification of erosion-susceptible areas, and characterization of subsurface material distribution, providing valuable information for restoration design. This methodology demonstrates the value of combining geophysical and geotechnical techniques for comprehensive subsurface characterization in river restoration projects. Additionally, the approach outlined in this study can be adapted to other river systems undergoing geomorphic adjustments, particularly in post-dam removal environments, to better inform restoration and erosion mitigation strategies.

Tropical Andean forests are biodiversity hotspots that have been transformed by anthropogenic activities, making ecosystem regeneration and restoration essential for their recovery. This study evaluated floristic composition, forest structure, and diversity in three land cover types within tropical Andean ecosystems: riparian forest (RF), natural regeneration (NR), and ecological restoration areas (RE). Vegetation was inventoried using standardized plots, recording species composition, diameter, and height. Basal area, size class distribution, and vertical structure were estimated. The Shannon Wiener and Simpson indices were evaluated. RF showed the highest structural complexity and basal area among the evaluated cover types, followed by ER, whereas NR showed the lowest values. NR showed the highest diversity values and a predominance of individuals in lower diameter and height classes, reflecting active recruitment and intermediate successional stages. Segment ER exhibited lower diversity and intermediate structural development, consistent with shorter recovery periods and limitations in restoration design. Overall, the integration of floristic, structural, and diversity attributes indicates distinct successional trajectories, conditioned by land-use history, disturbance intensity, and environmental heterogeneity. These findings highlight the great potential for natural regeneration under reduced anthropogenic pressure and emphasize the need to integrate passive and active restoration strategies to enhance biodiversity and resilience in Andean tropical forests.

Teachers in special education schools face complex emotional and occupational challenges that can compromise their well-being and the quality of teaching. Growing evidence suggests that exposure to green environments, particularly school gardens, may support psychological restoration and promote healthier educational settings. This systematic literature review aimed to synthesize existing studies on three main aspects: (1) the sources and types of psychological stress experienced by special education teachers, (2) the documented functions and restorative value of school gardens, and (3) the current research progress on landscapes in special education schools. Following the PRISMA 2020 framework, studies published between 2005 and 2025 in English and Chinese were identified from databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, ERIC, ProQuest, and Google Scholar. A total of thirty-three studies met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed through thematic synthesis. The results indicated that emotional labor, behavioral management, parental communication, and role ambiguity were the primary sources of stress among special education teachers. School gardens were found to serve educational, restorative, and therapeutic functions that foster experiential learning, reduce stress, and strengthen teacher–student relationships. Recent research trends revealed an increasing integration of psychological and spatial perspectives; however, there remains a lack of validated frameworks for restorative design in special education campuses. This review concludes that well-designed school gardens can play a critical role in supporting teacher well-being and inclusive education. Future research should focus on combining psychological, spatial, and ecological indicators to develop evidence-based restorative landscape frameworks tailored specifically for special education schools.

Globally, wetlands can sequester and store large amounts of soil carbon over the long term due to high primary productivity and slow decomposition. Yet centuries of drainage for agriculture and development have turned many of these carbon sinks into greenhouse gas (GHG) sources. Restoring degraded wetlands, particularly in peat-rich landscapes, is increasingly promoted as a nature-based solution for climate change mitigation. However, the trajectory and timing of recovery remain uncertain, especially given the complex interplay among vegetation dynamics, hydrology, and GHG fluxes. In this study, we analyzed 44 site-years of continuous eddy covariance measurements of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) fluxes from restored wetlands in California's Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Our findings reveal substantial interannual variability in GHG exchange across sites, driven by differences in restoration design, water management, and vegetation establishment. While rapid vegetation growth, especially dense stands of macrophytes, can enhance CO2 uptake, it often elevates CH4 emissions and complicates predictions of when wetlands become net GHG sinks. Crucially, wetlands with delayed vegetation establishment due to high or inconsistent water levels (e.g., significant drawdown) remained persistent GHG sources, even years after restoration. Conversely, sites with tailored planting or natural and rapid recolonization exhibited earlier transitions to net sink status, including earlier shifts towards net negative radiative forcing since the restoration. The study highlights the importance of adaptive, site-specific restoration strategies and long-term monitoring to capture switchover dynamics from sources to sinks. As global investment in wetland restoration grows, our findings underscore the need to balance climate mitigation goals with ecological realities and the self-designing processes of vegetation succession.

Emerging technologies have revolutionized the digital workflow in the fabrication of restorations. The reverse scan technique has been introduced as a solution for full-arch rehabilitation to simplify the recording of implant positions, as well as to improve splinted impression making and the recording of implant positions. Recent studies reported favorable outcomes for complex rehabilitation in full-arch, multiple-implant-supported restorations. However, no article in the current literature search on outcomes for short-span edentulous patients in the esthetic zone was found. One of the critical aspects of achieving esthetic rehabilitation that is in harmony with pink esthetics is to provide a prototype or interim restoration that can be transferred into a definitive restoration. This reverse scanning technique enables the scanning of interim restoration designs and aesthetic parameters, allowing for the reverse engineering of the confirmed prosthetic volume from definitive materials. This patient report aims to demonstrate the proof of concept that reverse scan bodies can also be utilized as an alternative. Seventy-two-year-old female patient needs rehabilitation of maxillary four anterior incisors with implant supported screw retained restoration presented with two-piece design implants with two screw-retained abutments to support a 4-unit fixed dental prosthesis. This patient report demonstrates that a reverse scan from the interim restoration used as a prototype, digitally recorded with an intra-oral scanner (Trios 4, 3Shape, Copenhagen, Denmark), can be used as a valid alternative workflow to fabricate a monolithic zirconia oxide restoration as the definitive restoration.

Acceptability, deviation, and efficiency of 2 fully automated CAD software programs in designing 3-unit fixed dental prostheses: A comparative study.

ABSTRACT Stream assessments are needed to inform regulatory decisions, mitigation and restoration design, and other management practices. Many methods have emerged to meet regional needs and specific management contexts. The number of available approaches creates confusion over the relative merits of methods and appropriate use cases. Furthermore, the complexity of these approaches ranges from rapid evaluations requiring minutes to complete to detailed methods needing weeks of effort. However, the level of effort associated with approaches is rarely tracked for method selection. Differences in measurement metrics and data collection create obstacles to consistent, meaningful comparisons across methods and regions. We compiled and analyzed 188 stream assessment methods, revealing four core challenges: (1) inefficient identification of methods, (2) diverse metrics for ecosystem condition, (3) a wide range of resource needs, and (4) limited comparability of results. While geomorphic (59%) and biological (46%) metrics are common, few methods (5%) comprehensively evaluate a broader set of ecosystem functions. Although many methods exist, the most pressing challenges in stream assessment are choosing appropriate methods, ensuring adaptability, and enabling comparability. Finally, we identify recommendations for improving the practice of stream assessment, including clearer guidance and standardized protocols for assessment.

Rapid Digital Conversion 2.0: A cast-less workflow for complete arch implant-supported restorations.

With the rapid evolution of esthetic digital dentistry, patient-centered tools were developed, such as digital smile design, to help improve patient communication and emotional participation. However, a major difference remains between these purely aesthetic simulations and the functional accuracy necessary with computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing restorative workflows. In this paper, we present the conceptual basis for a new, intelligent, computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) wax-up design theory called Dental Unified CAD Utility (DUCU). This platform includes advanced artificial intelligence algorithms for tooth morphology, margin detection, intaglio surface generation, and occlusal correspondence, to combine emotional aesthetics with clinical function. Through facilitation of interdisciplinary teamwork and automation of restorative design workflows, Dental Unified CAD Utility sets out to drastically decrease laboratory time, reduce human errors, and boost treatment predictability. We describe implications and barriers to clinical implementation and future research directions necessary for the development and validation of the DUCU as a transformative tool in digital prosthodontics.

Perceptions of virtual nature among design students: implications for well-being and restorative design education

Recovery of degraded reefs depends on how quickly juvenile corals grow and how well they survive, both of which vary among growth forms. In Tanzania, species and habitat- specific performance information remains limited, constraining evidence-based restoration. We quantified juvenile growth and survival across coral species and growth forms: Echinopora lamellosa (foliose), Isopora palifera (sub-massive), Acropora tenuis (corymbose), Echinopora hirsutissima (encrusting), and Porites lutea (massive) on Chumbe Reef (Unguja, Zanzibar), and identified habitat locations and species that best support short-term coral growth and long-term reef survival. Fifty-nine colonies representing five species and five growth forms were monitored at ~6-month intervals from October 2010 to May 2012, across three reef habitats (reef flat, reef crest, and reef slope). We measured Planar tissue area to estimate growth (cm² per 6 months); survival was recorded at each interval. We summarized growth and survival by species, growth form, and habitat; compared performance among habitats; and described inter-individual variability. Mean planar growth ranged from 8.1 cm²·6 mo⁻¹ (P. lutea) to 155.7 cm²·6 mo⁻¹ (E. lamellosa). Overall survival was 68%, with peak mortality in the first interval (Oct 2010-Apr 2011). Explicit growth survival trade-offs emerged in which foliose and corymbose taxa (E. lamellosa, A. tenuis) grew rapidly but survived poorly, whereas submassive, encrusting, and massive taxa grew more slowly yet survived at higher rates. Inter-individual variability in growth was high for E. lamellosa and low for P. lutea. Both growth and survival were highest on the reef slope compared with the crest and flat. Collectively, the results suggest that restoration designs should prioritize slope habitats for nurseries. A mixed taxa strategy can balance goals by deploying fast-growing foliose and corymbose corals to accelerate short-term cover, while integrating submassive, encrusting, and massive forms to secure steadier, long-term recovery.

On 6 February 2023, two consecutive earthquakes, with magnitudes of 7.8 and 7.7 (Mw), struck Kahramanmaras Province in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. A thorough evaluation of post-seismic damage to underground structures is critically important for ensuring both structural safety and operational serviceability. Focusing on the Erkenek Tunnel, this study provides a systematic investigation to assess the impact of the devastating Kahramanmaras earthquakes on highway tunnels. The tunnel sustained significant damage, primarily concentrated in its inner lining structures, and as a result, its left tube was shut down for service. Based on the in situ observations, geological conditions, initial design documents and construction techniques, a numerical analysis was conducted to model critical tunnel sections and evaluate their structural stability. Considering both static loads and seismic forces, restoration design works, techniques and construction sequences are recommended for the damaged sections of the Erkenek Tunnel. As the earthquake damage sustained by underground structures is a rare case, the methodology and findings of this study regarding post-seismic tunnel inspections and rehabilitation designs shed light on the maintenance works of in-service tunnels in earthquake-prone zones.

ObjectiveThe integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into CAD/CAM workflows has revolutionized dental prosthetics manufacturing, yet its morphological trueness compared to manual design remains underexplored.Materials and methodsThis study evaluated 30 single-tooth restoration cases from 30 patients. For each case, the original clinically-approved designs were used as reference. AI designs (3Shape Automate) were compared to manual designs created by a technician (3Shape Dental System™). Morphological trueness was evaluated through 3D deviation analysis. Global surface deviations (RMSE) were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and maximum discrepancies were compared with a paired Student’s t-test, with significance set at p < 0.05.ResultsWhile AI demonstrated batch-processing efficiency, 6.7% of cases (2/30) with suboptimal preparation geometries required manual intervention. No significant difference was found in global surface deviation between AI (median = 79.8 μm) and manual designs (median = 68.6 μm; p = 0.1056). However, AI designs produced significantly greater maximum discrepancies (mean = 225.0 μm) compared to manual designs (mean = 184.4 μm; p = 0.0243).ConclusionThese findings validate AI’s viability for routine restoration design but emphasize the necessity of case selection protocols and algorithm improvements for dynamic occlusion modeling to ensure comprehensive clinical adoption.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12903-025-07004-z.

Abstract IntroductionFreshwater fauna are increasingly threatened by habitat degradation and climate change. Rising flood frequency and magnitude underscore the need for river restoration to enhance ecosystem resilience. While restoration is widely promoted, outcomes for freshwater fish remain inconsistent. Success depends heavily on restoration design, water quality, and bio‐indication tools. Yet, many studies lack an approach that considers fish demographics, assemblages, and habitat characteristics simultaneously.ObjectivesThis study assessed the effectiveness of remeandering designs on fish communities at both the river and reach scale. We evaluated ecological outcomes using multiple metrics, including the ecological quality ratio (EQR), species composition, demographics, life‐history traits, and environmental drivers.MethodsFish and environmental data were collected in restored and control reaches over 4 years post‐restoration and compared with historical reference data. We evaluated spatial and temporal trends and assessed how specific restoration designs influenced fish metrics.ResultsFive years post‐restoration, no significant river‐scale improvements in EQR were observed. However, several restored reaches showed clear local improvements. A positive trend over time highlights gradual ecological recovery and reflects the disruptive effect of a flash flood 1 year post‐restoration. The reach with a more complex restoration design exhibited higher juvenile abundance, broader reproductive guild diversity, and more complete age‐class structures.ConclusionsWhile river‐scale improvements were limited, reach‐scale results demonstrated that restoration design is crucial in driving fish recovery. Habitat diversity, conceived through in‐stream adaptations, emerged as a key factor for success.