Search Results (200)

Objectives: The identification of novel antimicrobial agents for use in root canal treatment may provide opportunities to improve treatment outcomes. This study aimed to assess the antimicrobial efficacy of different molecular weights of chitosan (CS), and how modification with CS may impact on the antimicrobial, physico-mechanical and biological properties of Biodentine™, a calcium-silicate-based material used in endodontics. Methods: C. albicans biofilms were treated with either 3% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) or a 0.05% or 0.1% CS solution for 5 min. The growth medium was replenished, and cells were re-incubated for additional 72 h. Regrowth of biofilms was assessed using a colorimetric XTT assay. Additionally, multispecies biofilms were established and the regrowth of biofilms on Biodentine discs were quantified following the addition of 0.5 wt% and 1 wt% of CS powder using qPCR. The physico-mechanical and biological properties of the new composite of Biodentine and CS were also evaluated. Results: Viability readings revealed significant initial biofilm inhibitory effects of CS solutions, followed by significant regrowth after 72 h. Upon the addition of CS to Biodentine, significant reductions in multispecies biofilm regrowth were determined. Notably, the antibiofilm activity of CS was found to be increased as the molecular weight decreased. The addition of powdered CS of low molecular weight showed a reduction in the mechanical properties of Biodentine, whereas no detrimental effects on the other material properties were noted. Conclusions: Chitosan may not be useful as an alternative irrigant to NaOCl. Addition of CS to Biodentine represents a potential means of augmenting the antimicrobial activity of Biodentine against persistent microorganisms following endodontic therapy. Despite the reductions in mechanical properties of the material, the new composite still represents a viable material option when material strength and hardness are not critical. Full article

Background/Objectives: During cataract surgery, topical anesthesia is routinely achieved through the instillation of topical anesthetic eye drops, while different agents may be applied to the corneal surface during the procedure to support lubrication and protection. The impact of these intraoperative strategies on corneal integrity and postoperative ocular surface recovery remains an area of clinical interest. This study aimed to compare the intraoperative and postoperative effects of applying a topical anesthetic gel (Ophtesic, Horus Pharma) on the corneal surface versus the use of balanced salt solution (BSS) during cataract surgery. Methods: In this longitudinal, observational prospective study, 24 eyes of 24 patients undergoing phacoemulsification received either topical anesthetic gel (n = 15) or BSS irrigation (n = 9). Central corneal thickness (CCT) and epithelial thickness were measured preoperatively and on postoperative days 1, 5, and 15 using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Basal epithelial cell (BEC) density was assessed by in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM), while OSDI score, non-invasive breakup time (NI-BUT), and Schirmer test I values were evaluated preoperatively and on postoperative days 5 and 15. Patient and surgeon satisfaction were rated using a Likert-like scale. Results: Both groups showed increased CCT and epithelial thickness at day 1. In the gel group, CCT returned to baseline by day 15 (p = 0.361), and epithelial thickness normalized by day 5 (p = 0.066). In the BSS group, CCT remained elevated at day 15 (p < 0.05), and epithelial thickness decreased at day 5 (p < 0.05) before returning to baseline. BEC density normalized at day 15 in the gel group (p = 0.107) but remained altered in the BSS group (p < 0.05). NI-BUT Schirmer I, and OSDI showed a trend toward faster recovery in the gel group than in the BSS group. Conclusions: In this exploratory study, intraoperative application of a topical anesthetic gel appeared to support early normalization of corneal and tear film parameters while providing effective anesthesia. Further studies are warranted to confirm these observations and evaluate potential long-term benefits. Full article

Banana is a nutritious food of great global economic importance. However, water deficit negatively impacts banana plant development. Therefore, it is essential to study efficient water use and develop technologies capable of maintaining fruit quality after harvest, extending the shelf life, and reducing losses. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of post-harvest applications of salicylic acid, gibberellic acid, and Trichoderma harzianum on ‘Nanicão’ banana fruits produced under controlled water deficit during different phenological stages, aiming to extend the shelf life and maintain nutritional quality. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 4 × 4 factorial scheme, comprising four irrigation management strategies based on crop evapotranspiration (ETc)—100% ETc throughout the cultivation cycle (E1) and 50% ETc during the juvenile stage (E2), fruiting stage (E3), and both juvenile/fruiting stages (E4)—and four post-harvest fruit conservation strategies: WC, control (distilled water); GA3, 200 mg L⁻¹ of gibberellic acid; SA, 4.5 mM of salicylic acid; and TRIC, 1.5 mL L⁻¹ of Trichoderma harzianum. There were four replications. The use of gibberellic acid at a concentration of 200 mg L⁻¹ is the most effective strategy to extend the shelf life and maintain the post-harvest quality of ‘Nanicão’ banana fruits produced under water restrictions during the juvenile stage. Full article

Sustainable soil–water management under climate and socio-economic pressures requires predictive capability that is both mechanistic and continuously corrected by observations. Data assimilation (DA) provides the formal machinery to merge models with heterogeneous measurements—from satellite evapotranspiration and soil moisture to cosmic-ray neutron sensing, proximal geophysics, lysimeters, and groundwater hydrographs—while propagating uncertainty. This review (based on 90 references) synthesizes frontiers in DA and modeling for soil–water systems across scales, emphasizing (i) multi-source observation operators and scaling; (ii) coupled crop–vadose–groundwater modeling frameworks and their structural hypotheses; (iii) modern DA methods (ensemble, variational, particle-based, and hybrid physics–ML) for joint estimation of states, parameters, and biases; and (iv) emerging digital twins that enable predict-then-verify management loops for irrigation, recharge enhancement, and drought risk reduction. We highlight how tracer-aided and isotope-informed components can improve evapotranspiration partitioning and recharge threshold detection, and how agent-based or socio-hydrological coupling can represent human decision feedback. Finally, we outline research gaps in uncertainty quantification, benchmarking, reproducibility, and governance needed to operationalize trustworthy soil–water digital twins for resilient food and water systems. Full article

Background/Objectives: Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA), a commonly performed procedure in elderly patients with osteoarthritis, is frequently complicated by postoperative infections—primarily caused by Cutibacterium acnes and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS)—which remain a major clinical challenge. While standard antiseptic skin protocols can reduce the bacterial load at the surgical site, they often fail to achieve complete eradication, particularly with C. acnes, a resident species of the shoulder microbiome. Recent evidence indicates that intraoperative povidone–iodine irrigation is effective in significantly decreasing microbial burden; however, a thorough characterization of the virulence factors of the isolated strains remains essential. Methods: A total of 187 clinical strains isolated immediately after RTSA were characterized with respect to their antibiotic resistance profiles and biofilm-forming capacity, and the impact of intraoperative povidone–iodine irrigation on the reduction in bacteria that express these virulence traits was evaluated. Results: Of the 120 C. acnes isolates, 97.67% were susceptible to the tested antimicrobial agents, while only 3.33% exhibited resistance, specifically to clindamycin. In contrast, 53% of CoNS isolates were classified as susceptible, whereas the remaining 47% demonstrated multidrug resistance. Biofilm production was detected in 24% (29/120) of C. acnes and 39% (25/64) of CoNS isolates, with a statistically significant reduction observed after irrigation only for C. acnes. No association was found between biofilm formation and clindamycin resistance in C. acnes, likely due to the low number of resistant isolates. Conversely, among CoNS, a correlation was observed, with the 17.2% of biofilm-producing strains also exhibiting resistance to antimicrobial agents. Conclusions: Notwithstanding the presence of these virulence factors, povidone–iodine irrigation proved effective in substantially reducing the number of bacterial isolates recovered at the surgical site without selecting for strains with enhanced pathogenicity. Notably, the majority of resistant bacteria were detected prior to intraoperative irrigation. This intraoperative procedure may be a key approach to reducing prosthetic joint infections frequently caused by more virulent pathogens, which are unlikely to be selected following this disinfection strategy. Full article

In arid regions characterized by extreme water scarcity, it is important to synergistically optimize both crop yield and water use. Irrigation strategies based on empirical knowledge overlook crops’ dynamic water needs and may cause water waste and yield loss. To address this issue, this paper proposes an intelligent irrigation scheduling method based on a crop growth model and an improved deep reinforcement learning (DRL) agent. We construct a high-fidelity cotton growth environment using the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) model. The model was calibrated with local data from the Shihezi region, Xinjiang, to provide a reliable simulation platform for DRL agent training. We developed a temporal state representation module based on a Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM) network and an attention mechanism. This module captures dynamic trends in historical environmental information to focus on critical decision factors. The Soft Actor–Critic (SAC) algorithm was improved by integrating a feature attention mechanism to enhance decision-making precision. A dynamic reward function was designed based on the critical growth stages of cotton to incorporate agronomic prior knowledge into the optimization objective. Simulation results demonstrate that our proposed method can improve water use efficiency (WUE) by 39.0% (with an 8.4% increase in yield and a 22.1% reduction in water consumption) compared to fixed-schedule irrigation strategies. An ablation study further confirms that each of our proposed modules—BiLSTM, the attention mechanism, and the dynamic reward—makes a significant contribution to the final performance. Full article

The irrigation sector urgently needs more eco-sustainable materials able to guarantee the same performance as traditional fittings manufactured from virgin fossil-based polymers. In this study, sustainable composites were developed by melt-compounding virgin and recycled polypropylene (RPP) with hazelnut shell (HS) powder with or without maleic-anhydride-grafted polypropylene (PPC) coupling agent. The materials were characterized by a rheological and mechanical point of view. At high shear rates, the viscosity curves of matrices and composites converge, making the difference between neat and filled systems negligible in terms of processability. This indicates that standard injection-molding parameters used for the neat matrices can also be applied to the composites without significant adjustments. Tensile tests showed that adding 10 wt% HS powder increased the elastic modulus by approximately 30% (from 960 MPa to 1.2 GPa) while reducing elongation at break by about 90% compared with neat RPP. The use of PPC mitigated this loss of ductility, partially restoring tensile strength and increasing EB from 6% to 18% in RPP-based composites (+200%). Finally, sleeve bodies and nuts injection-molded from RPP/HS5 and RPP/HS5/PPC successfully resisted internal water pressure up to 3.5 bar without leakage or structural damage. These findings demonstrate that agro-industrial waste can be effectively valorized as a functional filler in recycled polypropylene, enabling the manufacture of irrigation fittings with mechanical and processing performances comparable to those of virgin PP and supporting the transition toward a circular economy. Full article

This study presents the optimization of an automated mushroom substrate irrigation system by integrating a Soft Actor-Critic (SAC) reinforcement learning agent with a recursive LSTM prediction model. The system, based on a Siemens S7-1200 PLC, CS650 dielectric sensors, and an Ethernet-based data architecture, provides real-time control of humidity, temperature, and electrical conductivity. Experimental data analysis shows that the SAC agent increases the episodic reward from 20–32 to 90–100 units over 200 episodes, stably maintaining the substrate moisture in the range of 61–65%. The LSTM model achieved a Validation Loss of 0.016–0.022, accurately predicting the hydro-physical parameters. Compared to traditional PID controllers, the SAC-based system reduces humidity deviations by 35–40%, reduces the risk of overwatering and drying out, and increases mycelium colonization. The results confirm that the developed cyber-bioprocess platform increases the stability of the mushroom cultivation process, water use efficiency, and product quality and shows potential for industrial application, which must be validated in larger-scale trials. Full article

Background: Disorders of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) affect millions worldwide and rank among the most frequent causes of orofacial pain unrelated to dental disease. Beyond discomfort, they can restrict mandibular motion and impair chewing efficiency. Arthrocentesis has been adopted as a favored surgical approach after conservative therapy fails since joint lavage can reduce inflammation and restore mobility with minimal invasiveness. A variety of irrigants are available for this procedure, including normal saline, Ringer’s lactate, and ozonated water, each offering potential therapeutic advantages. However, the comparative effectiveness of these solutions in terms of pain reduction and functional recovery has not been clearly established, warranting systematic evaluation. Materials and Methods: Following PRISMA recommendations, a literature search was conducted in PubMed and ScienceDirect between 10 October and 14 November 2024. The search focused on studies published in English within the past ten years that examined arthrocentesis for temporomandibular joint disorders using normal saline, Ringer’s lactate, or ozonated water as the irrigant. Results: Seven clinical trials involving 220 patients were included, of which three provided data suitable for meta-analysis. Qualitative synthesis indicated that all irrigants reduced pain (VAS) and improved maximum mouth opening (MMO), with ozonated water showing the greatest mean improvements (VAS reduction 6.2 points; MMO gain 12.9 mm). Ringer’s lactate and saline also demonstrated clinically relevant effects. Quantitative analysis revealed no baseline group differences (VAS p = 0.800; MMO p = 0.935). Short-term (≤1 month) random effects models showed non-significant changes for VAS (Fisher’s z = 1.32; 95% CI −2.64 to 0.00) and MMO (z = 0.04; 95% CI −0.14 to 0.21). At 3–6 months, ozonated water produced a statistically significant reduction in pain (z = −0.34; 95% CI −0.53 to −0.15), whereas MMO remained unchanged (z = 0.05; 95% CI −0.13 to 0.22). Conclusions: Arthrocentesis with any irrigant improves TMD symptoms. Ozonated water demonstrated the strongest long-term analgesic effect, but MMO improvements did not reach significance. Larger, standardized randomized trials are required to validate these findings. Full article

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary, the causal agent of Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR) or white mold, is a soil-borne hemibiotrophic fungus that causes substantial soybean yield losses worldwide. This pathogen infects over 400 plant species and persists in soil for extended periods through melanized sclerotia, which can survive under extreme environmental conditions. The wide host range, environmental adaptability, and longevity of sclerotia make SSR a persistent challenge in soybean production. No single management tactic provides reliable control, which underscores the importance of integrated pest management (IPM). Cultural practices such as crop rotation with non-hosts, optimized row spacing, adjusted seeding rates, and targeted irrigation are fundamental to reducing inoculum and modifying canopy microclimates to slow infection. Although genetic resistance remains partial, the deployment of cultivars with stable performance across environments contributes to disease suppression, particularly when combined with fungicide applications. However, fungicide efficacy is inconsistent and limited due to environmental concerns and potential resistance. Advances in disease modeling have improved the timing and precision of chemical control, while biological control agents and RNA interference approaches offer promising future options. This review synthesizes current IPM strategies for SSR and explores emerging alternatives to support sustainable soybean production. Full article

Background/Objectives: Phytotherapy, the use of plant-derived bioactive compounds for therapeutic purposes, has gained increasing attention in dentistry as a natural, well-tolerated, and culturally acceptable adjunct to conventional treatments. In pediatric dentistry, its potential relevance lies in its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, which may support oral health, caries prevention, pulp vitality, and gingival health. This narrative review aimed to summarize the current clinical evidence regarding the application of phytotherapeutic agents in pediatric oral care. Methods: A narrative review was conducted according to SANRA guidelines, including clinical studies on plant-based products used for preventive or therapeutic purposes in children and adolescents. Results: Forty-three clinical studies met the inclusion criteria. The most commonly investigated agents included licorice, green tea, cocoa husk, cranberry, pomegranate, Aloe vera, and miswak. These agents demonstrated antimicrobial activity against cariogenic bacteria, reduction in plaque and gingival indices, and favorable healing in pulp therapies. In endodontics, Aloe vera-derived acemannan and Ankaferd Blood Stopper^® showed outcomes comparable to conventional materials, while pomegranate and apple cider vinegar exhibited partial antibacterial effects as irrigants. Conclusions: Phytotherapy shows promise as a complementary approach in pediatric dentistry, contributing to caries prevention, gingivitis control, and pulp healing. However, current evidence remains limited by small sample sizes, short-term follow-ups, and heterogeneity in formulations. Further trials are required to confirm efficacy, ensure safety, and standardize phytotherapeutic applications in pediatric oral care. Full article

Introduction: Acute iron poisoning is a potentially life-threatening condition that primarily affects the gastrointestinal, hepatic and cardiovascular systems. While it most often occurs accidentally in children, intentional overdoses in adolescents and adults remain an important clinical concern. Case description: We report the case of a 14-year-old male patient with a history of depression who intentionally ingested 100 ferrous sulfate tablets (equivalent to 118 mg/kg of elemental iron). The patient was admitted to the emergency department three hours after ingestion. He presented with vomiting tablet remnants, headache, and mild abdominal pain. Supportive measures included intestinal irrigation with polyethylene glycol (PEG), gastric protection, and N-acetylcysteine intravenous administration. The iron chelator therapy with deferoxamine was not possible because the medication was unavailable, so treatment with the oral iron chelator (deferasirox) was initiated. The iron levels gradually decreased, with no evidence of liver or cardiovascular involvement. The patient was discharged on day 20 post-ingestion with outpatient psychiatric follow-up. Discussion: This case highlights the importance of early initiation of gastrointestinal decontamination with PEG to limit systemic iron absorption. The use of deferasirox as an alternative chelating agent in the absence of deferoxamine has been associated with a favorable response. Conclusions: The rational use of oral chelators, gastrointestinal decontamination, and hepatoprotective therapies in acute iron poisoning might prevent major complications and improve prognosis. Alternative therapies can be valuable when an antidote is not immediately available; however, further clinical research is required before making a recommendation. Full article

Background: Irrigation is a key strategy in reducing bioburden, disrupting biofilms, and supporting wound healing. While saline is the standard for its safety and availability, antiseptic and antibiotic solutions are often used in clinical scenarios that require infection control. However, the rise in antibiotic stewardship and concerns regarding cytotoxicity are reshaping current practices. This review identifies recent trends, current controversies, and persistent gaps in knowledge that warrant further investigation and regulatory attention. Methods: A literature review identified irrigation solutions commonly used in plastic surgery; labeling and concentrations were obtained from Devices@FDA, Drugs@FDA, and DailyMed, and PubMed, Cochrane Central, and Embase were searched (January 2022–July 2025) for human studies on acute wounds, chronic wounds, and implant-based breast surgery. Results: In acute wounds, saline and potable tap water effectively prevent infection. In chronic wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers and pressure injuries, antiseptic agents, including hypochlorous acid, sodium hypochlorite, polyhexanide, and citrate-based solutions, have shown promise in improving healing and reducing infection. In implant-based breast reconstruction and augmentation, data on antiseptics, such as chlorhexidine, and changes in FDA guidance for povidone–iodine and bacitracin have prompted a reevaluation of intraoperative irrigation practices. Conclusion: Despite widespread use, many antiseptics remain off-label, and high-quality clinical studies comparing efficacy and safety are lacking. Full article

Background: This randomized clinical trial compared the effects of topical irrigation with a desiccant agent (HybenX Oral Tissue Decontaminant, HBX) combined with full-mouth ultrasonic debridement as well as scaling and root planing (FMUD-SRP) versus conventional non-surgical periodontal therapy (US-SRP). Methods: Three quadrants per patient with probing pocket depth (PPD) ≥ 5 mm were randomly assigned to (i) the control group (US-SRP only), (ii) test group 1 (HBX + US-SRP at baseline, HBX 1T (one time)), or (ii) test group 2 (HBX + US-SRP across three sessions, HBX 3T (three times)). Clinical parameters included probing pocket depth (PPD), bleeding on probing (BOP), plaque index (PI), gingival recession (REC), and Clinical Attachment Level (CAL), recorded at baseline (Tbase), 45 days (T45d), and 90 days (T90d). Microbiological sampling was conducted for all sites at Tbase, T45d, and T90d to assess periodontal pathogens. HBX-treated sites received gel application for 60 s, followed by a saline rinse and US-SRP. Results: Significant differences were found between groups in PPD (p = 0.04) and CAL (p = 0.02) at T45d versus Tbase, while BOP, PI, and REC showed no significant inter-group differences at T45d. The HBX 3T group demonstrated greater pathogen reduction compared to the control and HBX 1T groups, except for one bacterial species. Conclusions: All treatments improved clinical and microbiological parameters. Even if single and triple applications of HBX showed similar clinical results, the repeated application achieved greater bacterial reduction. Full article

The high salt content, low permeability, and fragile structure of saline–alkali land severely constrain the construction and development of irrigation channels. Compaction is an effective means of improving the soil’s engineering performance. Previous studies in this field have mostly been limited to two-dimensional numerical simulations and generally lack systematic physical experiments to support their findings, resulting in an insufficient understanding of the three-dimensional deformation mechanism and macroscopic mechanical response of soil during compaction. In view of the above limitations, this study adopts a comprehensive research framework of “physical experiment–numerical simulation”. Conducting indoor rolling model tests of control variables and simultaneously constructing the corresponding 2D and 3D discrete element models based on the MatDEM platform revealed the influence of curing agent dosage (10% and 25%), loosely laid sample thickness (10 cm and 30 cm), and number of rolling passes on the compaction effect. The test results show that the degree of compaction increases in a typical three-stage pattern of “rapid rise–slow growth–gradual stabilization” with the number of rolling passes, and the number of economic rolling passes is from 4 to 6. Increasing the dosage of the curing agent and reducing the thickness of application both significantly improve the uniformity of compaction and the final density. Numerical simulation further reveals that the 3D model can more accurately reflect the three-dimensional stress state of the soil and the spatial movement of particles, and that the simulation results are in higher agreement with the experimental data. The 2D model has greater computational efficiency and can capture the main compaction trends under specific simplified conditions, but it has deficiencies in quantitative accuracy. This study verified the effectiveness and advantages of MatDEM in simulating complex geotechnical compaction processes, providing theoretical support for an in-depth understanding of compaction mechanisms and the optimization of construction parameters using discrete element methods. Full article