bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electoral Polling and Reporting in Africa
Authors: Fayoyin Adebayo
Published: January 2017

Opinion polling during elections plays a pivotal role in influencing the political and media agenda, and can potentially affect voting behaviour. However, evidence from various countries indicates that electoral polls have been characterised by contradictions and contentious debates which undermine their usefulness in democratic processes. The digital age has also led to a mushrooming of online polls, but some of them are of dubious quality. Thus, the chapter questions the continued use of electoral polls in multiparty politics in Africa. It argues that as a result of the inherent political and electoral volatility in many African countries, the utility of opinion polls need to be reconsidered. The paper recommends strategies for addressing the identified pitfalls, including increased professionalization of opinion polling, voter education on the limitations of pre-election polls and stronger appreciation of data journalism for media professionals. Stricter regulations, such as the embargo of election opinion polling may also be considered in different contexts.
Digital Media in Uganda
Authors: Semujju Brian
Published: January 2017

This chapter is an analysis of the law in the face of the growing digital media in Uganda. It begins with a summary of Uganda's digital media terrain which helps the chapter to raise an argument of numbers in relation to relevance and external pressure, as forces behind digital media regulation. The background introduces the gist of the chapter, which is the regulation of Uganda's media in the digital age. A recent court case in Uganda, in which a local singer was sentenced to one year in jail along with her video producer, who was convicted for producing a pornographic music video that was distributed online, inspires this chapter. Didi Mugisha pleaded guilty and became the first victim of the Anti-Pornography Act, which was signed into law in 2014. Beyond that court drama and the international fame it garnered are some serious concerns. First is the relationship between the bulk of Uganda's media laws and the existing producer/consumer digital platforms, and secondly are the broad implications the current state of affairs of that and similar laws has on the freedom of expression.
The Way It's Going
Authors: Charest Brian Charles
Published: January 2017

In this chapter the author argues that those concerned with the “the way it's going” in public education can learn much from post-colonial theory about the relationship between education research and assessment technologies and education reform policy, curriculum development, and knowledge formation. The author argues that current neoliberal education reform in the US can best be understood through the frame of neocolonialism, where schools and communities take the shape of internal colonies, where teachers, students, and parents have little or no say about the technologies, curricula, and standardized examinations foisted upon them. Education research that supports the current policy paradigm largely benefits researchers, corporations, and policy makers, while ignoring the effects of such policies on students, teachers, and local communities. Such practices, the author suggests, are rooted in a type of colonial thinking and acting that have been rearticulated through the prevailing logic of neoliberalism.
The Use of ePortfolios in Teacher Education Programs to Support Reflective Practitioners in a Digital World
Authors: Robnolt Valerie J. , Rhodes Joan A. , Vasinda Sheri , Haas Leslie
Published: January 2017

The use of ePortfolios to document and assess preservice teacher learning continues to be a prevalent method for encouraging student reflection. This chapter outlines the definition and prevailing uses of ePortfolios and describes the variety of ways that ePortfolios are implemented in teacher education programs. The authors describe the issues that faculty and preservice teachers face when implementing ePortfolios, particularly when writing for different audiences, such as accreditation agencies and to meet program requirements. The importance of technology knowledge and skills for successful creation of ePortfolios is outlined. Through the presentation of two cases, this chapter focuses on the development of ePortfolio implementation projects. The chapter concludes with suggestions for faculty to support preservice teachers as they implement ePortfolios in their teacher education programs.
Digital Storytelling and Digital Literacy
Authors: Kasemsap Kijpokin
Published: January 2017

This chapter reveals the overview of digital technologies; the overview of digital storytelling in education; and the overview of digital literacy in education. Digital storytelling and digital literacy are very important in modern education. Digital storytelling is used to improve student's learning through multimedia in the modern classrooms. Digital storytelling is the expressive medium that can explain even the most intricate topics in depth, integrating it with the rest of the curriculum. Digital literacy is the ability to use Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills. Digital literacy leads to the great increases in information that can be conveniently accessed. The chapter argues that developing digital storytelling and digital literacy skills has the potential to improve both teaching and learning performance in modern education.
Creating Connected Educators with Online Portfolios
Authors: Dredger Katie S. , Myers Joy , Sullivan Pamela M. , Loveless Douglas J.
Published: January 2017

The authors explore ethical considerations, as well as logistical concerns of online portfolio creation by teacher candidates by examining how the Reading Faculty in one university instituted a cross-course online portfolio that followed students as they progressed through their Master's degree in Teaching (MAT) program. This grassroots online portfolio initiative, while collegial, became a microcosm of technology use in education today where faculty attempted to provide students with a job-seeking tool while also encouraging reflection on their growth in the teaching profession. This tenuous line in an environment of hyper-standardization and accountability left unanswered questions. Faculty worked to transparently examine costs and benefits to stake-holders. This chapter describes how the online portfolio project developed, and offers vignettes that illustrate some of these issues faced by the teacher educators who implemented the project across their courses.
Assessment Shouldn't Be a Pay-Per-View Activity
Authors: Williams Robert , Woods Dan
Published: January 2017

This chapter begins with a consideration of the state of school-based assessments as an unavoidable consequence of the contemporary societal emphasis on accountability and curricular prescriptions at the state and national level in the United States of America. Additionally, the authors comment upon the potential inaccuracies inescapable in large scale, high-stakes, standardized assessment instruments, especially when such instruments are turned to the task of evaluation—whether norm- or criterion-referenced—in a teaching and learning engagement. Likewise, the chapter concludes with suggestions and templates (elaborately configured with specific activities and assessment rubrics included) to support teachers who want to develop their own, rigorous, valid, and reliable assessments instruments embedded seamlessly in student-centered learning activities, and that accommodate the reality of literacy as a culturally situated behavior that, for contemporary learners, includes all manner of meaning-making in all manner of modalities from the pencil and paper to the purely electronic (and potentially wordless, at times) video- or audio-based.
Mastering Electronic Procurement, Green Public Procurement, and Public Procurement for Innovation
Authors: Kasemsap Kijpokin
Published: January 2017

This chapter explains the overview of Electronic Procurement (e-procurement); the critical success factors and implementation of e-procurement systems; the barriers to e-procurement implementation; the perspectives on electronic public procurement; the Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM), Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), and e-procurement; the prospect of Green Public Procurement (GPP); the importance of Public Procurement for Innovation (PPI); and the intermediation of PPI. E-procurement, GPP, and PPI expand the aspects of enterprise resource planning systems, sustainability, and innovation, allowing the automation of internal business processes and providing the procurement-related platforms that support automation at a global level. The benefits of e-procurement, GPP, and PPI include reduced transaction time, increased productivity, improved standardization, enhanced sustainability, and simplified global procurement.
Public Procurement Reform in Georgia
Authors: Chania Ana , Demetrashvili Kakha
Published: January 2017

The Georgian public procurement system has undergone significant Public Financial Management reforms over the last few years. The goal of creation, introduction and management of the Georgian Electronic Government Procurement (Ge-GP) system was delegated upon the State Procurement Agency, which succeeded in ensuring the development of the software for the Ge-GP system under the assistance of the National Agency of Public Registry. The Ge-GP system was created within less than one year. From the first of December, 2010 all the paper-based tenders were abolished and electronic procurement has become the single platform. Through the introduction of electronic procurement platform, the Georgian procurement system has become considerably more transparent and nondiscriminatory, encouraging free and fair competition and minimizing the risk of corruption. Experience of the Georgian e-Procurement System could be one of the motivating factors for the countries working towards public procurement reform.
Challenges in Chilean E-Procurement System
Authors: Ortuzar Guillermo Burr , Sevillano Elena Mora , Castro Claudio Loyola , Uribe Catalina
Published: January 2017

ChileCompra (CC) is the procurement authority of Chile. Purchases are made independently by the public entities, but CC is responsible for market regulation and management of the electronic platform, where transactions are made. ChileCompra was launched on 2003, within a deep State modernization process which started by the end of the 90s. ChileCompra was born with the mission of generating a substantial change in public procurement, as the previous system was neither responding to market needs nor to the accountability which citizens demanded. The objective was the creation of a transparent, efficient, and – most of all - accessible system, which would create equal business opportunities to companies of all sizes, especially for micro and small ones. ChileCompra manages the public procurement market, facilitating the acquisition of goods and services for public authorities; with high levels of transparency and equal opportunities for every enterprise, especially the smallest ones. Through the electronic platform www.mercadopublico.cl – which is the biggest electronic marketplace in the country – public organizations are connected to suppliers within a transparent and efficient system based on a solid regulatory framework whose governing principles are universality, accessibility, and non-discrimination. ChileCompra is currently a strong system, with high levels of transparency and efficiency. As other public procurement national systems, ChileCompra is now facing second generation challenges, like the strengthening of the public procurement role in the socio economic national development. This chapter focuses on the evolution of the Chilean public procurement system, lessons learned and challenges, and the conditions to make it a complete electronic procurement process.
Public Procurement Framework in India
Authors: Panda Prabir , Sahu G. P.
Published: January 2017

Studies highlight that public procurement in any country acts as a barometer of public confidence in fairness and transparency of public institutions. A number of cases related to corruption in public procurement in the country have been highlighted by media on regular basis. These incidents raise questions regarding robustness of the procurement framework in vogue in the country. Though no special legislative framework dealing with public procurement exists in the country, the administrative guidelines on the subject are quite exhaustive. Procurement is not a state subject; hence law can be made by the Centre for entire country. However, no separate law governing public procurement has been enacted in India. However, public procurement in India is not bereft of its share of issues. Multiplicity of instructions, absence of procurement law and singular emphasis on upfront value of acquisition without considering life cycle cost mars public procurement in India. Further, social and environmental sustainability has also not received the attention it deserves. Studies highlight that migration of public procurement to Internet could provide us savings of up to 25% by streamlining 30% of Indian Union Budget spent on provisioning of goods / services. However, any such endeavor has 70% chances of failure. With only 13% e-procurement research focusing on public sector make matter worse. In the above backdrop, the chapter would cover: Importance of public procurement, Difference between public and corporate procurement, Overview of procurement framework of the country - covering constitutional/ legislative/ administrative provisions, generic public procurement process, various types of procurements – limited tender, open tender, single tender, issues in public procurement of the country and e-procurement initiatives by Government of India and status thereof.
Service Sector and Antecedents of Marketing Strategies for Emerging Markets
Authors: Dadwal Sumesh Singh
Published: January 2017

Emerging Markets are of huge interest not only to MNCs, but also to many national governments of developed and developing countries. The size and prospectus of opportunities and challenges of entering and promoting any business in general, and particularly services, has led to this special interest in emerging markets. Executives are interested in to know about appropriate strategies for performing better in the emerging markets such as India. To explore into the ways of various right strategic moves that are required to promote services in emerging markets, it is significant to understand the antecedents behind the choice of fitting marketing and servicing strategies. This chapter explores various concepts like customer service quality, services, marketing and brand related factors and customer relationship management and discusses these in global context in general and in Indian context in particular. The literature develops a conceptual framework that links a range of consumer behavior related and marketing concepts with Customer Relationship Management and ultimately with appropriate marketing strategies suitable for the emerging markets. The findings from literature and secondary research indicated that the companies are becoming more CRM oriented and adapting their business models to local conditions to promote their products and services in the emerging markets.
Understanding the Relationship Between Culture and Sensory Marketing in Developing Strategies and Opportunities in Emerging Economies
Authors: Althagafi Abdulelah , Ali Mahmood
Published: January 2017

Global strategy requires an understanding of various international cultural differences and their impact on organisations success or failure. Organisations adopt different strategies to succeed in a diverse cultural environment. Sensory marketing strategy plays a critical role in understanding the culture and formulating a successful strategy. Sensory marketing is the process that affects customers' senses, perceptions, judgment, and behaviour. It is critical for policymakers to understand the impact of sensory marketing on consumer buying practices across cultures, including emerging economies. This study serves as a backdrop of strategic development in emerging economies with a focus on the visual and tactile factors of the sensory marketing. Adopting Hofstede's (2001) cultural framework, this chapter has three major objectives. Based on literature review, firstly, it presents a cross-cultural analysis of the consumer sensory processing between the developed economies and emerging economy, Saudi Arabia. Secondly, it aims to evaluate the culture impacts on consumer behaviour's purchase intentions in relation to the sensory factor such as touch and vision. Thirdly, it attempts to identify the role of consumer sensory factors in buying decision across the culture. According to the findings, the literature supports the universality of behaviour patterns of multisensory interaction between touch and vision. This universality applies at both theoretical and operational levels.
Using Internet
Authors: Shirazi S. Fatemeh Mostafavi
Published: January 2017

This chapter presents the subject area of the Internet as an international form of media and examines related issues. It begins by considering the Internet as a source of information in various forms of social network sites that enables any individual to post their experiences, opinions and evaluations of tourism destination. This provides a summary of the existing state of knowledge concerning to social network sites and word of mouth (WMO) recommendation. In addition, it serves to clarify the associated word of mouth and market share development.
Intersectional Dialogue while Combating LGBT-Phobia in Schools
Authors: Almeida Yago Vieira de Oliveira
Published: January 2017

The presence of culture of violence in the school environment, manifested from the language, physical and social spheres is widely recognized by organizations, which has among its goals encouraging quality education to all, especially to young people. Therefore, LGBT bullying has gained a growing awareness by civil society, especially with regard to its negative outcomes to the formation of youth, forming a psychological and social legacy that has serious consequences for the establishment of a society ruled by the sustainable development principles. Therefore, this chapter aims to discuss possible mechanisms to combat LGBT-phobia, especially based on bullying, in order to create a culture of peace in schools. Criticizing, investigating, discussing and relativizing are crucial alternative methods in order to build a healthy school environment and potentially transformative.
Approaches to Work in Reducing Entrenched Patterns of Violent Behavior
Authors: McLaughlin Christina
Published: January 2017

In this chapter, the author will demonstrate the use of a peace intervention to increase children's self-identity, community attachments, and coping mechanisms. With correct training and awareness, this project could be implemented throughout elementary schools and community organizations. This chapter will highlight the connection between social and emotional learning as a peace intervention to further reduce the impact of trauma at a later stage in a child's life. Leaning on Axline's play therapy principles and Bronfenbrenner's bio-ecological theory, the author will illustrate how this will become a feasible and sustainable peace intervention. For this, the author has developed the CAI model.
Transforming Violence to Nonviolence
Authors: Jones Wayne A.
Published: January 2017

America can be a violent place. This country has a diverse population with a plethora of social problems including a significant level of violence that occurs in families, schools, churches, and other elements of society. Violence results in significant costs to family relationships, crime, health care, social services, education, race, religion and public policy. There have been many high-profile cases of violence especially mass shootings. On June 17, 2015 Dylan Roof, a young white male, fatally wounded 9 people at a church in Charleston, South Carolina. What causes such violent acts? Are males more violent than females? What can be done to address the problem of violence? Violence often leads to more violence. Can a violent act, such as the Charleston shooting result in a transformative experience and outcome where the response offers lessons for a vision for nonviolence?
How to Create Sustainable Nonviolence Curriculum in Public Schools in Sweden
Authors: Wright Giuseppina
Published: January 2017

Author argues the urgent need for nonviolence training and the contemporary challenges of implementing such plans. Furthermore, chapter briefly discusses the eruptions of violence and experienced in Europe, along with innovative ways to educate all stakeholders. In addition, the chapter includes a case study of a Swedish school, with research of contemporary nonviolence training and curriculum. The chapter will benefit a variety of entities and organizations, such as educators in public school systems and governmental organizations. Findings suggest a growing concern amongst educators, students and parents due to escalating threats and acts of violence in school settings. Moreover, findings indicate partial integration of sustainable nonviolence curriculum into some Swedish schools. Author proposes to integrate and implement nonviolence training into the Swedish public school system as nationally mandated integrated subjects. Further research suggests additional research conducted to measure qualitative and quantitative results nonviolence curriculum and training.
Implementing Restorative Processes to Mediate Conflict and Transform Urban Schools
Authors: Normore Anthony H. , Jarrett Brian
Published: January 2017

Drawing on restorative processes research (e.g., Braithwaite, 1999) and research on social justice (e.g., Evans, 2007; Furman & Gruenewald, 2004; Murrell, 2006; Normore & Brooks, 2014) this chapter is organized in the following manner: First, the authors provide a brief history of the administration of justice. Secondly, the authors discuss the global rise of restorative justice in the education context. In order for a program to be completely restorative it must include several educational components as part of restorative processes. Towards this end, the chapter then situates these components in the context of social justice and explore how school systems use them - with specific emphasis on victim-offender conferencing. Next, authors share examples of international initiatives pertaining to restorative practices. Conclusions summarize the significance of restorative practices in school settings in order to prevent violence, reduce rates of expulsions and suspensions, and create a safe and secure teaching and learning environment for all.
Empowering Women in STEM
Authors: Dietz Gretchen , Hessedence Julie , Long Terry , Muga Helen E.
Published: January 2017

This chapter covers a project that was part of an I3 (Ideas, Innovation, Invention) challenge within a global engineering, junior course at University of Mount Union. The course exposes engineering students to global societal challenges and their solutions. Of importance in this project is the need to boost numbers in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and the need to increase diversity. With this in mind, the team developed and tested five different activities that involved different areas of STEM that were both fun and didactic in nature. Each activity had an associated module to allow for assessment of understanding. An orange buoyancy module, a strength of paper module, a soil erosion module, a simple circuit module, and a simple electric motor module were developed. They were tested on K-5 students at Washington Elementary School, Alliance, OH and on K-5 students at Ollas Arriba Elementary School, Panama City, Panama.
Toward Approaches to Big Data Analysis for Terroristic Behavior Identification: Child Soldiers in Illegal Armed Groups During the Conflict in the Donbas Region (East Ukraine)
Authors: Kostyuchenko Yuriy V. , Yuschenko Maxim
Published: January 2017

Paper aimed to consider of approaches to big data (social network content) utilization for understanding of social behavior in the conflict zones, and analysis of dynamics of illegal armed groups. Analysis directed to identify of underage militants. The probabilistic and stochastic methods of analysis and classification of number, composition and dynamics of illegal armed groups in active conflict areas are proposed. Data of armed conflict – antiterrorist operation in Donbas (Eastern Ukraine in the period 2014-2015) is used for analysis. The numerical distribution of age, gender composition, origin, social status and nationality of child militants among illegal armed groups has been calculated. Conclusions on the applicability of described method in criminological practice, as well as about the possibilities of interpretation of obtaining results in the context of study of terrorism are proposed.
Identifying First Responders Information Needs
Authors: Nunavath Vimala , Prinz Andreas , Comes Tina
Published: January 2017

At the onset of an indoor fire emergency, the availability of the information becomes critical due to the chaotic situation at the emergency site. Moreover, if information is lacking, not shared, or responders are too overloaded to acknowledge it, lives can be lost and property can be harmed. Therefore, the goal of this paper is to identify information items that are needed for first responders during search and rescue operations. The authors use an educational building fire emergency as a case and show how first responders can be supported by getting access to information that are stored in different information systems. The research methodology used was a combination of literature review, fire drills participation, and semi-structured interviews with first responders from different emergency organizations. The results presented are identified information items and an information model.
An Integrated Workflow To Assess Technical and Biological Variability of Cell Population Frequencies in Human Peripheral Blood by Flow Cytometry
Authors: Burel Julie G. , Qian Yu , Lindestam Arlehamn Cecilia , Weiskopf Daniela , Zapardiel-Gonzalo Jose , Taplitz Randy , Gilman Robert H. , Saito Mayuko , de Silva Aruna D. , Vijayanand Pandurangan , Scheuermann Richard H. , Sette Alessandro , Peters Bjoern
Published: January 2017

In the context of large-scale human system immunology studies, controlling for technical and biological variability is crucial to ensure that experimental data support research conclusions. In this study, we report on a universal workflow to evaluate both technical and biological variation in multiparameter flow cytometry, applied to the development of a 10-color panel to identify all major cell populations and T cell subsets in cryopreserved PBMC. Replicate runs from a control donation and comparison of different gating strategies assessed the technical variability associated with each cell population and permitted the calculation of a quality control score. Applying our panel to a large collection of PBMC samples, we found that most cell populations showed low intraindividual variability over time. In contrast, certain subpopulations such as CD56 T cells and Temra CD4 T cells were associated with high interindividual variability. Age but not gender had a significant effect on the frequency of several populations, with a drastic decrease in naive T cells observed in older donors. Ethnicity also influenced a significant proportion of immune cell population frequencies, emphasizing the need to account for these covariates in immune profiling studies. We also exemplify the usefulness of our workflow by identifying a novel cell-subset signature of latent tuberculosis infection. Thus, our study provides a universal workflow to establish and evaluate any flow cytometry panel in systems immunology studies.
Customized Liquid Ocular Prosthesis for Anophthalmic Patients suffering from Dry Eye: A Clinical Research
Authors: Aggarwal Richa , Gupta Rubina , Bharat Arjun , Nijhawan Sushil
Published: January 2017

Problem

Prosthetic eyes often cause dryness, irritation, and inflammation of the anophthalmic sockets.

Purpose

To reduce the discomfort caused due to dryness of ocular prosthesis by a custom-made hollow ocular acrylic prosthesis, which is filled with lubricant drops slowly and systemically released into the ophthalmic cavity upon blinking.

Materials and methods

Thirty-eight patients wearing unilateral artificial eye for a period of more than 6 months were evaluated. An innovative customized hollow prosthesis is described, which was incorporated with a hollow reservoir containing a combination of a tear substitute along with cyclosporine A (0.05%) acting as the lubricant. The patients were then evaluated with the help of a questionnaire, regarding the comfort, dryness, soreness, and the ease of use of prosthesis. A self-formulated grading system was used to record the scores.

Results

Postinsertion of this hollow prosthesis, there was a marked reduction in the dryness, irritation, discomfort, and signs of inflammation.

Conclusion

It was concluded that the continuous flow of the lubricant onto the dry prosthetic eye helps in reducing dryness, irritation, soreness, and inflammation.

Clinical implications

A hollow ocular prosthesis that can continuously discharge lubricant onto the dry prosthesis can help in increasing patient's acceptance and comfort.

How to cite this article

Gupta R, Aggarwal R, Bharat A, Nijhawan S. Customized Liquid Ocular Prosthesis for Anophthalmic Patients suffering from Dry Eye: A Clinical Research. Int J Prosthodont Restor Dent 2016;6(3):57-62.
Time-dependent Variation in Compressive Strengths of Three Posterior Esthetic Restorative Materials: An in vitro Study
Authors: Mishra Sunil , Sharma Anjna , Mishra Pankaj
Published: January 2017

Aim

To compare the compressive strengths of composite resins and resin-modified glass ionomer cements (RMGICs) at different times.

Materials and methods

A total of 36 samples were prepared, 12 samples of each group, composite resins Filtek Z 250, Filtek Z 350, and resin-modified glass ionomer cement. Compressive strengths of specimens were measured after 1, 24 hours, and 7 days. Test was carried out on a “Universal Testing Machine” with cross-head speed of 5 mm/min.

Results

There was a significant difference between all the three restorative materials. Analysis of variance showed that mean compressive strengths of Z 250 after 1, 24 hours were higher than Z 350 and RMGIC (p < 0.05). The mean compressive strengths were reduced after 7 days in all the three groups, but after 7 days, the values of Z 250 when compared with the Z 350 and RMGIC were higher.

Conclusion

The study demonstrated that compressive strengths of hybrid composite resins (Z 250) were significantly higher than that of nanocomposites (Z 350) and RMGIC.

How to cite this article

Sharma A, Mishra P, Mishra SK. Time-dependent Variation in Compressive Strengths of Three Posterior Esthetic Restorative Materials: An in vitro Study. Int J Prosthodont Restor Dent 2016;6(3):63-65.
Cone Beam Computed Tomography-guided Management of Cervical Perforative Internal Resorption in Permanent Mandibular First Molar
Authors: Naik Rasika A , Ramugade Manoj M , Attar Nilofar B , Sapkale Kishor D
Published: January 2017

Internal resorption in the permanent dentition is a rare pathologic condition. Clinical differentiation of perforative cervical internal resorption from cervical external resorption is considered to be a challenging task. Advanced imaging techniques, such as cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) have proven vital diagnostic tools in the detection and management of these lesions. Management of a perforated internal resorption needs comprehensive endorestorative and periodontal approach. This article describes 1 year follow-up of the successfully managed perforative cervical internal resorption in permanent mandibular first molar. The affected tooth was endodontically treated, and the resorptive defect was restored with resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC) through periodontal flap surgery.

How to cite this article

Naik RA, Ramugade MM, Attar NB, Sapkale KD. Cone Beam Computed Tomography-guided Management of Cervical Perforative Internal Resorption in Permanent Mandibular First Molar. Int J Prosthodont Restor Dent 2016;6(3):73-77.
Histological Evaluation of a Novel Pulpotomy Technique with Low-level Laser Therapy and Its Comparison with Formocresol: A Randomized Animal Trial
Authors: Prabhakar AR , Shagale Amitha M
Published: January 2017

Aim

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been increasingly used over the past few decades in both medicine and dentistry. It has been suggested that LLLT may be helpful in pulpal wound healing following pulp exposure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the histological changes in dental pulp tissue after a pulpotomy procedure using a low-level diode laser in comparison with the gold standard formocresol.

Materials and methods

In this experimental split-mouth study, 20 teeth were randomly selected from five dogs. The animals were anesthetized and pulpotomized using a low-level diode laser (660 nm, 36 mW) and formocresol respectively. One week later, the pulpotomized teeth were extracted and subjected to histological evaluation. Histological changes seen in the pulp tissues of all the interventional groups were subjected to statistical analysis using Mann–Whitney U test for pairwise comparison; p < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant and p > 0.05 nonsignificant.

Results

On histologic evaluation, least amount of inflammation and maximal healing was evident in the LLLT group. On the contrary, the formocresol group showed severe inflammation.

Conclusion

Low-level laser therapy promises to be a safe, minimally invasive, yet maximally effective modality for pulpotomy.

How to cite this article

Prabhakar AR, Shagale AM, Yavagal C. Histological Evaluation of a Novel Pulpotomy Technique with Low-level Laser Therapy and Its Comparison with Formocresol: A Randomized Animal Trial. Int J Laser Dent 2016;6(1):1-5.
Etiopathology of Hoarseness of Voice: A Clinical Study
Authors: Rao Syamji V , Sharma Varanasi S , Rao MV Subba , Keerthi GS , Deta Sheeba I , Seepana Pravin T
Published: January 2017

Aim

Hoarseness of voice is generally due to change in quality of voice. The etiology of hoarseness of voice varies from benign conditions to malignant disease, hence should not be ignored. All cases of hoarseness of voice persisting for more than 3 weeks should be investigated for the underlying disease. It may indicate either malignancy of larynx or silent bronchogenic carcinoma. A retrospective study of cases of hoarseness of voice was done in MediCiti Institute of Medical Sciences for a period of 5 years. The etiopathological factors, age and duration of presentation, and type of condition were analyzed to arrive at different etiopathological conditions responsible at different age groups.

How to cite this article

Rao SV, Sharma VS, Rao MVS, Keerthi GS, Deta SI, Seepana PT, Kumar V. Etiopathology of Hoarseness of Voice: A Clinical Study. Int J Phonosurg Laryngol 2016;6(2):64-67.
Our Approach for Optimizing Vocal Outcomes in Transoral Laser Microsurgical Resection of Early Glottic Carcinoma
Authors: Deshmukh Shraddha
Published: January 2017

Objectives

To assess oncologic and functional outcomes of early glottic cancer cases treated with transoral laser microsurgical resection (TLMR) and to outline the principles for optimizing vocal outcomes in these cases.

Materials and methods

Sixty six patients with early glottic cancer (7 CIS, 43 T1a, 15 T1b, 1 T2) underwent TLMR. Postoperatively, voice quality was assessed by Oates Russell Voice Profile.

Results

Local control was achieved in 95.08% of the cases and larynx was preserved in 98.3%. Residual disease developed in 3 patients. There were eight local recurrences. Single patient of T1b lesion was lost to follow-up and came back with stridor and underwent total laryngectomy.

Conclusion

Early glottic cancers can be effectively treated by TLMR with good oncologic outcome. Depth of infiltration of lesion is the most critical factor affecting the postoperative vocal outcome. In our study near-normal conversational voice to moderate change in voice was found after type I, II, and III cordectomies. Surprisingly, type VI cordectomy also gave a serviceable vocal outcome with moderate change in voice. In our opinion, type IV cordectomy does not give a serviceable vocal outcome even if performed unilaterally. Thus radiotherapy should be strongly considered in such cases for better vocal outcome.

How to cite this article

Nerurkar NK, Deshmukh S. Our Approach for Optimizing Vocal Outcomes in Transoral Laser Microsurgical Resection of Early Glottic Carcinoma. Int J Phonosurg Laryngol 2016;6(2):68-72.
Montgomery T-tube for Management of Tracheal Stenosis: A Retrospective Analysis in a Government Hospital of South India
Authors: Babu Myle Mahesh
Published: January 2017

This study investigated the outcome of patients who developed tracheal stenosis after tracheostomy or intubation using Montgomery T-tube. We reviewed 21 patients who had experienced tracheal stenosis at a single institution, over 7 years from January 2008 to January 2015. Majority were in the age group of 20 to 30 years and a male preponderance was noted. The duration between extubation and appearance of respiratory symptoms ranged from 32 to 96 days. Location of stenosis was more common in subglottic region (61.9%), followed by tracheal (33.33%) and laryngotracheal stenosis (4.7%). At the end of 6 months, 18 of 21 patients were decannulated successfully and 3 were decannulated at the end of 9 months. Our study showed that use of Montgomery T-tube for laryngotracheal stenosis gave complete improvement in all the patients. Tracheal resection and anastomosis is the definitive surgical treatment of choice in tracheal stenosis but when surgical management is not feasible T-tube is a good alternative and T-tube as front line of management has produced complete improvement in airway patency and restoration of voice in our study.

How to cite this article

Babu MM, Kumar RA, Thirugnanamani R. Montgomery T-tube for Management of Tracheal Stenosis: A Retrospective Analysis in a Government Hospital of South India. Int J Phonosurg Laryngol 2016;6(2):73-77.
Clinical Outcomes at 1 Year following Corneal Ectasia Treatment with Accelerated Transepithelial Cross-linking
Authors: Pérez-Cambrodí Rafael J , Ruiz-Fortes Pedro , Artola Alberto
Published: January 2017

Objective

To assess the clinical outcomes in ectatic corneas following accelerated transepithelial cross-linking (CXL) over 1 year of follow-up.

Materials and methods

Twenty-one eyes diagnosed with progressive corneal ectasia (19 keratoconus, 2 post-laser in situ keratomileusis ectasias) in 14 patients aged between 26 and 69 years were enrolled. All cases were treated with accelerated transepithelial CXL using the Avedro KXL® system (Waltham, MA, United States). Changes at visual, refractive, corneal topographic, and corneal aberrometric level were evaluated over a 12-month follow-up period. The demarcation was also determined using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Results

The mean depth of the demarcation line measured by OCT was 202.72 µm, varying between 153 and 230 µm. One month postsurgery, a change was noted at the limit of statistical significance in sphere (p = 0.05) and in spherical equivalent (p = 0.05). Likewise, a statistically significant difference was observed in corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) (p = 0.01). There were no significant changes in either visual acuity or refraction between 1 and 6 months (p ≥ 0.35). Although changes in trend were observed in corneal topographic and aberrometric parameters after surgery, none reached statistical significance (p ≥ 0.08). A significant change was observed only in astigmatism of the posterior surface between 1 and 12 months (p = 0.02).

Conclusion

Accelerated transepithelial CXL may be a useful technique for the management of progressive corneal ectasia, as it is able to maintain the topographic and aberrometric profile of the cornea with no significant changes. Longer-term studies are required to confirm this finding

How to cite this article

Piñero DP, Artola A, Ruiz-Fortes P, Soto-Negro R, Pérez-Cambrodi RJ. Clinical Outcomes at 1 Year following Corneal Ectasia Treatment with Accelerated Transepithelial Cross-linking. Int J Kerat Ect Cor Dis 2016;5(3):93-98.
Femto Circular Keratotomy to Halt the Progression of Keratoconus I and II
Authors: Krumeich Jörg H , Hirnschall Nino , Breyer Detlev , Laufer Florian
Published: January 2017

Aim

To simplify and enhance safety in the generation of a stabilizing intracorneal scar by circular keratotomy (CKT). A femtosecond laser was used to perform individually sized intraparenchymal cuts.

Materials and methods

As equipped, the Ziemer Z6 femto-second laser cuts a 400-µm-deep incision with a diameter of 7.0 mm around the optical axis. The epithelium, Bowmann's membrane, the internal borders of Descemet's membrane, and the endothelium are not affected.

The 3-, 6-, and 12-month postoperative values were compared with the 1-month postoperative keratometric readings and astigmatism. The preoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) with glasses was compared with the values found at the same time points as noted above.

Results

Statistical evaluation indicated that keratometry within ±1.5D remained in 96.6, 93.1, and 96.6% of cases at the 3-, 6-, and 12-month time points respectively.

Astigmatism was stable at the same time points in 100, 95.8, and 92.3%.

The BCVA improved in 12 cases throughout the first post-operative year (48%, n = 25); however, 11 cases did not change (44%) and 2 cases lost at least one line (8.0%).

Conclusion

Femto CKT halts the progression of keratoconus for at least 1 year in 96.6% of cases. This treatment provides keratometric and refractive stability for over 1 year. This result, in conjunction with the significant improvement in BCVA, demonstrates the potential of this method for patients with stage I and II keratoconus.

How to cite this article

Krumeich JH, Hirnschall N, Breyer D, Laufer F. Femto Circular Keratotomy to Halt the Progression of Keratoconus I and II. Int J Kerat Ect Cor Dis 2016;5(3):109-113.
Keratoconic Bi-aspheric Contact Lenses
Authors: Gordon-Shaag Ariela , Fine Philip , Gantz Liat , Gideon-Abousaid Arige , Serero Gad
Published: January 2017

Aim

This observational clinical case series examined patients with keratoconus (KC) fit with keratoconic bi-aspheric (KBA) lenses to assess visual acuity (VA), wavefront aberrations, physiological fitting, subjective comfort, and manufacturer's fitting guidelines.

Materials and methods

Seven adult patients (11 eyes, four females, mean age: 34.15 ± 14.12) with nipple cones from the Hadassah Academic College contact lens clinic (Jerusalem, Israel) were fit with KBA lenses by modifying the initial base curve (BC) to obtain an acceptable physiological fit. The uncorrected and corrected distance (D) and near (N) Snellen VA and the ocular wavefront measurements, and responses to a self-administered five-point scale questionnaire were compared after 2 weeks of wear using paired two-tailed t-test or Mann-Whitney U test, as appropriate.

Results

Visual acuity and total root mean square (RMS) improved significantly with the lenses (DVAuncorrected = 0.04 ± 0.02, DVAcorrected = 0.66 ± 0. 22, NVAuncorrected = 0.34 ± 0.30, NVAcorrected = 0.95 ± 0.12). Subjects reported an average of 7.0 ± 2.7 hours of wear daily, with good scores in visual stability, satisfaction with VA and quality of vision, improvement of mood and quality of life, and low scores in foreign body sensation, pain, red eye, and itching during wear, and difficulty with lens removal. An average of two BC modifications from the diagnostic lens were necessary (0.16 mm steeper in nine eyes, 0.27 mm flatter in two eyes).

Conclusion

Keratoconic bi-aspheric lenses can provide 7 hours of comfortable wear, significantly improved VA and total RMS aberrations, alongside subjective satisfaction. Base curve modifications can be reduced by fitting a diagnostic lens 0.75 mm steeper than the flattest keratometry reading.

How to cite this article

Gantz L, Gordon-Shaag A, Gideon-Abousaid A, Serero G, Fine P. Keratoconic Bi-aspheric Contact Lenses. Int J Kerat Ect Cor Dis 2016;5(3):132-138.
Characterisation of Central-African aerosol and trace-gas emissions
based on MAX-DOAS measurements and model simulations over
Bujumbura, Burundi
Authors: Gielen Clio , Hendrick François , Pinardi Gaia , De Smedt Isabelle , Fayt Caroline , Hermans Christian , Stavrakou Trissevgeni , Bauwens Maite , Müller Jean-Francois , Ndenzako Eugène , Nzohabonayo Pierre , Akimana Rachel , Niyonzima Sebastien , Van Roozendael Michel , De Mazière Martine
Published: January 2017

Abstract. We present MAX-DOAS measurements of NO2, HCHO, and aerosols performed in Central Africa, in the city of Bujumbura, Burundi (3.38° S, 29.3° E). A MAX-DOAS instrument has been operated at this location by BIRA-IASB since late 2013. Aerosol-extinction and trace-gas vertical profiles are retrieved by applying the optimal-estimation-based profiling tool bePRO to the measured O4, NO2 and HCHO slant-column densities. The MAX-DOAS vertical columns and profiles are used for investigating the diurnal and seasonal cycles of NO2, HCHO, and aerosols. Regarding the aerosols, the retrieved AODs are compared to co-located AERONET sun-photometer measurements for verification purposes, while in the case of NO2 and HCHO, the MAX-DOAS vertical columns and profiles are compared to GOME-2 and OMI satellite observations. To characterise the biomass-burning and biogenic emissions in the Bujumbura region, the trace gases and aerosol MAX-DOAS retrievals are used in combination with MODIS fire radiative-power values and the tropospheric 3D chemical transport model IMAGES, as well as simulations from the NOAA backward-trajectory model HYSPLIT. The first results show that the aerosol and HCHO seasonal variation is driven by the alternation of rain and dry periods, the latter being associated with intense biomass-burning agricultural activities and forest fires in the south/south-east and transport from this region to Bujumbura. In contrast, NO2 is seen to depend mainly on local emissions close to the city, due to the short lifetime of this species (typically 1–2 hours).
Design and analysis of symmetric and compact 2R1T (in-plane 3-DOC) flexure parallel mechanisms
Authors: Hao Guangbo
Published: January 2017

Abstract. Symmetry is very necessary in flexure mechanisms, which can eliminate parasitic motions, avoid buckling, and minimize thermal and manufacturing sensitivity. This paper proposes two symmetric and compact flexure designs, in-plane 3-DOC (degree of constraint) mechanisms, which are composed of 4 and 6 identical wire beams, respectively. Compared to traditional leaf-beam-based designs, the two present designs have lower stiffness in the primary motion directions, and have smaller stiffness reduction in the parasitic directions. Analytical modelling is conducted to derive the symbolic compliance equations, enabling quick analysis and comparisons of compliances of the two mechanisms. A prototype has been tested statically to compare with analytical models.