scholarly journals Revisiting the Delphi Technique in Orthodontics: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gururajaprasad Kaggal Lakshmana Rao ◽  
Yulita Hanum P Iskandar ◽  
Norehan Mokhtar
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Delphi Technique ◽  
Expert Panel ◽  
Communication Process ◽  
Panel Size ◽  
Multi Stage ◽  
Size Number ◽  
Electronic Database Search ◽  
Stage Process ◽  
Number Of Iterations

Introduction: The Delphi technique is an iterative, multi-stage process that consists of questioning a panel of experts through a structured group communication process to reach a consensus on specific issues. The study is a systematic review of the available literature in orthodontics which has utilised the Delphi technique to seek consensus on a range of issues. Aim: To identify and summarise the studies which have utilised the Delphi technique as a method for gathering consensus in the speciality field of orthodontics. The study evaluated the various characteristics of the Delphi technique. Materials and Methods: This systematic review followed the methodology of a preset article inclusion and exclusion criteria using an electronic database search using the keywords consensus, Delphi, Delphi technique, Delphi studies, expert opinion was conducted in March 2021. A range of electronic databases comprising PubMed, Excerpta Medica database (EMBASE), Google Scholar, Web of Science and Scopus were searched dated from (January 1990 to March 2021) to identify the studies which involved the use of Delphi in orthodontics. Following this, two authors reviewed and scored each of the studies before finalising a list of five studies to be included in this review. Results: The searches revealed a total of 187 studies out of which only five studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this study. Each of the five studies was assessed by two independent assessors. The five studies involved an expert panel from multiple health professionals involving orthodontic specialists, maxillofacial surgeons, nurses, speech therapists, and nutritionists. Five domains (theme, panel constitution, panel size, number of iterations and the level at which consensus reached) were identified and assessed in each of the five studies. Conclusion: The study has identified and reviewed the Delphi technique and its usage in orthodontics but has also provided a sound description and elaboration of the various components and characteristics of the Delphi technique in addition to providing some correlations between expert panel size and the number of iterations.

scholarly journals Epigenetic and transcriptional regulation of osteoclastogenesis in the pathogenesis of skeletal diseases: a protocol for a systematic review

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dr Siddhartha Sharma ◽  
Dr Anupam Mittal ◽  
Aditi Mahajan ◽  
Riddhi Gohil
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Transcriptional Regulators ◽  
Osteoclast Formation ◽  
Micro Rna ◽  
Epigenetic Changes ◽  
Multi Stage ◽  
Stage Process ◽  
Skeletal Disorders

Osteoclastogenesis (OCG) is a multi-stage process that involves formation of activated osteoclasts from bone marrow macrophages. The progression of each stage of OCG is governed by a set of transcription factors and gene regulators, which are genetically and epigenetically regulated at both transcription and post-transcription levels. Epigenetic changes are used to denote interactions between genetic material and environment leading to phenotypic alterations that can be inherited, without any variations in DNA sequence. Epigenetic and transcription regulatory events have profound effects on osteoclast formation and activation; these have been implicated in numerous disorders including osteoporosis, osteopetrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, gout and bone metastasis. We aim to conduct a systematic review to assess possible relationship between key epigenetic and transcriptional regulators of osteoclastogenesis, and their role in specific bone disorders. This is a protocol for the proposed review. Keywords: osteoclasts; osteoclastogenesis; epigenetics; transcription; bone; skeletal disorders; methylation; histone proteins; micro RNA

scholarly journals Accuracy and Reliability of Soft Tissue Landmarks Using Three-Dimensional Imaging in Comparison With Two-Dimensional Cephalometrics: A Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 289-296
Author(s):  
Adeeba Ali ◽  
Anil K. Chandna ◽  
Anshul Munjal
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Soft Tissue ◽  
3D Imaging ◽  
Soft Tissues ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Database Search ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Imaging Tool ◽  
Electronic Database Search

Background: Concerns about the accuracy and reliability of soft tissue landmarks using two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) imaging. Objective: The aim of the systematic review is to estimate accuracy and reliability of soft tissue landmarks with 2D imaging and 3D imaging for orthodontic diagnosis planning and treatment planning purposes. Data Sources: Electronic database search was performed in MEDLINE via PubMed, Embase via embase.com, and the Cochrane library website. Selection Criteria: The data were extracted according to two protocols based on Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM) critical appraisal tools. Next, levels of evidence were categorized into three groups: low, medium, and high. Data Synthesis: Fifty-five publications were found through database search strategies. A total of nine publications were included in this review. Conclusion According to the available literature, 3D imaging modalities were more accurate and reliable as compared to 2D modalities. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) was considered the most reliable imaging tool for soft tissues.

scholarly journals Insights into the Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms That Govern the Fracture-Healing Process: A Narrative Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (16) ◽  
pp. 3554
Author(s):  
Dionysios J. Papachristou ◽  
Stavros Georgopoulos ◽  
Peter V. Giannoudis ◽  
Elias Panagiotopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Healing ◽  
Bone Repair ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Healing Process ◽  
Bone Architecture ◽  
Multi Stage ◽  
Stage Process ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Impact

Fracture-healing is a complex multi-stage process that usually progresses flawlessly, resulting in restoration of bone architecture and function. Regrettably, however, a considerable number of fractures fail to heal, resulting in delayed unions or non-unions. This may significantly impact several aspects of a patient’s life. Not surprisingly, in the past few years, a substantial amount of research and number of clinical studies have been designed, aiming at shedding light into the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate fracture-healing. Herein, we present the current knowledge on the pathobiology of the fracture-healing process. In addition, the role of skeletal cells and the impact of marrow adipose tissue on bone repair is discussed. Unveiling the pathogenetic mechanisms that govern the fracture-healing process may lead to the development of novel, smarter, and more effective therapeutic strategies for the treatment of fractures, especially of those with large bone defects.

Paleomagnetic results from the western Himalaya indicate multi-stage India-Eurasia collision

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig R Martin ◽  
Oliver Jagoutz ◽  
Rajeev Upadhyay ◽  
Leigh H Royden ◽  
Michael P Eddy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Subduction Zone ◽  
Classical Model ◽  
Western Himalaya ◽  
Paleomagnetic Data ◽  
Northwestern Part ◽  
Himalayan Orogeny ◽  
The North ◽  
Multi Stage ◽  
Early Paleocene ◽  
Stage Process

<p>The classical model for the collision between India and Eurasia, which resulted in the formation of the Himalayan orogeny, is a single-stage continent-continent collision event at around 55 – 50 Ma. However, it has also been proposed that the India-Eurasia collision was a multi-stage process involving an intra-oceanic Trans-Tethyan subduction zone south of the Eurasian margin. We present paleomagnetic data constraining the location the Kohistan-Ladakh arc, a remnant of this intra-oceanic subduction zone, to a paleolatitude of 8.1 ± 5.6 °N between 66 – 62 Ma. Comparing this result with new paleomagnetic data from the Eurasian Karakoram terrane, and previous paleomagnetic reconstructions of the Lhasa terrane reveals that the Trans-Tethyan Subduction zone was situated 600 – 2,300 km south of the contemporaneous Eurasian margin at the same time as the first ophiolite obduction event onto the northern Indian margin. Our results confirm that the collision was a multistage process involving at least two subduction systems. Collision began with docking between India and the Trans-Tethyan subduction zone in the Late Cretaceous and Early Paleocene, followed by the India-Eurasia collision in the mid-Eocene. The final stage of India-Eurasia collision occurred along the Shyok-Tsangpo suture zone, rather than the Indus-Tsangpo. The addition of the Kshiroda oceanic plate, north of India after the Paleocene reconciles the amount of convergence between India and Eurasia with the observed shortening across the India–Eurasia collision system. Our results constrain the total post-collisional convergence accommodated by crustal deformation in the Himalaya to 1,350 – 2,150 km, and the north-south extent of the northwestern part of Greater India to < 900 km.</p>

Collaborative Technologies and Innovation in SMEs

2010 ◽  
pp. 204-217
Author(s):  
Angel L. Meroño-Cerdan ◽  
Pedro Soto-Acosta ◽  
Carolina Lopez-Nicolas
Keyword(s):  
The Other ◽  
Research Model ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Collaborative Technologies ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Multi Stage ◽  
Stage Process ◽  
The One ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

This study seeks to assess the impact of collaborative technologies on innovation at the firm level. Collaborative technologies’ influence on innovation is considered here as a multi-stage process that starts at adoption and extends to use. Thus, the effect of collaborative technologies on innovation is examined not only directly, the simple presence of collaborative technologies, but also based on actual collaborative technologies’ use. Given the fact that firms can use this technology for different purposes, collaborative technologies’ use is measured according to three orientations: e-information, e-communication and e-workflow. To achieve these objectives, a research model is developed for assessing, on the one hand, the impact of the adoption and use of collaborative technologies on innovation and, on the other hand, the relationship between adoption and use of collaborative technologies. The research model is tested using a dataset of 310 Spanish SMEs. The results showed that collaborative technologies’ adoption is positively related to innovation. Also, as hypothesized, distinct collaborative technologies were found to be associated to different uses. In addition, the study found that while e-information had a positive and significant impact on innovation, e-communication and e-workflow did not.

Parameter Selection for Swarm Intelligence Algorithms

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Breno A. M. Menezes ◽  
Fabian Wrede ◽  
Herbert Kuchen ◽  
Fernando B. Lima Neto
Keyword(s):  
Population Size ◽  
Swarm Intelligence ◽  
Execution Time ◽  
Optimization Problems ◽  
Parallel Implementation ◽  
Fish School ◽  
Size Number ◽  
Complex Optimization ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Number Of Iterations

Swarm intelligence (SI) algorithms are handy tools for solving complex optimization problems. When problems grow in size and complexity, an increase in population or number of iterations might be required in order to achieve a good solution. These adjustments also impact the execution time. This article investigates the trade-off involving population size, number of iterations and problem complexity, aiming to improve the efficiency of SI algorithms. Results based on a parallel implementation of Fish School Search show that increasing the population size is beneficial for finding good solutions. However, we observed an asymptotic behavior, i.e. increasing the population over a certain threshold only leads to slight improvements. Furthermore, the execution time was analyzed.

scholarly journals Geochemical Evidence for the Control of Fire by Middle Palaeolithic Hominins

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Brittingham ◽  
Michael T. Hren ◽  
Gideon Hartman ◽  
Keith N. Wilkinson ◽  
Carolina Mallol ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Technological Development ◽  
Particulate Emissions ◽  
Middle Palaeolithic ◽  
Natural Fires ◽  
Fire Use ◽  
Multi Stage ◽  
The Social ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Stage Process

Abstract The use of fire played an important role in the social and technological development of the genus Homo. Most archaeologists agree that this was a multi-stage process, beginning with the exploitation of natural fires and ending with the ability to create fire from scratch. Some have argued that in the Middle Palaeolithic (MP) hominin fire use was limited by the availability of fire in the landscape. Here, we present a record of the abundance of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organic compounds that are produced during the combustion of organic material, from Lusakert Cave, a MP site in Armenia. We find no correlation between the abundance of light PAHs (3–4 rings), which are a major component of wildfire PAH emissions and are shown to disperse widely during fire events, and heavy PAHs (5–6 rings), which are a major component of particulate emissions of burned wood. Instead, we find heavy PAHs correlate with MP artifact density at the site. Given that hPAH abundance correlates with occupation intensity rather than lPAH abundance, we argue that MP hominins were able to control fire and utilize it regardless of the variability of fires in the environment. Together with other studies on MP fire use, these results suggest that the ability of hominins to manipulate fire independent of exploitation of wildfires was spatially variable in the MP and may have developed multiple times in the genus Homo.

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