An overview of three-dimensional imaging devices in dentistry.

OBJECTIVE: To review four types of three-dimensional imaging devices: intraoral scanners, extraoral scanners, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), and facial scanners, in terms of their development, technologies, advantages, disadvantages, accuracy, influencing factors, and applications in dentistry. METHODS: PubMed (National Library of Medicine) and Google Scholar databases were searched. Additionally, the scanner manufacturers' websites were accessed to obtain relevant data. Four authors independently selected the articles, books, and websites. To exclude duplicates and scrutinize the data, they were uploaded to Mendeley Data. In total, 135 articles, two books, and 17 websites were included. RESULTS: Research and clinical practice have shown that oral and facial scanners and CBCT can be used widely in various areas of dentistry with high accuracy. CONCLUSION: Although further advancement of these devices is desirable, there is no doubt that digital technology represents the future of dentistry. Furthermore, the combined use of different devices may bring dentistry into a new era. These four devices will play a significant role in clinical utility with high accuracy. The combined use of these devices should be explored further. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The four devices will play a significant role in clinical use with high accuracy. The combined use of these devices should be explored further.

Nitrogen removal intensification of aerobic granular sludge through bioaugmentation with "heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification" consortium during petroleum wastewater treatment.

The bioaugmentation potential of aerobic granular sludge (AGS) was investigated using heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification (HN-AD) bacterial consortium to improve nitrogen removal during petroleum wastewater treatment. An efficient HN-AD consortium was constructed by mixing Pseudomonas mendocina K0, Brucella sp. K1, Pseudomonas putida T4 and Paracoccus sp. T9. AGS bioaugmented by immobilized HN-AD consortium enhanced nitrogen removal, which showed NH4+-N and TN removal efficiency of 92.4% and 79.8%, respectively. The immobilized consortium addition facilitated larger AGS formation, while granules > 2.0 mm accounted for 16.7% higher than that of control (6.7%). Further, the abundance of napA gene was 4-times higher in the bioaugmented AGS as compared to the control, which demonstrated the long-term stability of HN-AD consortium in the bioreactor. The bioaugmented AGS also showed a higher abundance of xenobiotics biodegradation and nitrogen metabolism. These results highlight that bioaugmentation of AGS technology could be effectively used for enhanced denitrification of petroleum wastewater.

Review of Cracked Tooth Syndrome: Etiology, Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention.

Cracked tooth syndrome refers to a series of symptoms caused by cracked teeth. This article reviews the current literature on cracked tooth syndrome from four aspects, etiology, diagnosis, management, and prevention, to provide readers integrated information about this. The article begins with an introduction to the odontiatrogenic factors and then covers the noniatrogenic factors that induce cracked tooth syndrome. While the former discusses inappropriate root canal therapy and improper restorative procedures, the latter covers the topics such as the developmental and functional status of cracked tooth syndrome. This is then followed by the description of common clinical diagnosis methods, the prospects of new technologies, and summaries of current clinical management methods, including immediate management and direct and indirect restoration. In the final section, preventive methods and their importance are proposed, with the aim of educating the common population.

[Comparison of urine proteome in rats intraperitoneally infected by different microorganisms].

Different microorganisms can cause intraperitoneal infection. This study was to distinguish different microbial infections by urine analysis. Rats were intraperitoneally injected with Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans, separately. Urine samples were collected from rats at 0, 12, 36 and 72 h after infection. Urinary proteins were profiled using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Compared with the control (without infection), a total of 69 differential proteins were identified in rats injected with E. coli. A total of 31 differences proteins were identified in rats injected with S. aureus. A total of 38 differential proteins were identified in rats injected with C. albicans. Urine proteome was different when rats were infected by different microorganisms, suggesting that urine may have the potential for differential diagnosis of different intraperitoneal infections.

Aerobic sludge granulation in shale gas flowback water treatment: Assessment of the bacterial community dynamics and modeling of bioreactor performance using artificial neural network.

Flowback water from shale gas extraction is highly saline and comprises complex organic substances, thereby posing a significant challenge for the environmental management of the unconventional natural gas industry. In this work, an aerobic granular sludge (AGS) method was successfully used for the treatment of flowback water from shale gas extraction. The formed AGS had a diameter of 0.25-2.0 mm and the total sludge volume index was 23.40 mL g-1. The AGS efficiently removed COD, NH4+-N and TN by 70.1%, 92.1%, and 59.2%, respectively. The bacterial communities responsible for the removal of nitrogen and degradation of organics were enriched in AGS. The dynamics of contaminant removal was further explained with a three-layered artificial neural network model. The results showed that the initial concentration of COD, TDS, NH4+-N and TN governed the contaminants' removal. As for operating parameters, aerating time showed a strong effect on NH4+-N and TN removal, whereas settling time impacted the COD removal.