Universal masking during COVID-19 outbreaks in aged care settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aged care facilities (ACF) are a high-risk COVID-19 transmission setting, and older residents are at greater risk of severe outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed whether universal masking and COVID-19 vaccination reduce SARS-CoV-2 attack rates (ARs) in ACF. Articles published between 1 December 2019 and 28 February 2022 were screened across five databases (Medline, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL)). Risk of bias was assessed using relevant Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. Meta-analysis of single proportions, subgroup analysis, and meta-regression were performed to compare the effects of universal masking and vaccine doses on pooled SARS-CoV-2 ARs. Of 99 included articles, SARS-CoV-2 ARs for residents were available in 86 studies (representing 139 outbreaks), and for staff in 49 studies (78 outbreaks). Universal masking was associated with lower SARS-CoV-2 ARs in ACF outbreaks (AR = 34.9% [95% CI: 27.2-42.6%]) compared to facilities without universal masking (67.3% [54.2-80.4%], p < .0001). In ACF with universal masking prior to outbreak onset, facility-wide testing, and documentation of asymptomatic infection, the asymptomatic AR at time of testing was 11.4% (6.5-17.4%) in residents. Receipt of zero, one and two vaccination doses were associated with ARs of 64.9% (49.6-80.2%), 54.9% (33.7-76.1%) and 45.2% (29.2-61.3%), respectively. To protect residents from COVID-19, ACF should provide vaccination of residents and staff, universal masking for staff, and facility-wide testing during times of heightened community transmission.

Tuning the semimetallic charge transport in the Weyl semimetal candidate Eu2Ir2O7(111) epitaxial thin film with an all-in-all-out spin structure.

We report the stoichiometric epitaxial growth of the Eu2Ir2O7(111) thin film on YSZ substrate by a two-step solid phase epitaxy (SPE) method. An optimized post-annealing environment of the SPE was superior over the conventional air annealing procedure to get rid of the typical impurity phase, Eu2O3. The thickness-dependent structural study on Eu2Ir2O7(111) thin films suggests a systematic control of Ir/Eu stoichiometry in our films, which is otherwise difficult to achieve. In addition, the low-temperature electrical resistivity studies strongly support the claim. The power-law dependence analysis of the resistivity data exhibits a power exponent of 0.52 in 50 nm sample suggesting possible disorder-driven semimetallic charge transport in the 3D Weyl semimetallic (WSM) candidate Eu2Ir2O7. In addition, the all-in-all-out/all-out-all-in antiferromagnetic domains of Ir4+sublattice is verified using the field cooled magnetoresistance measurements at 2 K. Hall resistivity analysis indicate semimetallic hole carrier type dominance near the Fermi level up to the measured temperature range of 2-120 K. Altogether, our study reveals the ground state of stoichiometric Eu2Ir2O7(111) thin film, with an indirect tuning of the off-stoichiometry using thickness of the samples, which is of interest in the search of the predicted 3D WSM phase.

Tailoring magnetism in spinel vanadate CoV2O4epitaxial thin films.

Near itinerant cubic bulk CoV2O4is at variance with other spinel vanadates by not showing orbital ordering down to low temperature, albeit it displays fragile anomalies related to spin, and lattice structure, signaling a spin/orbital glass transition around 95 K. We investigate tetragonal-like epitaxial CoV2O4films on SrTiO3and (La0.3Sr0.7)(Al0.65Ta0.35)O3substrates that exhibit pronounced signature of spin reorientation transition from toa/bplane around 90 K unlike its bulk counterpart. Using in-plane and out-of-plane magnetic measurements, we demonstrate the intricate link between Co2+and V3+sublattice magnetizations that give rise to anisotropic magnetic switching. In-plane magnetic measurements reveal a wasp-waist shapedM(H) loop below reorientation transition temperature, while the out-of-plane follows antiferromagnet-likeM(H) response. The wasp-waist shaped feature could be linked to in-plane spin-canted (anti)ferromagnetism induced by canting away of V-spins away from antiferromagnetically coupled Co-spin direction below reorientation transition temperature. Further, we uncover the evidence for slow relaxation over a period of ∼104 s at 20 K and memory effect that indicates the possible existence for magnetic glassy phase in the low temperature regime. Using epitaxial strain as a control knob, our results inspire future study to manipulate orbital states, spin texture and itinerant electron character in tailored CoV2O4films away from cubic lattice symmetry.

A new second-generation supraglottic airway device (Ambu® AuraGain•) versus intubating laryngeal mask airway as conduits for blind intubation - A prospective, randomised trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The Ambu® AuraGain• is a new single-use supraglottic airway device with gastric channel, designed to facilitate intubation. The study aimed to assess the success rates of proper placement and intubation using Ambu® AuraGain• compared with intubating laryngeal mask airway (ILMA). METHODS: One hundred and twenty patients (18-60 years) were enrolled into this prospective, randomised, comparative study. After inducing general anaesthesia, appropriate size ILMA (group I)/Ambu® AuraGain• (group A) was placed as per the manufacturer's recommendations and correct placement was confirmed. Appropriate size endotracheal tube was passed through the device. The success rate of insertion and intubation, number of attempts, Cormack-Lehane grading before insertion and haemodynamics were recorded. Data were analysed using Mantel-Haenszel Chi-square test, Student's t-test and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Demographic and airway parameters were uniformly distributed in both the groups. The success rate for insertion was 100% in both devices. The success rate for intubation was 96.6% (58/60) in group I and 36.6% in group A (P < 0.001). In group I, patients with mean thyromental distance >7.62 ± 0.75 cm had higher successful intubation compared with patients with mean thyromental distance <5.25 ± 0.35 cm (P = 0.014). Cormack-Lehane grading did not correlate with intubation attempts or success rate in group I (P = 0.45), whereas in group A the rate of successful blind intubation with Cormack-Lehane grade 1 was 50% (19/38). CONCLUSION: Both devices have 100% insertion success, though Ambu® AuraGain• has lower success rate for facilitating intubation compared with ILMA.

Impurity induced cross luminescence in KMgCl3: an ab initio study.

Density functional theory calculations have been carried out to calculate the electronic structure and optical properties of host and Cs doped KMgCl3. All the calculations were performed by using the Tran and Blaha modified Becke-Johnson potential (TB-mBJ) in order to accurately predict the band gap and the optical spectra. The investigated compound is found to be an insulator with direct band gap of 4.7, 6.9 eV using generalized gradient approximation (GGA), and TB-mBJ functionals respectively. The calculated refractive index shows the optical isotropy of this compound in the low energy region, though the structure is anisotropic. From our theoretical calculations we predict KMgCl3 doped with Cs to be a better cross luminescence material compared to host compound, where additional Cs states are present below the valence band of the compound. Detailed discussion is presented in the manuscript.

Validation of different diagnostic aids in detection of occlusal caries in primary molars: An in vitro study.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To estimate the accuracy and assess the sensitivity and specificity of direct visual examination (DVE), computerized radiograph (VISTA SCAN mini), and DIAGNOdent (DD) for caries diagnosis in primary molars as compared to histological examination of the teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An in vitro comparative study was carried out on 40 freshly extracted primary molars with questionable pit and fissures that yielded 89 examination sites. These samples were mounted on plaster and were subjected to examination methods for caries detection on the occlusal surface by two trained and calibrated examiners. The examination methods used in this study were DVE, computerized radiographic (CR) examination, laser fluorescence examination using DD followed by histological examination which is a gold standard; later, these samples were examined under microscope for caries extent. The scoring criteria given by Nytun et al. were used in this study for scoring the extent of caries. RESULTS: The sensitivity for caries in enamel were 66.10%, 52.86%, and 54.17% for DVE, CR, and DD, respectively, while the specificity for DVE, CR, and DD were found to be 86.67%, 68.42%, and 76.47%, respectively. For dentinal caries, sensitivity for DVE, CR, and DD were 86.67%, 92.86%, and 81.25%, respectively, while the specificity were 66.10%, 56%, and 54.79%, respectively. The accuracy were 73.03%, 61.80%, and 59.55%, respectively, suggesting that the DVE showed highest sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for enamel caries, whereas for dentinal caries, CR showed highest sensitivity and DVE showed highest specificity and accuracy. CONCLUSION: The DD exhibited better specificity than sensitivity for enamel lesions and better sensitivity than specificity for lesions into dentin. DD may prove useful as a predictive clinical tool and should only be used in addition to other diagnostic methods such as visual inspection and dental radiographs to avoid false-positive diagnoses.

Exactive Tie-Back - An Accurate Active Tieback.

Active tiebacks using elastomeric modules are preferred for space closure in most cases. Elastomeric ring should be stretched by equal amount on both sides for equalforce delivery and to avoid unwanted complication like shift in mid-line, asymmetric space closure. Elastic tiebacks were originally described using an elastomeric module, stretched to twice its normal size but in clinical situations, stretch of elastomeric rings are diffcult to measure intraorally. This paper introduces a manually fabricated guiding system that will allow the clinician to accurately activate active tie-back bilaterally without fear of over/under stretching the module to twice its original size. With the help of straight length 0.021" 0.025" SS wire and cold cure acrylic a guiding stent is fabricated. Guiding loops were made with 0.009" ligature wire around this stent, which can be placed along with active tieback. This "Exactive tieback" with the help ofguiding loop template is easy to fabricate and use. It is an accurate, effective, and predictable method for placement of symmetrical active tie-backs."

Assessment of Image Distortion from Head Rotation in Lateral Cephalometry.

BACKGROUND: The patient's head can be slightly rotated sagitally vertically or transversely within the head holding device. Because of such improper positions due to the head rotation, an error can occur in cephalometric measurements. The purpose of this study was to identify the potential projection errors of lateral cephalometric radiograph due to head rotation toward X-ray film in the vertical Z-axis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Totally, 10 human dry skulls with permanent dentition were collected from the Department of Anatomy, J.J.M.C. Medical College, Davanagere. Each dry skull was rotated from 0° to -20° at 5° intervals. A vertical axis, the Z-axis, was used as a rotational axis to have 100 lateral cephalometric radiographs exposed. Four linear (S-N, Go-Me, N-Me, S-Go) and six angular measurements (SNA, SNB, N-S-Ar, S-Ar-Go, Ar-Go-Me, AB-Mandibular plane angle) were calculated manually. RESULTS: The findings were that: (1) Angular measurements have fewer projection errors than linear measurements; (2) the greater the number of landmarks on the midsagittal plane that are included in angular measurements, the fewer the projection errors occurring; (3) the horizontal linear measurements have more projection errors than vertical linear measurements according to head rotation. CONCLUSION: In summary the angular measurements of lateral cephalometric radiographs are more useful than linear measurements in minimizing the projection errors associated with head rotation on a vertical axis.

Room temperature electrical spin injection into GaAs by an oxide spin injector.

Spin injection, manipulation and detection are the integral parts of spintronics devices and have attracted tremendous attention in the last decade. It is necessary to judiciously choose the right combination of materials to have compatibility with the existing semiconductor technology. Conventional metallic magnets were the first choice for injecting spins into semiconductors in the past. Here we demonstrate the electrical spin injection from an oxide magnetic material Fe3O4, into GaAs with the help of tunnel barrier MgO at room temperature using 3-terminal Hanle measurement technique. A spin relaxation time τ ~ 0.9 ns for n-GaAs at 300 K is observed along with expected temperature dependence of τ. Spin injection using Fe3O4/MgO system is further established by injecting spins into p-GaAs and a τ of ~0.32 ns is obtained at 300 K. Enhancement of spin injection efficiency is seen with barrier thickness. In the field of spin injection and detection, our work using an oxide magnetic material establishes a good platform for the development of room temperature oxide based spintronics devices [corrected].