The aim of the present study was to develop a model to identify posture and behavior from data collected by a triaxial accelerometer located on the left flank of dairy cows and evaluate its accuracy and precision. Twelve Italian Red-and-White lactating cows were equipped with an accelerometer and observed on average for 136 ± 29 min per cow by two trained operators as a reference. The acceleration data were grouped in time windows of 8 s overlapping by 33.0%, for a total of 35,133 rows. For each row, 32 different features were extracted and used by machine learning algorithms for the classification of posture and behavior. To build up a predictive model, the dataset was split in training and testing datasets, characterized by 75.0 and 25.0% of the observations, respectively. Four algorithms were tested: Random Forest, K Nearest Neighbors, Extreme Boosting Algorithm (XGB), and Support Vector Machine. The XGB model showed the best accuracy (0.99) and Cohen’s kappa (0.99) in predicting posture, whereas the Random Forest model had the highest overall accuracy in predicting behaviors (0.76), showing a balanced accuracy from 0.96 for resting to 0.77 for moving. Overall, very accurate detection of the posture and resting behavior were achieved.

The accurate detection of behavioural changes represents a promising method of detecting the early onset of disease in dairy cows. This study assessed the performance of deep learning (DL) in classifying dairy cows’ behaviour from accelerometry data acquired by single sensors on the cows’ left flanks and compared the results with those obtained through classical machine learning (ML) from the same raw data. Twelve cows with a tri-axial accelerometer were observed for 136 ± 29 min each to detect five main behaviours: standing still, moving, feeding, ruminating and resting. For each 8 s time interval, 15 metrics were calculated, obtaining a dataset of 211,720 observation units and 15 columns. The entire dataset was randomly split into training (80%) and testing (20%) datasets. The DL accuracy, precision and sensitivity/recall were calculated and compared with the performance of classical ML models. The best predictive model was an 8-layer convolutional neural network (CNN) with an overall accuracy and F1 score equal to 0.96. The precision, sensitivity/recall and F1 score of single behaviours had the following ranges: 0.93–0.99. The CNN outperformed all the classical ML algorithms. The CNN used to monitor the cows’ conditions showed an overall high performance in successfully predicting multiple behaviours using a single accelerometer.

The styloid process is a projecton of the temporal bone, its lenght is between 20 to 30 mm, when it is longer than 30 mm it is defined elongated styloid process. The aim of this study is an epidemiological evaluation of 1003 digital panoramic radiographs in an Italian population between 5 and 90 years old. This is a retrospective analysis and the radiographs were selected from the Complex Operating Unit of Dentistry of Padua University Hospital database. The radiographs were performed using a Sirona Ortophos XG and the styloid process length was measured using the measuring tool of Sidexis Software. It was measured from the point where it left the temporal bone plate to its tip. Styloid processes measuring more than 30 mm were considered elongated. Chi-squared test, Fligner-Killeen test, Shapiro-Wilk test and t-test with Welch correction were performed. In the study 33.40% of the patients showed an elongated styloid process. The number of patients with elongated styloid process and the mean length of the process increase with the age confirming the chronic development of the calcification described in literature. No statistically significant correlation is found between the presence of elongated styloid process and the gender and affected side (bilateral or unilateral). Key words:Elongated styloid process, panoramic radiograph, epidemiological study, Eagle's syndrome.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of elongated styloid process in digital panoramic radiographs in a North Italian population in relation to age, gender and side. This study was performed as a retrospective analysis on digital panoramic radiographs of 600 (271 males and 329 females) Italian patients between 6 and 87 years old. The styloid process length were measured using the measuring tool of Sidexis Software. It was measured from the point where it left the temporal bone plate to its tip. Styloid processes measuring more than 30 mm were considered elongated. Chi-squared and Fisher tests were used and the test is considered significant if the p-value is lower or equal to 0.05. Thirty-three per cent of the patients showed an elongated styloid process. Seventeen per cent were elongated on both right and left side, fifteen point nine per cent were elongated only in one side. The prevalence of elongated styloid process was high and a progressive increase of the elongation prevalence was found in older groups. Key words:Elongated styloid process, Eagle's syndrome, panoramic radiograph.

Different studies assess the role of fixed orthodontic appliances in supragingival plaque accumulation. In patients wearing fixed orthodontic appliances a good management of oral hygiene is required in order to prevent complication like as decay, enamel demineralization, gingivitis, gingival hyperplasia and periodontitis. The aim of this Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) is to evaluate the efficacy of the use of a DWJ in patients under orthodontic treatment with fixed multibracket appliance. The study design was single-blinded RCT with a split mouth protocol. Each patient followed a personal cleaning protocol using a DWJ in addition to traditional brushing only on one side while just brushing on the control side. The side on which was decided to use the DWJ was chosen randomly and the dental hygienist who took the measurements was blind. Plaque and gingival indexes were evaluated at baseline and at one, three and six-months follow-up. It did not emerge any difference in the plaque and gingival indexes trend between the two groups. Patients initially reported an worsening of the indexes at one month evaluation, then they set at baseline levels at three and six months. The dental water jet does not improve significantly the efficacy of home oral hygiene in orthodontic patients wearing a multi-bracket fixed appliance. Patients did not show the traditional worsening during the whole orthodontic therapy. Key words:Dental water jet, fixed orthodontics, plaque index, gingival index.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence and distribution of hypodontia, inside and outside the cleft area, in an Italian population with a non-syndromic unilateral (UCLP) and bilateral (BCLP) cleft lip and palate on panoramic radiographs and comparing it with a control sample. Study design: Case group was ethnically uniform and consisted in 233 patients. The control group was composed of 1000 subjects. Patients included were between seven and fifteen years old. Descriptive analysis, using absolute and relative frequencies, was performed to check out the prevalence of gender distribution, hypodontia and cleft formation. Statistical analysis was conducted with Chi-squared test, Yate's correction and the Fisher's exact test. The power was set higher than 0.8 for each test. Results: 160 cleft patients (68.68%) presented at least one missing tooth, while 88 patients in the control groups presented agenesis (8.80%). A statistically significant difference was found in case and control groups for upper lateral incisors (37.34% and 48.07% in the case group against 2.50% and 2.60% in the control group), upper and lower second premolars (8.58%, 6.44%, 5.58% and 6.01% in the cleft group and 0.60%, 0.60%, 2.50% and 2.70% in the control group). Conclusion: Higher prevalence of dental agenesis in the maxillary dental arch is explained by the cleft defect. Higher prevalence of mandibular second premolars agenesis cannot be explained by the anatomical defect and suggests a multifactorial aetiology, including environmental and genetic factors, of the cleft condition.