User Perception and Eye Movement on A Pandemic Data Visualization Dashboard.

This study utilized a two-phase user experiment to explore people's perceptual and cognitive states interacting with the COVID-19 dashboard to obtain outbreak information. Specifically, 27 participants were assigned to interact with this dashboard with different color arrangements and performed image-memory, search, and browse visualization tasks sequentially. We found that the participants expected to obtain both global pandemic trends and single region/date statuses from the dashboard to help them grasp important information in the shortest possible time. They also allocated their attention differently to the dashboard's content areas to match their individual visual movement and reading logics. Our participants indicated that the pandemic data visualization dashboard should use a principal-color selection that is alarming but without causing panic. In the study's second phase, an eye-tracking experiment, it was found that the participants' actual eye paths deviated from our expectations: clustering around headings and text, rather than on visualized charts or graphs as anticipated. Based on these findings, we provide design implications for builders of future data-visualization and disaster dashboards.

Silver Diamine Fluoride and Progression of Incipient Approximal Caries in Permanent Teeth: A Retrospective Study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the progression of incipient approximal caries lesions in permanent teeth of children and adolescents with and without silver diamine fluoride (SDF) application. Methods: A retrospective analysis of dental records and radiographs was performed. Baseline and follow-up bitewing radiographs were evaluated and scored using International Caries Classification and Management System (ICCMS) criteria to assess lesion progression. Results: A total of 131 lesions from 68 subjects (mean age equals 9.6 years) were evaluated radiographically and followed for up to 41 months (mean time equals 13.61±6.8 months); 23.6 percent of lesions in the SDF group progressed compared to 38.1 percent in the control group (P<0.001). On average, lesions in the control group increased more per month compared to the study group (P<0.001). The odds of lesion progression in the control group were 2.76 times the odds of progression in the study group. There was a statistically significant difference in lesion progression based on application method; lesions where SDF was applied with Superfloss progressed more per month, on average, versus microbrush application. Conclusions: Silver diamine fluoride may be an effective therapy to slow caries progression of incipient approximal lesions in permanent teeth in high caries-risk populations. Future studies are needed to detect differences in application methods.

Restorations Versus Stainless Steel Crowns in Primary Molars: A Retrospective Split-Mouth Study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the treatment outcomes of multisurface caries in primary molars treated with intracoronal restorations versus stainless steel crowns (SSCs) through a retrospective split-mouth study. Methods: Dental records were screened for patients who had treatment of one primary molar with a multisurface restoration and one primary molar with an SSC. Teeth were followed until a loss to follow-up, exfoliation, or failure. Results: A total of 988 primary molars were evaluated, with a mean follow-up time of 22 months. The survival probabilities for: SSCs were 95.5 percent at one year of service and 92.8 percent at two years of service; and for intracoronal restorations were 92.0 percent at one year of service and 80.0 percent at two years of service. Overall survival analysis showed SSCs to be significantly more successful than restorations (P<0.001), particularly in children treated at ages four years and younger (P<0.001). No statistically significant difference (P=0.10) was found for children treated at ages five years and older. Conclusions: Stainless steel crowns have a higher survival probability versus restorations for multisurface caries. In children ages four years and younger, more aggressive treatment of multi-surface caries with SSCs should be considered, as conservative treatment leads to an increased need for retreatment.

Multicomponent synthesis of pyrano[2,3-c]coumarins.

A base-catalyzed, pseudo-four-component reaction of 4-hydroxycoumarin, two molecules of acetone, and amine towards the synthesis of pyrano[2,3-c]coumarins is reported. The mechanism of this multicomponent reaction is proposed. The reaction is further extended to the preparation of coumarin-substituted pyrano[2,3-c]coumarins by a base-catalyzed, pseudo four-component reaction of two molecules of 4-hydroxycoumarin and two molecules of acetone.

Antiproliferative effect of newcastle disease virus strain D90 on human lung cancer cell line A549.

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and variants of this virus have oncolytic properties and are potential anticancer agents. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of NDV strain D90 and strain D93 isolated from natural sources on human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line A549. We determined the 50% embryo infective dose (EID50) and 50% tissue culture infective dose (TCID50) of the NDV strains. The MTT assay was used to evaluate the effects of NDV strains on cell viability. We determined the expression of Annexin V and Bcl-2 proteins in NDV-infected cells. Light microscopy and electron microscopy indicated that the D90 strain significantly altered cell morphology and reduced cell viability, while strain D93 had negligible effects. Neither strain had a significant effect on normal cultured fetal liver cells. We used acridine orange staining to show that strain D90 (but not strain D93) induced nuclear fragmentation of A549 cells. An Annexin V-based apoptosis assay indicated that strain D90 (but not strain D93) caused significant apoptosis of A549 cells. Moreover, strain D90 (but not strain D93) significantly repressed the expression of Bcl-2 (an antiapoptotic protein) in A549 cells. Taken together, our results indicate that NDV strain D90 (but not strain D93) had no significant effect on normal cultured cells, but induced apoptosis of cultured NSCLC cells via a caspase-dependent pathway. These results suggest that NDV strain D90 has potential as an anticancer agent.