Standard Analysis System Research Articles

A New Mass Spectroscopy-Based Method for Assessing the Periodontal–Endodontic Interface after Intracanal Placement of Biomaterials In Vitro

Optimizing the interface between biomaterials and dental hard tissues can prevent leakage of bacteria or inflammatory mediators into periapical tissues and thus avoid alveolar bone inflammation. In this study, an analysis system for testing the periodontal-endodontic interface using gas leakage and subsequent mass spectrometry was developed and validated using the roots of 15 single-rooted teeth in four groups: (I) roots without root canal filling, (II) roots with an inserted gutta-percha post without sealer, (III) roots with gutta-percha post and sealer, (IV) roots filled with sealer only, and (V) adhesively covered roots. Helium was used as the test gas, and its leakage rate was found by measuring the rising ion current using mass spectrometry. This system made it possible to differentiate between the leakage rates of tooth specimens with different fillings. Roots without filling showed the highest leakage values (p < 0.05). Specimens with a gutta-percha post without sealer showed statistically significantly higher leakage values than groups with a filling of gutta-percha and sealer or sealer alone (p < 0.05). This study shows that a standardized analysis system can be developed for periodontal-endodontic interfaces to prevent biomaterials and tissue degradation products from affecting the surrounding alveolar bone tissue.

Methods and design of empirical research into inter-generational socio-cultural interaction

Introduction. The author discusses the data sources and design of a J. A. Maxwell validity-system-based study into inter-generational socio-cultural interaction. To form a comprehensive vision of the phenomenon of socio-cultural interaction and achieve the validity of the results, data triangulation (evidence collected from different sources) and methodological triangulation (use of different methods of information collection) should be used. Aim. To present a set of methods for empirical research into inter-generational socio-cultural interaction. Methods. A set of qualitative / quantitative instruments has been used to conduct the study. Results. The author describes the step-by-step strategy of empirical research, the inter-generational socio-cultural interaction analysis instruments, and the mixed research strategy methods / instruments. The quantitative block is presented by the author's questionnaire "Reflections", which is aimed at determining the main aspects of inter-generational interaction. The quality block is made up of: - The matrices method (M. B. Miles &amp; A. M. Huberman) to determine the parameters of the inter-generetional unity; - The sound theory method (modified by K. Charmaz) needed to systematize inter-generational interactions in the socio-cultural context; - The discourse analysis method to find out the features of macro-social level generational practices; - The data integration method. Conclusions. The author considers the design of empirical research into inter-generational socio-cultural interaction, the quantitative and qualitative methods of mixed research and possibilities of data generalization by means of triangulation. The proposed research design allows exploring a complex process of inter-generational socio-cultural interaction, which has no a clear conceptual basis and standardized analysis system.

A study on socio-cultural and professional interaction of generations: the strategy of generalization

Introduction. The general trend towards interdisciplinary knowledge increases the role of comprehensive scientific interpretations based on the strategy of triangulation. Aim. To present the strategy of generalization of empirical data of a study on generational interaction including institutional, positional, cultural, and professional aspects of social and cultural reality. Methods. A set of empirical and statistical methods and instruments were used in the study. Results. Based on the results of using the strategy of generalization of empirical data, the structural components of the theory determined a dual socio-psychological category of text-context and the category of socio-cultural interaction. Conclusions. The proposed strategy of generalization of empirical data covered the issues of a theoretical basis, data collection and processing, as well as allowed structuring a complex process of generational interaction, which had no conceptual basis and standardized analysis system.

Spontaneous head movements characterize losing athletes during competition

Nonverbal movement behavior and emotions are closely linked processes; however, there is insufficient information about the spontaneous nonverbal expressions in response to experiencing positive and negative emotion, i.e., when winning or losing during sport competitions. Previous research showed that experienced tennis athletes detected losing behavior in athletes more accurately than winning behavior. However, it remained unclear what kind of nonverbal movements characterized losers because the actual movements have not been identified yet. Further research showed that head shaking occurred as an expression of doubt whereas head nodding appeared during successful actions. We therefore hypothesized that losing athletes nonverbally move more, and particularly execute more headshakes when compared to winners. The entire spontaneous nonverbal head movement behavior of professional tennis athletes was video-taped between points during competition and analyzed by two trained and certified raters using a standardized analysis system for nonverbal behavior in relation to won or lost points. The results showed that losers moved their head significantly more often, particularly executing more phasic upward, repetitive sideward (head shaking), and phasic sideward head movements when compared to winning athletes. The present results provide evidence that spontaneous nonverbal head movements differentiate winners from losers during competition. Losing a point in tennis is associated with to increased spontaneous head movement behavior, particularly in upward and sideward directions. Thus, we conclude that professional tennis athletes cannot inhibit their implicit nonverbal expressions that are related to negative emotions when losing.

Hyperactive movement behaviour of athletes with post-concussion symptoms

ObjectiveObservations of hyperactive (/restless, agitated) behaviour as a consequence of mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) in sports are inconclusive as reduced or slowed movement behaviour is also commonly described post-concussion. This might be grounded in the fact that the movement behaviour of athletes has not been systematically investigated during standardized settings and with objective methods of nonverbal movement analysis. Thus, we investigate whether symptoms after mTBI in sports are characterized by a hyper- or hypoactive movement behaviour experimentally. MethodsThree matched groups of 40 athletes were investigated: 14 symptomatic and 14 asymptomatic athletes with a mTBI; and 12 non-concussed athletes. Four certified raters analysed with a standard analysis system for nonverbal behaviour each athlete’s hand movement activity, hand movement contacts, and resting positions that were displayed during a videotaped standardized anamnesis protocol. ResultsSymptomatic athletes spend significantly more time with act apart hand movements and less time with closed rest positions when compared to non-concussed athletes. Post-concussion symptom (PCS) scores positively correlate with act apart hand movements. A linear regression analysis revealed that act apart hand movements significantly predict the PCS score. ConclusionsAthletes with increased symptoms after mTBI move their hands in a hyperactive and restless manner. Increased act apart hand movements, i.e., when both hands move simultaneously without touching each other, indicate a motoric destabilization in symptomatic athletes’ behaviour that might be related to impaired inhibitory motor control systems. Future diagnoses should concern the systematic analysis of the nonverbal movement behaviour as a potential behavioural marker of symptoms after mTBI.

Symptoms after sport-related concussions alter gestural functions

ObjectivesSymptoms after sport-related concussions (SRC) are common. Because post-concussion symptoms are often not clearly visible, speech-accompanying gestures may help clinicians to gain additional information about the patient’s history and symptoms during medical consultation. We hypothesized that athletes with SRC and who suffered from persisting symptoms would display more gestures during concussion assessment protocols when compared to non-concussed athletes because of the athletes’ previous motor-sensory experiences made during the concussive event. DesignA retrospective cross-sectional study. MethodsThree matched groups of 40 (active) athletes were investigated in the context of concussion assessment (/and baseline) protocols: 14 symptomatic and 14 asymptomatic athletes with a SRC, and 12 non-concussed athletes. Certified raters using a standard analysis system for nonverbal behaviour analysed videotaped hand movements and gestures during a standardized concussion assessment protocol. ResultsSymptomatic athletes spent significantly more time with in space hand movements, i.e., movements that act in the body-external free space without touching anything and specifically, motion quality presentation gestures than non-concussed athletes. ConclusionsIncreased in space movements, which are functionally gestures, and specifically, motion quality presentation gestures in symptomatic athletes indicate that the more vivid sensory motor experience of the head trauma is reflected in more gestural expressions. Thus, hand movements and gestures differentiate athletes who suffer from post-concussion symptoms from non-concussed athletes indicating the athletes’ motor-sensory experiences of the event and its aftereffects. The present study highlights the fact that gestures can be employed as behavioural markers of symptoms after sport-related concussions.

Sorption behavior of four tropical woods using a dynamic vapor sorption standard analysis system

Sorption behavior of four tropical woods coming from Cameroon is studied using a Dynamic Vapor Sorption-Intrinsic apparatus. Sorption isotherms at 20°C and 40°C of Triplochiton scleroxylon (obeche), Entandrophragma cylindricum (sapele), Sterculia rhinopetala (lotofa) and Terminalia superba (frake also called limba) are compared to those in the literature with methods using saturated salts for lotofa and frake with satisfactory results. Experimental values are fitted using two sorption isotherm models. Sorption hysteresis is greatest in sapele and least in frake. When temperature increases, differences in the hysteresis of sorption among the woods decreases. Hystereses of all studied woods ranged from 0,5 to 3%. Our studied woods have lower equilibrium moisture content probably caused by the higher values of extractives content. The water sorbed molecules on multilayer during both adsorption and desorption at 20°C and 40°C is greater in the case of frake and lower in the case of lotofa. The water sorbed molecules on multilayer of sapele is greater than those of obeche. The predominance of multilayer over monolayer of our woods is from 0,2 to 0,4 relative humidity in adsorption phase, and from 0,3 to 0,4 relative humidity in desorption phase.

Diversity and evolution of the Wolbachia endosymbionts of Bemisia (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) whiteflies.

Wolbachia is the most prevalent symbiont described in arthropods to date. Wolbachia can manipulate host reproduction, provide nutrition to insect hosts and protect insect hosts from pathogenic viruses. So far, 13 supergroups of Wolbachia have been identified. The whitefly Bemisia tabaci is a complex containing more than 28 morphologically indistinguishable cryptic species. Some cryptic species of this complex are invasive. In this study, we report a comprehensive survey of Wolbachia in B. tabaci and its relative B. afer from 1658 insects representing 54 populations across 13 provinces of China and one state of Australia. Based on the results of PCR or sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, the overall rates of Wolbachia infection were 79.6% and 0.96% in the indigenous and invasive Bemisia whiteflies, respectively. We detected a new Wolbachia supergroup by sequencing five molecular marker genes including 16S rRNA, groEL, gltA, hcpA, and fbpA genes. Data showed that many protein-coding genes have limitations in detecting and classifying newly identified Wolbachia supergroups and thus raise a challenge to the known Wolbachia MLST standard analysis system. Besides, the other Wolbachia strains detected from whiteflies were clustered into supergroup B. Phylogenetic trees of whitefly mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I and Wolbachia multiple sequencing typing genes were not congruent. In addition, Wolbachia was also detected outside the special bacteriocytes in two cryptic species by fluorescence in situ hybridization, indicating the horizontal transmission of Wolbachia. Our results indicate that members of Wolbachia are far from well explored.

Quantification of cyclooxygenase-2 methylation in gastric mucosa by denaturing high performance liquid chromatography assay

To setup a quantitative assay for detection of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) methylation in human gastric mucosa samples. A standard analysis system was established by denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) under the condition of 55 degrees C oven temperature and a linear acetonitrile gradient (4.0/min). While, a total of 10 cases of gastric biopsy samples were detected for methylation status of COX-2. The complete methylated human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60) and unmethylated gastric cancer cell line (MGC803) were used as positive and negative control. The proportion of the methylated copies of COX-2 was calculated according to the peak heights of methylated (M) and unmethylated (U) COX-2 in same PCR amplicon. The formula was Y = 1.0608 x M/(M + U), R(2) = 0.9894. Among 10 biopsy samples, the proportions of methylated copies of COX-2 in 2 cases of dysplasia were higher than superficial gastritis and chronic atrophy gastritis (24.5%, 18.4% vs 7.6%, 9.6%). The methylation of COX-2 promoter CpG islands can be detected in human gastric mucosa samples by quantitative DHPLC assay, which could be used in the population-based study of precancerous gastric lesions.

Evaluation of core nuclear analysis code system for LMR using measured physics parameters of BFS-73-1 critical assembly

As the first stage of the critical experiment plan for developing the Korea Advanced LIquid MEtal Reactor (KALIMER) core design, the basic neutronics characteristics of the BFS-73-1 critical assembly representing a uranium metal fueled benchmark core were investigated. The prediction capability of the core nuclear analysis code system, being developed as a standard analysis system in the KALIMER core design and analysis, has been evaluated against the BFS-73-1 experiment by comparing the calculated results to the measurements. The comparison shows that the effective multiplication factor was overpredicted by 0.3% in the C/E value. The 235U and 238U fission reaction rate distributions were underpredicted within a 2% discrepancy in the core region but appeared to be in poor agreement in the blanket region. The calculated values of spectral indices at the core center and the effective delayed neutron fraction, β eff, agreed with the measured ones within 2% and 1% discrepancies, respectively. The first order perturbation method predicted the sample reactivity worths for 235U, 238U, 239Pu and 10B within 7% but much larger discrepancies existed for the other materials. The calculated Doppler effect showed about an 8% overprediction.

Osteoporotic fracture among older U.S. women: risk factors quantified.

The purpose of this study was to develop a predictive model for osteoporotic fracture among a national sample of 2,325 women ages 50 years and older. Predictors for examination included age, race, heredity, body mass index (BMI), physical activity, smoking status, alcohol use, and dairy product use. Analyses were conducted using Standard Analysis System (SAS) procedures. Strong risk factors predicting osteoporotic fracture included age, race, low BMI, and inactivity. Recommendations emphasize screening of high-risk women, achieving and maintaining health body weights for underweight women, and obtaining moderate physical activity. Promotion of healthy body weights for women of all ages is emphasized. Recommendations also include encouraging widespread physician, patient, and public education regarding osteoporotic fracture.