Population Health Management Tools to Support School-Based Oral Health Partnerships and Address Disparities.

BACKGROUND: Dental caries (cavities) experience is prevalent in US children, and national data show rates to be increasing among young children. Disparities are found for those in the low-income and non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic/Latinx groups. Use of caries prevention, specifically dental sealants, is low, even among school-based programs. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THEORY: A population health management (PHM) framework may support targeted school-based case management to reduce oral health disparities. PHM-oriented tools were applied to a school-based oral health intervention and developed into a conceptual model. From 2014 to 2019, Chicago-based Oral Health Forum (OHF) developed a case management intervention in schools, utilizing PHM tools. Through programmatic and school-based partnerships, the PHM tools informed intervention to incorporate community-based organizations, case management staffing, oral health education, targeted community outreach, and Community Dental Health Coordinators' training. CONCLUSIONS: Through a PHM framework, school-based oral health partnerships targeting high-need children was implemented. Use of PHM tools in school-based health programs should be considered in other high caries schools.

Access to restorative oral health care for children living in Illinois with Medicaid vs private dental insurance: An audit study.

BACKGROUND: Public dental insurance programs for children aim to provide access to care, but barriers remain that preclude care delivery. Understanding these barriers is an important health policy concern. METHODS: A telephone audit sought to ascertain availability of oral health care for children in dental offices eligible to bill Medicaid. Female callers posing as mothers called eligible offices requesting appointments. In this cross-over design, offices were randomized to public or private insurance for initial calls and then to the other condition after a washout period. RESULTS: Using mixed models, privately insured patients had 5.9 times (95% CI, 4.55 to 7.69) greater odds of obtaining an appointment than Medicaid patients. Compared with patients in Cook County, suburban patients had slightly better odds, whereas nonurban patients in larger and smaller rural counties had lower odds of success. CONCLUSIONS: Medicaid compares poorly with private insurance for providing access to pediatric oral health care. Regardless of insurance conditions, access is poor in less urban environments compared with metropolitan communities. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Even Medicaid-enrolled dental practices limit the care they extend to insured children. Providing Medicaid by itself cannot overcome large oral health care access disparities, which are greatest in rural communities.

Preoperative ultrasound evaluation of gastric contents in children one hour after ingestion of clear liquid: An observational study.

Background: Gastric ultrasound is an effective, non-invasive method to assess the nature and volume of gastric content in the pediatric population. Recently, the UK, European, and French Pediatric Anesthesia Societies recommend fast for clear fluids in children for 1 h. However, studies showing that 1 h of fasting is safe in the pediatric population are still scarce. This study aims to verify by ultrasound evaluation if 1 h of fasting for clear liquids is sufficient to have an empty stomach before anesthetic induction. Methodology: Patients between 11 months and 16 years of age scheduled for elective outpatient surgery were included. A qualitative and quantitative ultrasound evaluation was performed by calculating the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the gastric antrum, 1 h after ingesting a volume of 3 mL/kg of a non-carbonated sports drink, before anesthetic induction. Results: Fifty patients were included. The average CSA measured by ultrasound was 2.85 ± 1.64 cm2 with an average calculated total volume of 12.9 ± 11.06 mL. All patients had an empty stomach criterion (calculated volume ≤1.5 mL/kg) during the ultrasound evaluation, with an average of 0.40 ± 0.23 mL/kg. With the qualitative assessment of gastric volume, 19 patients (38%) were classified as grade 0, 31 patients (62%) as grade 1, and none as grade 2. Conclusion: One hour of fasting after ingestion of 3 mL/kg of a non-carbonated sports drink is sufficient to meet ultrasound criteria for an empty stomach in a pediatric population undergoing elective outpatient surgery.

Photophysical and anion sensing properties of a triphenylamine-dioxaborinine trimeric compound.

Herein, we report the synthesis and photophysical characterization of the novel tris(4-(2,2-difluoro-6-methyl-2H-1λ3,3,2λ4-dioxaborinin-4-yl)phenyl)amine trimeric probe (A2) via the reaction between triphenylamine (1), acetic anhydride, and BF3·OEt2 implying the twelve new bond formation in a one-pot manner. This highly fluorescent compound in solution (φ up to 0.91 at 572 nm) and solid state (φ = 0.24 at 571 nm) showed a better solvatofluorochromism than its analog monomeric A1 due to symmetry-broken charge transfer, which is consistent with high solvent dipolarity (SdP) response in Catalán's multiparametric regression. Notably, A2 had a high sensibility and selectivity for CN- or F- in solution (LODCN-/F- = 0.18/0.70 µM), and CN- can be discriminated from F- by the reaction of A2 with 3.0 equiv. of CN-. In addition, A2 was impregnated on filter paper to prepare test strips that were applied to naked-eye qualitative sensing of CN- or F-. Finally, the octupolar system in A2 allows for better action of two-photon excitation cross-section values when compared with that of the dipolar structure in A1. These findings provide further information for the design of new efficient two-photon absorption dyes.

Rolling Helical Microrobots for Cell Patterning.

Microrobots, untethered miniature devices capable of performing tasks at the microscale, have gained significant attention in the fields of robotics and biomedicine. These devices hold immense potential for various industrial and scientific applications, including targeted drug delivery and cell manipulation. In this study, we present a novel magnetic rolling helical microrobot specifically designed for bio-compatible cell patterning. Our microrobot incorporates both open-loop and closed-loop control mechanisms, providing flexible, precise, and rapid control for various applications. Through experiments, we demonstrate the microrobot's ability to manipulate cells by pushing them while rolling and arranging cells into desired patterns. This result is particularly significant as it has implications for diverse biological applications such as tissue engineering and organoid development. Moreover, we showcase the effectiveness of our microrobot in a closed-loop control system, where it successfully follows a predetermined path from an origin to a destination. The combination of cellular manipulation capabilities and trajectory-tracking performance underlines the versatility and potential of our magnetic rolling helical microrobot. The ability to control and navigate the microrobot with high precision opens up new possibilities for advanced biomedical applications. These findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge in microbotics and pave the way for further research and development in the field.

Programmable Modular Acoustic Microrobots.

Microrobots have emerged as promising tools for biomedical and in vivo applications, leveraging their untethered actuation capabilities and miniature size. Despite extensive research on diversifying multi-actuation modes for single types of robots, these tiny machines tend to have limited versatility while navigating different environments or performing specific tasks. To overcome such limitations, self-assembly microstructures with on-demand reconfiguration capabilities have gained recent attention as the future of biocompatible microrobotics, as they can address drug delivery, microsurgery, and organoid development processes. Reversible modular reconfiguration structures require specific arrangements of particles that can assume several shapes when external fields are applied. We show how magnetic interaction can be used to assemble cylindrical microrobots into modular microstructures with different shapes. The motion actuation of the formed microstructure happens due to an external acoustic field, which generates responsive forces in the air bubbles trapped in the inner cavity of the robots. An external magnetic field can also steer these structures. We illustrate these capabilities by assembling the robots into different shapes that can swim and be steered, showing the potential to perform biomedical applications. Furthermore, we confirm the biocompatibility of the cylindrical microrobot used as the building blocks of our microstructure. Exposing Chinese Hamster Ovary cells to our microrobots for 24 hours demonstrates cell viability when in contact with the microrobot.

The First Bacterial Endocarditis Due to Achromobacter xylosoxidans in a Dog.

Infectious endocarditis (IE) in dogs is often associated with a high mortality rate as diagnostic work-up as well as antibiotic treatment might be challenging. The present case describes bacteremia in a dog caused by Achromobacter xylosoxidans, leading to an infectious endocarditis. Achromobacter xylosoxidans (A. xylosoxidans) is an aerobic Gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium, which has been associated with multiple nosocomial opportunistic diseases in human medicine. One such manifestation of A. xylosoxidans infection is endocarditis. A. xylosoxidans infections are challenging to treat due to the reduced effectiveness of a wide range of antimicrobial agents. To date, only a few case reports of infections with A. xylosoxidans in animals have been described. This is the first case report of A. xylosoxidans endocarditis in a dog. Whole-genome sequencing was performed to determine the sequencing type and to gain more information about this bacterium regarding its intrinsic resistance genes. With this case report, we seek to increase awareness of A. xylosoxidans as an opportunistic nosocomial pathogen in dogs and to provide a short summary regarding the current state of general knowledge and known resistance patterns.

Patterns of the low-dose dexamethasone suppression test in canine hyperadrenocorticism revisited.

BACKGROUND: The low-dose dexamethasone suppression test (LDDT) is considered an accurate screening and valuable differentiation test in dogs with suspected hyperadrenocorticism (HAC). A recent study showed that the different response patterns not only provide complementary information about etiology, but also the probability of HAC in these patients. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine the diagnostic test performance of LDDT response patterns in a population of dogs from an animal hospital. METHODS: The electronic database was retrospectively searched for dogs suspected of HAC that were given an LDDT. Dogs with acute non-adrenal illnesses during the test were excluded. Response patterns were classified as complete suppression, lack of suppression, partial suppression, escape, inverse, and increasing patterns. Cortisol concentrations ≥ 27.59 nmol/L (≥1 µg/dL) 8 hours after dexamethasone administration were considered positive results irrespective of the patterns observed. Calculations included likelihood ratios (LRs) and predictive values (PVs). RESULTS: HAC and non-adrenal illness were diagnosed in 115 (54%) and 62 (46%) dogs, respectively. The positive (+) LRs (95% CI) for the lack of suppression, partial suppression, escape, and an inverse pattern to diagnose HAC were infinite, 8.09 (2-32.72), 3.23 (0.75-14), and 0.2 (0.06-0.73), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The study confirms that the "lack of suppression" pattern strongly supports a diagnosis of HAC. It shows that the "partial suppression" pattern moderately increases, and the "inverse" pattern decreases the likelihood of HAC. The fact that the study found no association between the "escape" pattern and a diagnosis of HAC, does not support its integration into decision making.

Comparison of pulmonary deposition of nebulized 99m technetium-diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid through 3 inhalation devices in healthy dogs.

BACKGROUND: Inhalation treatment frequently is used in dogs and cats with chronic respiratory disease. Little is known however about the performance of delivery devices and the distribution of aerosolized drugs in the lower airways. OBJECTIVE: To assess the performance of 3 delivery devices and the impact of variable durations of inhalation on the pulmonary and extrapulmonary deposition of nebulized 99m technetium-diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid (99m Tc-DTPA). ANIMALS: Ten university-owned healthy Beagle dogs. METHODS: Prospective crossover study. Dogs inhaled the radiopharmaceutical for 5 minutes either through the Aerodawg spacer with a custom-made nose-muzzle mask, the Aerochamber spacer with the same mask, or the Aerodawg spacer with its original nose mask. In addition, dogs inhaled for 1 and 3 minutes through the second device. Images were obtained by 2-dimensional planar scintigraphy. Radiopharmaceutical uptake was calculated as an absolute value and as a fraction of the registered dose in the whole body. RESULTS: Mean (±SD) lung deposition for the 3 devices was 9.2% (±5.0), 11.4% (±4.9), and 9.3% (±4.6), respectively. Differences were not statistically significant. Uptake in pulmonary and extrapulmonary tissues was significantly lower after 1-minute nebulization, but the mean pulmonary/extrapulmonary deposition ratio (0.38 ± 0.27) was significantly higher than after 5-minute nebulization (0.16 ± 0.1; P = .03). No significant differences were detected after 3- and 5-minute nebulization. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The performance of a pediatric spacer with a custom-made mask is comparable to that of a veterinary device. One-minute nebulization provides lower pulmonary uptake but achieves a better pulmonary/extrapulmonary deposition ratio than does 5-minute nebulization.

Handheld X-ray fluorescence geochemical data of geological and archaeological obsidian from Sonora, Mexico.

Geochemical detection using a portable XRF analyser is highly effective for nondestructive surface analysis in archaeological and geological obsidians. The data obtained in rock slabs, fragments, anhydrous nuclei, flaked and ground stone from Sonora, Mexico, were used to select certain analysed elements (Fe, Mn, Zr, Nb, Y, Th, Rb, Sr, Zn) that help to formulate geochemical variation diagrams to identify chemical trends and correlations between the samples. It proves to be an excellent analytical method for the provenance studies of archaeological artifacts. Subsequently, the integration of the obtained data here and their arrangement with the existing chemical analysis of obsidians for different localities of NW Mexico and the SW of the United States will allow for better knowledge of the primary sources of obsidian in the extraction and manufacture of archaeological artifacts.

Weight Matters-Factors Influencing Eating Behaviors of Vulnerable Women.

Women from low socioeconomic backgrounds are more affected by obesity than men. The influence of weight as a determinant of women's eating behaviors has seldom been studied, especially in Latin America. In this study, we analyzed the food choices of vulnerable women according to their weight status. We conducted photo-elicitation interviews with 31 women from low-income neighborhoods in Santiago, Chile. Weight and height were measured and participants were divided into normal weight (n = 9), overweight (n = 15), and obese groups (n = 7) according to World Health Organization (WHO) body mass index (BMI) categories (p < 0.001). Quantitative and qualitative approaches were used for the analysis. Women in overweight and obese groups described more about their families, temporality, financial issues, and food perception. When weight groups were analyzed separately, more factors explaining eating behaviors were found (mental and physical health, body dissatisfaction, gender role, and obstacles for eating healthy) in the obese group. Results suggest that women with obesity or overweight based their diets on more internal and external factors than did normal weight women. This study contributes to our understanding of why changing behaviors can be difficult in women with obesity. Health care providers should consider these factors in the implementation of programs to address the need for a healthy diet for overweight and obese women.

A ten-year study of immunogenicity and safety of the AS04-HPV-16/18 vaccine in adolescent girls aged 10-14 years.

This study assessed long-term immunogenicity and safety following 3 doses of AS04-adjuvanted human papillomavirus (HPV)-16/18 L1 virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine in females 10-14 years old. Girls included in the immunogenicity subset in the primary controlled, observer-blinded, randomized study (NCT00196924) who received 3 doses were invited for a 10-year follow-up (NCT00316706 and NCT00877877). Serum antibody responses against HPV-16/18 (vaccine types) and HPV-31/45 (non-vaccine types) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using type-specific VLP as coating antigens. Serious adverse events (SAEs) and pregnancy information were recorded. At Month (M) 120, all subjects (N = 418, according-to-protocol immunogenicity cohort) were seropositive for anti-HPV-16/18 antibodies. Geometric mean titers (GMTs) were 1589.9 ELISA Units [EU]/mL (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1459.8-1731.6) for anti-HPV-16 and 597.2 EU/mL (95% CI: 541.7-658.5) for anti-HPV-18 in subjects seronegative at baseline for the type analyzed. Post hoc mathematical modeling predicted a durability ≥50 years for anti-HPV-16 and anti-HPV-18. For the non-vaccine humoral type response, all initially seronegative subjects had seroconverted at M7, with anti-HPV-31 GMT of 2030.5 EU/mL (95% CI: 1766.2-2334.4) and anti-HPV-45 GMT of 2300.8 EU/mL (95% CI: 2036.8-2599.0). At M120, 87.7% and 85.1% remained seropositive for anti-HPV-31 with GMT of 242.9 EU/mL (95% CI: 201.4-293.0) and anti-HPV-45 with GMT of 204.7 EU/mL (95% CI: 170.0-246.6). During the 10-year follow-up, no SAEs or abnormal pregnancy outcomes were causally related to vaccination. Three doses of the AS04-HPV-16/18 vaccine induced high and sustained antibody response against HPV-16,18,31 and 45 in girls aged 10-14 years during the 10-year follow-up, with an acceptable long-term safety profile.

Dioxanes and dioxolanes in source waters: Occurrence, odor thresholds and behavior through upgraded conventional and advanced processes in a drinking water treatment plant.

Over the last years, the human probable carcinogen 1,4-dioxane and alkyl-1,3-dioxanes and dioxolanes have been detected and identified as the cause of several pollution episodes in the Llobregat River (Catalonia, NE Spain) and its aquifer. It is an issue of major concern to study these compounds which are released to the environment by resin manufacturing plants' spills and wastewater discharges spread along rivers and reach drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) in order to protect the environment and public health. In this study four seasonal sampling campaigns were carried out over a year to determine the removal efficiency of the dioxanes and dioxolanes at each step of a DWTP including ozonation, granular activated carbon filters, ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis step's treatments. Additionally, a weekly sampling monitoring of 1,4-dioxane and alkyl-1,3-dioxanes and dioxolanes in raw water, groundwater and finished water was performed at a DWTP over more than two years. Aqueous odor concentration thresholds (OTCs) were established by the three-alternative forced choice method (3-AFC). Following a previous published methodology, samples were analyzed and results showed that the advanced treatment (Ultrafiltration followed by reverse osmosis) line removes more efficiently 1,4-dioxane, alkyl dioxanes and dioxolanes (80 ±â€¯6% for 1,4-dioxane, 97 ±â€¯7% for 5,5-DMD and 100 ±â€¯0% for 2,5,5-TMD) than the upgraded conventional treatment line (ozonation followed by granular activated carbon filters) (-12 ±â€¯50%, 25 ±â€¯62% and 50 ±â€¯51% respectively), where some desorption processes were eventually observed. From the monitoring study, results suggest that the presence of 1,4-dioxane is not only due to spills, but also from other sources of contamination. Whereas dioxolanes almost completely disappeared in time, 1,4-dioxane's concentrations remained low and fluctuant. A background concentration of 1,4-dioxane in surface waters (∼1 µg/L) has been determined with a relevant concentration up to 11.6 µg/L of 1,4-dioxane in groundwater. The perception values for some of the studied compounds were extremely low (few ng/L only), which confirms the relevancy of this group of compounds as malodorous agents in waters.

["We eat in this way because ". Understanding eating behaviors of Chilean women of low socioeconomic status]. / "Comemos así porque ". Entendiendo las conductas alimentarias de mujeres chilenas de bajos recursos.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of obesity is higher in women than in men, especially in those of lower socioeconomic status. It is established that this group tends to have a less healthy diet. AIM: To explore the eating behaviors of low-income Chilean women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Semi-structured interviews with photo-elicitation were conducted with 31 Chilean women aged 36 ± 6 years, who lived with a partner and had at least one sibling under 12 years of age. The interviews were transcribed and an inductive analysis of the participants' discourses was made. RESULTS: Seven themes were described in relation to their influence on three eating behaviors (food purchase, preparation and intake): Family, preferences, temporality, financial issues, special occasions, perceptions about food, and availability of food. The family exerted a strong influence on the behaviors and had an impact on the other themes encountered. CONCLUSIONS: Eating behaviors were influenced by several factors, both at the personal and environment levels. These factors interacted with each other to produce different forms of behavior modulation. It is therefore problematic to promote healthy eating behaviors while not considering all the influences on this behavior.

"Comemos así porque… ". Entendiendo las conductas alimentarias de mujeres chilenas de bajos recursos / "We eat in this way because… ". Understanding eating behaviors of Chilean women of low socioeconomic status

Background: The prevalence of obesity is higher in women than in men, especially in those of lower socioeconomic status. It is established that this group tends to have a less healthy diet. Aim: To explore the eating behaviors of low-income Chilean women. Material and Methods: Semi-structured interviews with photo-elicitation were conducted with 31 Chilean women aged 36 ± 6 years, who lived with a partner and had at least one sibling under 12 years of age. The interviews were transcribed and an inductive analysis of the participants' discourses was made. Results: Seven themes were described in relation to their influence on three eating behaviors (food purchase, preparation and intake): Family, preferences, temporality, financial issues, special occasions, perceptions about food, and availability of food. The family exerted a strong influence on the behaviors and had an impact on the other themes encountered. Conclusions: Eating behaviors were influenced by several factors, both at the personal and environment levels. These factors interacted with each other to produce different forms of behavior modulation. It is therefore problematic to promote healthy eating behaviors while not considering all the influences on this behavior.

Implementation and characterization of a controllable dephasing channel based on coupling polarization and spatial degrees of freedom of light.

We present the experimental implementation and theoretical model of a controllable dephasing quantum channel using photonic systems. The channel is implemented by coupling the polarization and the spatial distribution of light that play, in the perspective of open quantum systems, the role of quantum system and environment, respectively. The capability of controlling our channel allows us to visualize its effects in a quantum system. Different from standard dephasing channels, our channel presents an exotic behavior in the sense that the evolution of a state, from a pure to a mixed state, shows an oscillatory behavior if tracked in the Bloch sphere. Additionally, we report the evolution of the purity and perform a quantum process tomography to obtain the χ matrix associated to our channel.

Entangled Two Photon Absorption Cross Section on the 808 nm Region for the Common Dyes Zinc Tetraphenylporphyrin and Rhodamine B.

We report the measurement of the entangled two-photon absorption (ETPA) cross section, σE, at 808 nm on organic chromophores in solution in a low photon flux regime. We performed measurements on zinc tetraphenylporphyrin (ZnTPP) in toluene and rhodamine B (RhB) in methanol. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first time that σE is measured for RhB. Additionally, we report a study of the dependence of σE on the molecular concentration for both molecular systems. In contrast to previous experiments, our measurements are based on detecting the pairs of photons that are transmitted by the molecular system. By using a coincidence count circuit it was possible to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. This type of work is important for the development of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques using entangled photons.

A 3D Printed Toolbox for Opto-Mechanical Components.

In this article we present the development of a set of opto-mechanical components (a kinematic mount, a translation stage and an integrating sphere) that can be easily built using a 3D printer based on Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) and parts that can be found in any hardware store. Here we provide a brief description of the 3D models used and some details on the fabrication process. Moreover, with the help of three simple experimental setups, we evaluate the performance of the opto-mechanical components developed by doing a quantitative comparison with its commercial counterparts. Our results indicate that the components fabricated are highly customizable, low-cost, require a short time to be fabricated and surprisingly, offer a performance that compares favorably with respect to low-end commercial alternatives.

The photo-elicitation of food worlds: A study on the eating behaviors of low socioeconomic Chilean women.

Traditional methods for studying eating behaviors include quantitative methods such as 24-h dietary recalls or food frequency questionnaires. Recently, visual methods such as photo-elicitation (PE) have been recognized as useful for studying and understanding eating behaviors. PE has been defined as the use of images during an interview. The goals of this study are to demonstrate the potential of PE for exploring the eating behaviors of Chilean women of low socioeconomic status and to show the advantages and disadvantages of PE from the participants' points of view. The study included 31 participants who were asked to take pictures that represented what they considered important to them in their "food world". The pictures were developed and participants were invited to participate in an individual interview. Participants were able to talk about their eating behaviors and those of their families, the factors influencing those behaviors, their dietary knowledge and skills, and their reflections on their diet using the photographs. PE proved to be a feasible research technique for the studied population, and was well received and enjoyed by the participants. The participants perceived a few barriers with PE, such as forgetting to take pictures or not having ideas for new pictures. Nevertheless, PE allowed researchers to obtain rich information about eating behaviors, and can therefore be a useful method for working with populations of underserved areas. The PE data that this study collected could be used to create or improve interventions promoting healthy eating within the studied population.

Measuring different types of transverse momentum correlations in the biphoton's Fourier plane.

In this Letter, we present a theoretical and experimental study about the spatial correlations of paired photons generated by Type II spontaneous parametric down-conversion. In particular, we show how these correlations can be positive or negative, depending on the direction in which the far-field plane is scanned and the polarization postselected. Our results provide a straightforward way to observe different kind of correlations that complement other well-known methods to tune the spatial correlations of paired photons.