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Efficacy of low-level laser therapy in pain relief during orthodontic treatment: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Introduction Patient adherence to orthodontic treatment depends on comfort, absence of pain, and improved quality of life. Pain and discomfort from procedures like interproximal separation or appliance activation are often underestimated by professionals. Low-level laser therapy, with minimal side effects, shows potential for pain relief in orthodontics, though its efficacy remains uncertain. Objectives To investigate the efficacy of low-level laser therapy in controlling pain in orthodontic patients. Methods A systematic review of randomized controlled trials with orthodontic patients assessing low-level laser therapy will be done. Studies with specific treatments, such as hybrid orthodontics with skeletal anchorage or intermaxillary elastics, will be excluded. The intervention will compare low-level laser therapy alone versus sham therapy, no treatment, or other interventions. No restrictions will apply regarding publication date, language, or patient age. Primary outcomes will be pain; secondary outcomes will be quality of life and adverse effects. Searches will be performed in Cochrane, Embase, LILACS, MEDLINE (via PubMed), and Scopus, plus gray literature (Google Scholar, ProQuest), reference lists, expert consultations, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Retrieved records will be merged in a reference manager, with duplicates removed, and imported into LASER AI software. Calibrated authors will independently select studies in two phases: title/abstract screening and full-text screening. Included studies will undergo narrative synthesis, and, if sufficiently homogeneous, meta-analysis. Risk of bias will be assessed with RoB 2, and certainty of evidence graded with GRADE.
Continuous thermodynamics approach for hydrogen solubility prediction
Abstract Accurate characterization of heavy petroleum fractions remains challenging in hydroprocessing reactor modeling, where reliable hydrogen-solubility estimates in complex hydrocarbon mixtures are essential. Continuous thermodynamics has been successfully applied to represent crude oils and petroleum fractions in vapour–liquid equilibrium calculations through continuous composition distributions. Building on this framework, we propose a continuous-thermodynamics-based characterization methodology for vacuum gas oils and integrate it with the Augmented Grayson–Streed (AGS) approach to predict hydrogen solubility. Over temperature and pressure ranges of 459–653 K and 1.0–12.5 MPa, respectively, the proposed strategy reduces the global average absolute deviation with respect to experimental data from 22.5% to 11%. Beyond improving accuracy, the framework provides a systematic route to define a minimal set of pseudocomponents, reducing arbitrariness in heavy-fraction characterization while relying only on routinely measured laboratory data.
SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant re-emerges in US farmed mink and free-ranging white-tailed deer in 2022–2023
On the stability of morphology and performance of neural interfacing electrodes fabricated via CO2-snow-assisted hierarchical surface restructuring
Long-term implantable neural interfacing devices play a critical role in treating various neurological disorders, with their functionality largely dependent on the performance of electrodes and microelectrode arrays. Femtosecond laser Hierarchical Surface Restructuring (HSR™) is an advanced surface treatment technology that significantly enhances a platinum-10% iridium (Pt-10Ir) electrode’s electrochemical performance, improving energy efficiency, specificity, and signal-to-noise ratio. Additionally, HSR™ facilitates electrode miniaturization, allowing them to be manufactured smaller, for a less invasive profile. Electrode surfaces produced via HSR™ technology contain multiscale structures, including nanoscale features that, while contributing to superior performance, are sometimes weakly bonded and may detach due to mechanical agitation during testing or implantation. This detachment could lead to a high initial performance, that may gradually decline during prolonged use. Preemptively removing these nanostructures stabilizes the electrode surface, enhancing the stability of its morphology and potentially electrochemical performance. This study introduces a novel, in-operando, CO₂-snow-assisted HSR™ process and benchmarks it against other prevalent surface cleaning methods post-fabrication, such as ultrasonic cleaning, on improving electrode stability and performance. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses indicate that all cleaning methods enhance electrode stability. However, ultrasonic cleaning was found to be more destructive compared to CO₂-snow-assisted HSR™ processing, resulting in reduced electrochemical performance. In contrast, in-operando CO₂-snow-assisted processing provided similar or superior improvements in surface stability, while preserving higher electrochemical performance in vitro and enabling a faster processing time. This study is the gateway to further assess the stability in vivo , which is the intended next step of the research.
Macular pigment optical density correlates inversely with intraretinal light scatter in support of a polarization-dependent glare-reduction mechanism
Abstract Macular pigments are thought to protect the retina from photo-oxidative stress and enhance visual performance by filtering short-wavelength light. Their role in mitigating intraretinal light scatter remains uncertain. This study examined whether the spatial distribution of macular pigment optical density (MPOD) relates to retinal light scatter, consistent with a glare-reduction function. Mie scattering theory, with parameters consistent with retinal cellular components, was used to model the scatter properties of biologically realistic particles. Inner retinal backscatter and MPOD were then measured from 0°–10° eccentricity in forty-eight healthy eyes using dual-wavelength autofluorescence and spectral-domain OCT. Modelling confirmed that oblique intraretinal scatter is highly linearly polarized and, whilst substantially less than forward scatter, considerably exceeds backscatter in intensity, and that OCT-measured backscatter is supported as a proxy for intraretinal oblique scatter. MPOD was inversely correlated with OCT-defined retinal backscatter, with the strongest correlation within 0–2° eccentricity ( R = − 0.83, p < 0.001). The preferred orientation of macular pigment molecules within the radial macular architecture is optimal for absorption of polarized short-wavelength light scattered obliquely from the parafoveal retina into the fovea. This polarization-dependent mechanism provides a unifying framework linking the entoptic phenomena of Maxwell’s spot, Haidinger’s brushes, and Boehm’s brushes.
Assessing grid affordability for universal electricity access in Sub-Saharan Africa
Abstract Grid expansion remains a key strategy for increasing electricity access across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, whether utilities can generate sufficient revenue under current tariffs to support capital investment is unclear. We compile a comprehensive dataset of residential electricity tariffs for 48 SSA countries and develop a standardized model to estimate electricity bills using the Multi-Tier Framework (MTF). Affordability is assessed across income percentiles using simulated income distributions. Under current tariffs, around 608 million people (50%) may not afford Tier 4 electricity, rising to 1.05 billion (85%) for Tier 5 under a 10% energy-poverty threshold. Sensitivity analyses using 5% and 15% thresholds confirm the robustness of these findings. Even where higher-tier electricity is affordable, usage remains low. Combining affordability estimates with utility financial performance, we identify where grid expansion could be viable and where affordability constraints and utility deficits can create electrification traps. In many countries, off-grid solutions may be the only feasible pathway to achieving SDG7.
Evaluating large language model performance in Risk of Bias assessments: A cross-sectional validation study
Objective To evaluate the reliability and diagnostic performance of ChatGPT-o3 in conducting Risk of Bias (RoB) assessments of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) using the Cochrane RoB 2.0 tool. Materials and methods This methodological validation study analyzed 50 RCTs sampled from 50 published meta-analyses. Each trial was independently assessed by the original systematic review authors (OSRAs), our masked human panel, and ChatGPT-o3. Structured prompts based on RoB 2.0 guidelines were used to elicit ChatGPT-o3 assessments. Agreement was evaluated using weighted Cohen’s kappa and Gwet’s AC 2 . Diagnostic performance was measured by sensitivity, specificity, and balanced accuracy, with human ratings as the reference. Results ChatGPT-o3 classified 34% of trials as high risk, compared with 22% by our panel, and 12% by the OSRAs. Agreement was modest (median κ: 0.33 with our panel; 0.14 with OSRAs). Overall Gwet’s AC 2 was 0.30. For detecting high-risk trials, ChatGPT-o3 achieved a sensitivity of 0.46, specificity of 0.69, and balanced accuracy of 0.57. For low-risk trials, its sensitivity was 0.47, specificity was 0.86, and balanced accuracy was 0.66. Discussion The results indicate that ChatGPT-o3 produced more conservative RoB ratings than human reviewers, identifying a greater percentage of trials as having a high RoB. Conclusion While unsuitable to be used as a sole assessor, ChatGPT-o3 may serve as an adjunct tool to enhance the efficiency and consistency of RoB assessments in systematic reviews.
Novel delafossite structured visible-light sensitive AgFeO2/PPAC nanocomposite for efficient adsorptive photocatalytic degradation of cationic and anionic dyes
Abstract In this work, a novel delafossite AgFeO 2 -based pomegranate peel activated carbon nanocomposite (AgFeO 2 /PPAC) was synthesized via a hydrothermal route. Structural and surface characterization (XRD, SEM–EDX, BET, TGA, and FTIR) of PPAC and AgFeO 2 /PPAC nanocomposite indicate successful deposition of AgFeO 2 onto a porous carbon matrix with high surface area. The AgFeO 2 /PPAC nanocomposite was evaluated for the removal of the anionic Brilliant Blue R (BBR) and the cationic Neutral Red (NR) dyes from aqueous solutions under visible light. The AgFeO 2 /PPAC nanocomposite shows high removal efficiency toward both dyes in single and binary systems. The experimental data fit well with the Langmuir isotherm model, suggesting monolayer adsorption under the studied conditions. The maximum adsorption capacities are 798.6 mg g −1 for NR and 598 mg g −1 for BBR. Kinetic analysis shows good agreement with the pseudo-second-order model (PSO), indicating that surface interactions contribute to the adsorption process. Thermodynamic parameters indicate a spontaneous and endothermic process. The overall removal performance is attributed to the combined contribution of adsorption and photocatalytic activity. The AgFeO 2 /PPAC nanocomposite demonstrates stable performance over repeated cycles, indicating good reusability. These findings suggest that the developed material is a promising candidate for wastewater treatment applications .
The meaningfulness of searching for minimal exposure duration to understand visual perception
Metabolic risk and metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease and steatohepatitis in cognitive decline: A retrospective cohort study
Objective To determine whether metabolic risk factors (MRFs), metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH) are associated with incident mild cognitive impairment (MCI), vascular dementia (VD), and Alzheimer disease (AD). Design Retrospective cohort study using TriNetX (2003–2023) with Propensity score matching. Setting Multicenter, population-based sample from 69 U.S. healthcare organizations in the TriNetX electronic health record. Participants Adults aged ≥50 years with ≥1 outpatient visit and sufficient clinical/laboratory data. Individuals with prior diagnoses of cognitive impairment, cerebrovascular disease, advanced liver disease, malignancy, schizophrenia, or substance use disorders were excluded. Two matched cohorts were constructed: one with 3,546,833 individuals with MRFs and 3,546,833 healthy controls, and another with 525,844 individuals with MASLD/MASH and 525,844 with MRFs only. Matching was based on age, sex, race, and ethnicity. Primary and secondary outcome measures Incident MCI, VD, and AD, identified using ICD-10 codes, assessed at 5–20-year intervals. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using logistic regression. Outcomes were prespecified. Results Among 7,818,146 participants (mean [SD] age, 64.9 [8.8] years; 52.0% female), individuals with MRFs had higher odds of VD (OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.63–1.67), MCI (OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.42–1.48), and AD (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.19–1.24) vs healthy controls. Compared to the MRF group, individuals with MASLD/MASH had lower odds of VD (OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.83–0.89) and AD (OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.78–0.88), but higher odds of MCI (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.30–1.44); all p < .001. Conclusions In this large, propensity-matched retrospective cohort study, MRFs were independently associated with significantly increased long-term odds of MCI, VD, and AD. MASLD/MASH demonstrated a divergent cognitive risk profile relative to MRFs alone—characterized by higher odds of MCI but paradoxically lower odds of VD and AD, a pattern that warrants cautious interpretation given potential competing mortality risk, survivor bias, and residual confounding. These findings suggest that MASLD/MASH is associated with a distinct cognitive trajectory, highlighting the importance of early cognitive surveillance in this population.
Association between fluid administration and 28-day mortality in sepsis: a retrospective cohort study
Neutrino’s nursery found: the ‘Shadow Blaster’
Phylo-Plex: a phylogenetically informed, low-cost amplicon sequencing platform for deployable high-resolution genomic epidemiology
Abstract Genomic pathogen surveillance is a powerful tool for public health and research, but is costly and unachievable in low-resource settings. Most sub-genomic typing methods sacrifice resolution whilst remaining costly. We developed “Phylo-Plex”, a novel approach that identifies information-rich genomic regions to maximise phylogenetic information whilst minimising the number of regions. Applied to Treponema pallidum and Neisseria gonorrhoeae , we designed a high-resolution multiplex PCR sequencing scheme for lineage tracking pathogens with different extremes of genome variation. For Treponema pallidum , we also designed and evaluated the Phylo-Plex scheme in the laboratory and field settings by sequencing 72 clinical samples using MinION Flongle cells. Our T. pallidum scheme comprising 59 multiplex amplicons achieved high discrimination of fine-scale sublineages comparable to those defined using whole genomes, and demonstrating a qPCR detection limit ≤Ct 32. Variant calls from MinION amplicon sequencing were highly correlated with Illumina whole genome sequencing. We successfully deployed the method in a low-resource laboratory in Zimbabwe, costed at <£300/24 samples (£12.47/sample). Phylo-Plex enables low-cost tracking of priority pathogenic lineages in low resource settings and at scale.
Complex patterns of functional change among TBI survivors from discharge to 6-month follow-up: Findings from a registry-based cohort study
Background Functional recovery after traumatic brain injury (TBI) is heterogeneous, and reliance on single time-point outcomes may obscure meaningful post-discharge change. Objective To identify early clinical, laboratory, and radiologic factors associated with functional change between hospital discharge and six-month follow-up using the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOSE). Methods In this longitudinal study, 2,948 TBI survivors aged 12 years or older admitted to a tertiary trauma center underwent GOSE assessment at discharge and six months post-discharge. Functional trajectories were classified as recovering, stable, or regressing. Multinomial logistic regression evaluated associations between early variables and functional trajectories. Analyses were additionally stratified by discharge GOSE to assess statistical effects. Results Substantial bidirectional functional change occurred after discharge. Several variables, including age, Glasgow Coma Scale, subarachnoid or intraventricular hemorrhage, hemoglobin, and coagulation indices, were associated with both recovery and regression. Discharge GOSE strongly predicted subsequent change but increased the odds of both improvement and decline. Subgroup analyses indicated many unexpected associations reflected ceiling and floor effects and regression to the mean. Nevertheless, some predictors showed consistent directional effects: in non-severe TBI, age 40–74 years, low admission blood glucose, and higher platelet counts; and in severe TBI, age > 40 years, low admission blood glucose, pneumocephalus, and bilateral fixed pupils. Conclusions Post-TBI functional outcomes follow complex, often unpredictable trajectories. These findings highlight limitations of static early prognostication and support a trajectory-oriented approach to post-discharge TBI care.
Deformation failure mechanism of deep high-stress fractured soft rock roadways and active-passive full-space collaborative control technology
Author Correction: The balance between stability and plasticity of the visual word form area in dyslexia
Compressive stress inhibits proliferation in AsPC-1 pancreatic cancer cells and reduction of Myc protein
Cancer cells grow in confined tumor microenvironments and push the surrounding tissue, which reacts and exposes them to compressive stress. Previous studies have revealed that compressive stress inhibits proliferation in breast and colorectal cancer cells. It has been reported that pancreatic tumors accumulate compressive stress in vivo , but it is not well understood whether compressive stress regulates proliferation in pancreatic cancer cells. Therefore, the effect of compressive stress on the proliferation of human pancreatic cancer cells was investigated in this study. We found that the growth of compressed AsPC-1 human pancreatic cancer cells was slower than that of uncompressed cells. Furthermore, the protein expression of Myc was reduced in compressed cells, which inhibited their proliferation. In addition, the expression of Snail, which is correlated with poor prognosis in pancreatic cancer patients, was promoted by compressive stress and the inhibition of Myc. These results suggest that compressive stress inhibits proliferation and triggers Snail expression via the reduction of Myc protein in AsPC-1 pancreatic cancer cells.