University of Siena

About: University of Siena is a education organization based out in Siena, Italy. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Cancer. The organization has 12179 authors who have published 33334 publications receiving 1008287 citations. The organization is also known as: Università degli studi di Siena & Universita degli studi di Siena.

Circulating Sclerostin Levels and Bone Turnover in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract: Context: Previous observations showed a condition of low bone turnover and decreased osteoblast activity in both type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus (DM1 and DM2). Sclerostin is a secreted Wnt antagonist produced by osteocytes that regulates osteoblast activity and thus bone turnover. Its levels increase with age and are regulated by PTH. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate circulating sclerostin levels in patients with DM1 or DM2 with normal renal function and to analyze its relationship with PTH, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and bone turnover markers. Design, and Setting: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at a clinical research center. Participants: Forty DM2 and 43 DM1 patients were studied and compared with a reference control group (n = 83). Results: In the overall cohort, sclerostin levels were higher in males than in females and significantly increased with age in both genders. The positive correlation between sclerostin and age was maintained in DM1 but not in DM2 patients. Moreov...

Searches for invisible decays of the Higgs boson in pp collisions at √s = 7, 8, and 13 TeV

Abstract: Searches for invisible decays of the Higgs boson are presented. The data collected with the CMS detector at the LHC correspond to integrated luminosities of 5.1, 19.7, and 2.3 fb−1 at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV, respectively. The search channels target Higgs boson production via gluon fusion, vector boson fusion, and in association with a vector boson. Upper limits are placed on the branching fraction of the Higgs boson decay to invisible particles, as a function of the assumed production cross sections. The combination of all channels, assuming standard model production, yields an observed (expected) upper limit on the invisible branching fraction of 0.24 (0.23) at the 95% confidence level. The results are also interpreted in the context of Higgs-portal dark matter models.

Evaluation of the adhesion of fiber posts to intraradicular dentin.

Abstract: The interfacial strength and ultrastructure of a total-etch, self-etch and self-adhesive resin cement used to lute endodontic glass fiber posts (FRC Postec, Ivoclar-Vivadent) was assessed with the "thin-slice" push-out test and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The tested adhesive cements were Variolink II (Ivoclar-Vivadent), Panavia 21 (Kuraray Co) and RelyX Unicem (3M ESPE). In each group, seven posted roots were used for push-out tests and two were processed for TEM observations. The interfacial strength achieved by Variolink II (10.18 +/- 2.89 MPa) was significantly higher than Panavia (5.04 +/- 2.81 MPa) and RelyX Unicem (5.01 +/- 2.63 MPa), which were comparable to each other. TEM micrographs of the interface between Variolink II and intraradicular dentin revealed that the smear layer was totally removed and an 8-10 micron thick hybrid layer was formed. In the other group specimens, the smear layer was not completely dissolved and smear plugs were retained. Gaps were present between the hybridized complex and the adhesive layer in the Panavia 21 specimens and between the smear layer and underlying root dentin in the RelyX Unicem specimens. Interfacial strengths and microscopic findings were in agreement and indicated that the bonding potential of the total-etch resin cement was greater. The acidic-resin monomers responsible for substrate conditioning in Panavia 21 and RelyX Unicem appeared unable to effectively remove the thick smear layer created on root dentin during post space preparation.

Component-based face detection

Abstract: We present a component-based, trainable system for detecting frontal and near-frontal views of faces in still gray images. The system consists of a two-level hierarchy of Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifiers. On the first level, component classifiers independently detect components Of a face. On the second level, a single classifier checks if the geometrical configuration of the detected components in the image matches a geometrical model of a face. We propose a method for automatically learning components by using 3-D head models, This approach has the advantage that no manual interaction is required for choosing and extracting components. Experiments show that the component-based system is significantly more robust against rotations in depth than a comparable system trained on whole face patterns.

Microtensile bond strength and interfacial properties of self-etching and self-adhesive resin cements used to lute composite onlays under different seating forces

Abstract: PURPOSE To evaluate strength and morphology of the interface created on enamel and dentin by Panavia F 2.0 (P, Kuraray), RelyX Unicem (RU, 3M ESPE), and Maxcem (M, Sybron-Kerr), applied under two standardized clinically realistic seating pressures. MATERIALS AND METHODS Composite overlays (Paradigm MZ100, 3M ESPE) were luted on flat enamel or dentin surfaces of 48 extracted molars. During the initial 5-min self-curing period, a pressure of either 20 or 40 g/mm(2) was maintained on the overlay. Curing was completed by light irradiation from the top of the overlay for 20 s. Microtensile sticks and specimens for SEM observations were obtained from the luted teeth. Bond strength data from enamel and dentin (MPa) were analyzed with separate two-way ANOVAs in order to assess the effect of cement type, luting pressure, and their interactions. Tukey's test was used for post-hoc comparisons (alpha = 0.05). RESULTS The bond strengths (MPa) to dentin were: P 20 g/mm(2) 7.5 +/- 3.7, 40 g/mm(2) 10.9 +/- 4.5; RU 20 g/mm(2) 6.8 +/- 2.6, 40 g/mm(2) 14.5 +/- 5.3; M 20 g/mm(2) 4.1 +/- 1.8, 40 g/mm(2) 5.2 +/- 1.6. The bond strengths (MPa) to enamel were: P 20 g/mm(2) 25.2 +/- 9.0, 40 g/mm(2) 30.7 +/- 8.6; RU 20 g/mm(2) 10.7 +/- 4.9, 40 g/mm(2) 11.1 +/- 5; M 20 g/mm(2) 7.3 +/- 3.1, 40 g/mm(2) 7.9 +/- .2. Cement type, luting pressure, and the interaction of these two factors had significant influences on dentin bond strength, with RU and P outperforming M. RU and P significantly benefited from the increase in luting pressure. In enamel, the type of cement was a significant factor for adhesion, with P yielding the highest and M the lowest strength. The measured bond strengths corresponded with the morphological results. CONCLUSION Interfacial strength and adaptation of self-etching and self-adhesive dual-curing cements are enhanced if a seating force greater than finger pressure is maintained throughout the initial self-curing period.