Universal Dental Adhesives: Cost-Effectiveness and Duration of Use

The purpose of this study was to conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) of different brands of universal dental adhesives used for composite restorations. Four adhesive brands were included: Single-Bond Universal (SB), Tetric N-Bond Universal VivaPen (TN), OptiBond All-In-One (OB), and G-Premio Bond (GP). Adhesives were applied 5 times daily in a standardized class II cavity onto a plastic tooth. A precision-analysis scale was used to measure all of the following parameters before and after use: adhesive bottle, applicator, dosing plate, and plastic tooth. CEA was done by measuring the amount of material utilized/day, waste/day, efficacy, efficiency, average cost-effectiveness ratio (ACER), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). Data were analyzed using Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn’s tests with Bonferroni correction at 0.05 significance level. CEA tested parameters were significantly different between groups (p < 0.001) except for ICER (p = 0.112). GP was the least effective (median = 0.062), and SB was the least efficient (median = 0.366). The highest and lowest ACER values were associated with TN (median cost ≈ USD 317) and SB (median cost ≈ USD 317), respectively. ICER analysis reported an incremental cost for extra material utilized per milliliter of ≈USD 208 for TN, USD 3.8 for GP, and USD −38 for OB, compared to SB. TN seems to be the most efficient and cost-effective dental adhesive.

A scale development study: Hemodialysis comfort scale version II

Aim Aim of this study was to develop a valid and reliable measuring tool in order to evaluate comfort of patients receiving hemodialysis treatment. Background There has been available a scale developed to evaluate comfort of hemodialysis patients “HDCS (Hemodialysis Comfort Scale).” Due to HDCS consisted of nine items and evaluated comfort in two sub-dimensions, researchers who developed HDCS, stated that number of scale items and dimensions is not sufficient to fully evaluate comfort. Therefore, (Hemodialysis Comfort Scale Version II) HDCS-II was developed with this research and its development process were discussed in this article. Materials and Methods Sample of this methodological research was consisted of 436 chronic hemodialysis patients, treated at five hemodialysis centers between October 2018 and May 2019. In process of creation item pool, comfort theory and literature was examined. The items in the old scale were also revised and included. Thereby a new question pool of 87 items was created. This draft scale was sent for expert opinion. In validity of scale; content validity index, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were used. In reliability study; Item analysis, cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient, parallel form reliability and item analysis based on upper-lower group averages were used. Results There was consistency between expert views relating to items in scale. According to exploratory factor analysis, scale consisted of six dimensions. Cronbach alpha coefficient of 26-item scale was 0.79. Alpha values of the six factor in scale were, respectively; for physical relief 0.83, for physical ease 0.71, for psychospiritual ease 0.87, for psychospiritual transcendence 0.85, for environmental transcendence 0.82, and for sociocultural ease 0.61. Conclusion HDCS-II is a 5-point likert type and consists of 26 items and 6 factors. This scale is a valid and reliable measurement tool that can be used to determine comfort of patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment.

Development of the Video Analysis Scale of Engagement (VASE) for people with advanced dementia

Background: The current study sought to develop a valid, reliable and unobtrusive tablet computer-based observational measure to assess engagement of people with advanced dementia. The Video Analysis Scale of Engagement (VASE) was designed to enable the rating of moment-by-moment changes in engagement during an activity, which would be useful for both future research and current residential care. Methods: An initial version of the VASE was tested. Face validity and content validity were assessed to validate an operational definition of engagement and develop an acceptable protocol for the scale. Thirty-seven non-professional and professional volunteers were recruited to view and rate level of engagement in music activities using the VASE. Results: An inter-class coefficient (ICC) test gave a high level of rating agreement across professionals and non-professionals. However, the ICC results of within-professionals were mixed. Linear mixed modelling suggested that the types of interventions (active or passive music listening), the particular intervention session being rated, time period of video and the age of raters could affect the ratings. Conclusions: Results suggested that raters used the VASE in a dynamic fashion and that the measure was able to distinguish between interventions. Further investigation and adjustments are warranted for this to be considered a valid and reliable scale in the measurement of engagement of people with advanced dementia in a residential care setting.

Job Selection Priorities of Accounting and Finance Graduates: An Empirical Evidence from Pakistan

This study aims to evaluate the impact of six independent variables namely; professional growth, financial earnings, organizational repute, job environment, job security, and interest in the subject on one dependent variable i.e. job selection priorities of accounting and finance graduates in the perspective of Pakistan. The data of the study comprises 900 responses from final year graduates of 15 universities of Pakistan. The study used a structured questionnaire technique consisting of three parts (Part I= Demographic Characteristics, Part II and Part III= Assessment information of independent and dependent variables respectively) with 28 close-ended questions. Each item of the questionnaire was assessed using a 5-point Likert scale. The study employed demographic analysis, scale analysis, and inferential analysis. The empirical findings evidenced a positive correlation of all independent variables with dependent variables whereas no correlation was found among independent variables, and only three independent variables have a significant impact on the dependent variable of the study.

Development of the Video Analysis Scale of Engagement (VASE) for people with advanced dementia

Background: The current study sought to develop a valid, reliable and unobtrusive tablet computer-based observational measure to assess engagement of people with advanced dementia. The Video Analysis Scale of Engagement (VASE) was designed to enable the rating of moment-by-moment changes in engagement during an activity, which would be useful for both future research and current residential care. Methods: An initial version of the VASE was tested. Face validity and content validity were assessed to validate an operational definition of engagement and develop an acceptable protocol for the scale. Thirty-seven non-professional and professional volunteers were recruited to view and rate level of engagement in music activities using the VASE. Results: An inter-class coefficient (ICC) test gave a high level of rating agreement across professionals and non-professionals. However, the ICC results of within-professionals were mixed. Linear mixed modelling suggested that the types of interventions (active or passive music listening), the particular intervention session being rated, time period of video and the age of raters could affect the ratings. Conclusions: Results suggested that raters used the VASE in a dynamic fashion and that the measure was able to distinguish between interventions. Further investigation and adjustments are warranted for this to be considered a valid and reliable scale in the measurement of engagement of people with advanced dementia in a residential care setting.

THE EFFECT OF CLINICAL PILATES GROUP EXERCISE PROGRAM ON FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT SCORES, POSTURE, AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN RECREATIONALLY ACTIVE WOMEN

Aim: Pilates exercises were introduced by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s. These exercises are based on 5 basic principles; centering, concentration, sensitivity, flow and respiration. All pilates exercises are applied with core stabilization. Functional Movement Screen (FMS™) is a screening system that shows functional deficiencies. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of 12-week pilates group exercise training on functional movement scores in women. Secondarily; posture, depression level and quality of life were evaluated. Methods: 30 women were included in the study between 30-50 years of age. Primarly, Functional Movement Screen (FMS™) (Deep squat, Hurdle step, In line lunge, Shoulder mobility, Active leg raise, Trunk stability push-up, Rotation stability) secondarily; New York Posture Analysis Scale, Beck Depression Scale and Short Form 36(SF-36) were used. Pilates exercises were applied by a physiotherapist. The exercises continued for three sessions per week for 12 weeks. The evaluations were repeated before exercise and just after finish of the exercise. Results: Statistical significant difference was found in FMS total score, New York Posture Analysis Scale and SF-36 subscores except general health parameter. Conclusion: Participating in Pilates exercises can improve functional status, posture and health related quality of life.

Station-Free Bike Rebalancing Analysis: Scale, Modeling, and Computational Challenges

In the past few years, station-free bike sharing systems (SFBSSs) have been adopted in many cities worldwide. Different from conventional station-based bike sharing systems (SBBSSs) that rely upon fixed bike stations, SFBSSs allow users the flexibility to locate a bike nearby and park it at any appropriate site after use. With no fixed bike stations, the spatial extent/scale used to evaluate bike shortage/surplus in an SFBSS has been rather arbitrary in existing studies. On the one hand, a balanced status using large areas may contain multiple local bike shortage/surplus sites, leading to a less effective rebalancing design. On the other hand, an imbalance evaluation conducted in small areas may not be meaningful or necessary, while significantly increasing the computational complexity. In this study, we examine the impacts of analysis scale on the SFBSS imbalance evaluation and the associated rebalancing design. In particular, we develop a spatial optimization model to strategically optimize bike rebalancing in an SFBSS. We also propose a region decomposition method to solve large-sized bike rebalancing problems that are constructed based on fine analysis scales. We apply the approach to study the SFBSS in downtown Beijing. The empirical study shows that imbalance evaluation results and optimal rebalancing design can vary substantially with analysis scale. According to the optimal rebalancing results, bike repositioning tends to take place among neighboring areas. Based on the empirical study, we would recommend 800 m and 100/200 m as the suitable scale for designing operator-based and user-based rebalancing plans, respectively. Computational results show that the region decomposition method can be used to solve problems that cannot be handled by existing commercial optimization software. This study provides important insights into effective bike-share rebalancing strategies and urban bike transportation planning.

Development of the Video Analysis Scale of Engagement (VASE) for people with advanced dementia

Background: The current study sought to develop a valid, reliable and unobtrusive tablet computer-based observational measure to assess engagement of people with advanced dementia. The Video Analysis Scale of Engagement (VASE) was designed to enable the rating of moment-by-moment changes in engagement during an activity, which would be useful for both future research and current residential care. Methods: An initial version of the VASE was tested. Face validity and content validity were assessed to validate an operational definition of engagement and develop an acceptable protocol for the scale. Thirty-seven non-professional and professional volunteers were recruited to view and rate level of engagement in music activities using the VASE. Results: An inter-class coefficient (ICC) test gave a high level of rating agreement across professionals and non-professionals. However, the ICC results of within-professionals were mixed. Linear mixed modelling suggested that the types of interventions (active or passive music listening), the particular intervention session being rated, time period of video and the age of raters could affect the ratings. Conclusions: Results suggested that raters used the VASE in a dynamic fashion and that the measure was able to distinguish between interventions. Further investigation and adjustments are warranted for this to be considered a valid and reliable scale in the measurement of engagement of people with advanced dementia in a residential care setting.

Tensions entre projet didactique et injonctions pédagogiques : analyses praxéologiques en Éducation au développement durableTensions between didactic project and pedagogical injunctions: praxeological analyzes in education for sustainable development

RésuméL’intégration dans les programmes scolaires français d’enseignements visant une éducation au développement durable (EDD) à tous les niveaux et dans toutes les disciplines constitue un défi important pour le système scolaire. Cette intégration est en effet officiellement associée à une double injonction de mise en question des didactiques disciplinaires traditionnelles et de renouveau pédagogique. Les projets didactiques et les modes pédagogiques qui ont émergé depuis maintenant dix ans dans le cadre d’une telle EDD engendrent des difficultés aussi bien didactiques que pédagogiques auxquelles les enseignants doivent faire face. De telles difficultés sont une source de tensions entre ces deux niveaux de l’échelle des niveaux de codétermination didactique et sous la pression d’injonctions pédagogiques fortes, le didactique tend à s’effacer derrière le pédagogique.Mots-clés : Didactique; Théorie anthropologique; Développement durable; Analyse praxéologique; Échelle de niveaux de codétermination didactique.AbstractThe integration into French school curricula of education for sustainable development (ESD) at all levels and in all disciplines, is a major challenge for the school system. This integration is officially associated with a dual injunction questioning traditional disciplinary didactics and pedagogical renewal. The didactic projects and pedagogical modes that have emerged for the last ten years in the context of such an ESD create both didactic and pedagogical difficulties that teachers must face. Such difficulties are a source of tension between these two levels of didactic co-determination and under the pressure of strong pedagogical injunctions, didactics tends to fade behind pedagogical issues.Keywords: Didactic, Anthropological theory, Sustainable development, Praxeological analysis, Scale of didactic codetermination levels.