RepCo: Replenish sample views with better consistency for contrastive learning.

Contrastive learning methods aim to learn shared representations by minimizing distances between positive pairs, and maximizing distances between negative pairs in the embedding space. To achieve better performance of contrastive learning, one of the key problems is to design appropriate sample pairs. In most previous works, random cropping on the input image is utilized to obtain two views as positive pairs. However, such strategies lead to suboptimal performance since the sampled crops may have inconsistent semantic information, which consequently degrades the quality of contrastive views. To address this limitation, we explore to replenish sample views with better consistency of the image and propose a novel self-supervised learning (SSL) framework RepCo. Instead of searching for semantically consistent patches between two different views, we select patches on the same image as the replenishment of positive/negative pairs, encourage patches that are similar but come from different positions as positive pairs, and force patches that are dissimilar but come from adjacent positions to have different representations, i.e. construct negative pairs to enrich the learned representations. Our method effectively generates high-quality contrastive views, explores the untapped semantic consistency on images, and provides more informative representations for downstream tasks. Experiments on adequate downstream tasks have shown that, our approach achieves ＋2.1 AP50 (COCO pre-trained) and ＋1.6 AP50 (ImageNet pre-trained) gains on Pascal VOC object detection, ＋2.3 mIoU gains on Cityscapes semantic segmentation, respectively.

Design and Implement Strategy of Wireless Bite Force Device.

Abnormal bite force is an important risk factor for oral and maxillofacial disorders, which is a critical dilemma that dentists face every day without effective solutions. Therefore, it is of great clinical significance to develop a wireless bite force measurement device and explore quantitative measurement methods to help find effective strategies for improving occlusal diseases. This study designed the open window carrier of a bite force detection device through 3D printing technology, and then the stress sensors were integrated and embedded into a hollow structure. The sensor system mainly consisted of a pressure signal acquisition module, a main control module, and a server terminal. A machine learning algorithm will be leveraged for bite force data processing and parameter configuration in the future. This study implemented a sensor prototype system from scratch to fully evaluate each component of the intelligent device. The experimental results showed reasonable parameter metrics for the device carrier and demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed scheme for bite force measurement. An intelligent and wireless bite force device with a stress sensor system is a promising approach to occlusal disease diagnosis and treatment.

Long-term Outcomes of Pulsed Radiofrequency for Supraorbital Neuralgia: A Retrospective Multicentric Study.

BACKGROUND: Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) is a percutaneous, micro-invasive, and micro-destructive neuromodulation technology. It has been reported to be useful in the treatment of supraorbital neuralgia (SN). However, the long-term effectiveness and safety of this technique in SN has not been reported yet. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the outcomes of PRF on supraorbital neuralgia (SN) in multi-centers and a long-term perspective. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: Patients who underwent PRF for SN at 4 hospitals in Beijing between Jan 2007 and Jan 2021 were identified and reviewed for inclusion. Their demographic data and baseline conditions were statistically described, and their conditions of pain control were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival analyses. A survival curve was plotted, the cumulative proportion of pain-free at specific time points was determined, and the median pain-free time was estimated. Complications related to PRF treatment were summarized. The risk factors for initial pain control and pain-free survival were analyzed using logistic regression and Cox regression. RESULTS: A total of 116 patients were included; 91 (78.4%) patients got initial pain control with just one attempt of PRF. The maximum length of follow-up was 127 months, with a median of 18 months. During follow-up, 29 (31.9%) patients suffered from pain recurrence, and 11 (12.1%) were lost. The cumulative pain-free survival at 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, 5 years, 8 years, and 10 years were estimated as 70%, 64%, 59%, 55%, 44%, 37%, and 37%, respectively. The median pain-free time was 52 months. No severe complications were observed or reported. Duration of disease could significantly influence initial pain control, while no risk factors for pain-free survival were recognized. LIMITATIONS: A retrospective study setting without a control group. CONCLUSION: The performance of PRF for the treatment of SN was confirmed to be favorable in a multicentric, relatively large scale, and long-term perspective.

The Bottom-Line Mentality of Leaders in Education and Training Institutions: Where to Go for Innovation?

According to the social exchange theory, this study analyzed how a bottom-line mentality (BLM) among leaders affects teachers' innovative behavior and how this relationship is mediated by relative deprivation and psychological safety and moderated by person-organization values fit. Using two stages of data collection, 491 responses from teachers were obtained and analyzed. The results revealed that leader BLM significantly negatively affected teachers' innovative behavior, and relative deprivation and psychological safety both partially mediated this influence of leader BLM. Person-organization values fit negatively moderated the positive effect of leader BLM on teachers' relative deprivation and the negative effect of leader BLM on teachers' psychological safety. This study enriches the current literature about BLM and tests the influence of leader BLM on teacher's innovation in the Chinese education and training institutions, and provides insights into favorable educational management practices.

How and When Telework Improves Job Performance During COVID-19? Job Crafting as Mediator and Performance Goal Orientation as Moderator.

PURPOSE: Literature shows that it is a paradox whether employees can achieve performance in telework, especially during COVID-19. Our aim is to clarify the relationship between telework and employees' job performance through a moderated mediation model. METHODS: This study employed two-wave surveys with the aim of reducing the potential risk of common method bias. The 1309 participants of the survey were mainly employees who used telework during COVID-19, and they were mostly in positions such as product design and scheme planning. SEM was used to test the hypotheses. RESULTS: Results from two-wave surveys of 1309 Chinese employees indicated that telework positively influenced job performance via job crafting. That is, job crafting played a mediating role between telework and job performance. And performance-prove goal orientation positively moderated the relationship between telework and job crafting but performance-avoid goal orientation negatively moderated the relationship between them. CONCLUSION: This study shows that telework can improve job performance through job crafting in COVID-19, in response to the paradox implied in the literature. In addition, we use COR theory to explain the role of performance goal orientation and job crafting in telework. We add these variables to the theoretical framework of COR theory, thereby enriching the theoretical research from the COR theory perspective.

Sandwich Integration Technique for the Pressure Sensor Detection of Occlusal Force In Vitro.

Bite force measurement is an important parameter when checking the function and integrity of the masticatory system, whereas it is currently very difficult to measure bite force during functional movement. Hence, the purpose of this study is to explore the potential technique and device for the measurement and intervention of the continuous bite forces on functional and dynamic occlusal condition. A portable biosensor by sandwich technique was designed, and the validity, reliability, and sensitivity were determined by mechanical pressure loading tests; meanwhile, the pressure signal is acquired by, and transmitted to, voltage changes by the electrical measurements of the sensors. The result is that, when the mechanical stress detection device is thicker than 3.5 mm, it shows relatively ideal mechanical properties; however, when the thickness is less than 3.0 mm, there is a risk of cracking. Mechanical stress changing and voltage variation had a regularity and positive relationship in this study. The mechanical stress-measuring device made by medical and industrial cross has a good application prospect for the measurement of bite force during function.

Challenges of Misdiagnosis and Suboptimal Treatment of Persistent Idiopathic Facial Pain and Atypical Odontalgia: A Retrospective Multi-Centric Cross-Sectional Investigation.

PURPOSE: To explore the challenges faced in the diagnosis and treatment of atypical odontalgia (AO) and other persistent idiopathic facial pain (PIFP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective multi-centric cross-sectional study utilized clinical information (eg, clinical manifestations, history of consultations and treatments prior to correct diagnoses) from patients' medical records. Their economic parameters were also extracted from medical insurance databases. Each variable collected was statistically analyzed. Differences of variables between AO and other PIFP were statistically tested. RESULTS: A total of 394 patients were included in this study. On average, the diagnostic delay was 34.8±14.2 months, a median of 7 consultations were performed prior to a correct diagnosis, and 5 ineffective prescriptions were issued. Patients with AO suffered from longer diagnostic delays than patients with other PIFP (38.4±14.3 months vs 31.6±13.4 months) and were more likely to receive invasive dental treatments (73.3% vs 4.3%). The median total cost of treatment for a single patient before correct diagnosis was 8506.3 yuan. Patients with AO spent more than patients with other PIFP (10,146.5 Yuan vs 3864.0 Yuan). CONCLUSION: Patients with PIFP were frequently misdiagnosed and the length of diagnostic delay was observed to be long. Ineffective medications, unwarranted procedures, and unnecessary economic burden were imposed on the patients. Patients with AO are in a worse situation than patients with other PIFP. As significantly urgent and unsatisfactory results of misdiagnosis of PIFP have been reported in our study, more attention should be paid on the research and education in this field.

Intelligent Occlusion Stabilization Splint with Stress-Sensor System for Bruxism Diagnosis and Treatment.

Bruxism is a masticatory muscle activity characterized by high prevalence, widespread complications, and serious consequences but without specific guidelines for its diagnosis and treatment. Although occlusal force-based biofeedback therapy is proven to be safe, effective, and with few side effects in improving bruxism, its mechanism and key technologies remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to research a real-time, quantitative, intelligent, and precise force-based biofeedback detection device based on artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms for the diagnosis and treatment of bruxism. Stress sensors were integrated and embedded into a resin-based occlusion stabilization splint by using a layering technique (sandwich method). The sensor system mainly consisted of a pressure signal acquisition module, a main control module, and a server terminal. A machine learning algorithm was leveraged for occlusal force data processing and parameter configuration. This study implemented a sensor prototype system from scratch to fully evaluate each component of the intelligent splint. Experiment results showed reasonable parameter metrics for the sensors system and demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed scheme for bruxism treatment. The intelligent occlusion stabilization splint with a stress sensor system is a promising approach to bruxism diagnosis and treatment.

Enhanced production of lutein in heterotrophic Chlorella protothecoides by oxidative stress.

The fast growing unicellular green microalgae Chlorella protothecoides has attracted interest as a promising organism for commercial production of a high-value carotenoid, lutein, by heterotrophic fermentation. Effects of two oxidant-forming reactive oxygen species (ROS) on the biomass concentration, and yield and content of lutein in batch culture of heterotrophic Chlorella protothecoides were investigated in this study. The addition of 0.1 mmol/L H(2)O(2) and 0.01 mmol/L NaClO plus 0.5 mmol/L Fe(2+) to the culture led to the generation of (.)OH and enhanced the lutein content from 1.75 to 1.90 and 1.95 mg/g, respectively. The lutein content further increased to 1.98 mg/g when 0.01 mmol/L H(2)O(2) and 0.5 mmol/L NaClO were added to generate (1)O(2). The maximum yield of lutein (28.5, 29.8 and 31.4 mg/L) and a high biomass concentration (15.0, 15.3 and 15.9 g/L) were also achieved through the above treatments. The results indicated that 1O2 could promote lutein formation and enhance lutein production in heterotrophic Chlorella protothecoides. Moreover, (1)O(2) produced from the reaction of H(2)O(2) and NaClO was more effective in enhancing lutein production and reducing biomass loss than (.)OH from the reaction of H(2)O(2) or NaClO plus Fe(2+).