Unusual Findings in Trials Evaluating Adjuncts to Scaling and Root Planing: Meta-analysis (Part 1)

Background: A number of studies in patients with periodontitis have compared scaling and root planning (SRP) combined with an adjunctive treatment to SRP alone. Within that literature, an array of studies with overlapping investigators has consistently yielded substantially greater effects of adjunctive treatments than had been previously noted. This report investigates discrepancies between that cluster of research and the most recent American Dental Association (ADA) systematic review. Methods: This review was preregistered at https://osf.io/4meyd/ . A search using the Scopus platform identified 32 articles published from 2010 to 2017 by investigators affiliated with the Government Dental College and Research Institute (GDCRI) in Bangalore, India. The primary outcome used in this meta-analysis was the change in clinical attachment level (CAL) after 6 mo. Effect sizes were estimated using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software after categorizing agents into groups based on pharmacologic similarity. Results: The search identified 32 studies encompassing 5 sets of adjunctive agents. Across the GDCRI studies, the CAL averaged 1.67 mm (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.43–1.91 mm), substantially exceeding values reported in the ADA review (mean: 0.39 mm, 95% CI: 0.27–0.51 mm). For categories of studies in which comparable subgroup estimates were available, the evaluations yielded overlapping estimates of SRP alone, but CAL estimates were discrepant for both locally delivered antimicrobials (GDCRI studies: mean: 1.45 mm, 95% CI: 0.63–2.27 mm; ADA review: mean: 0.38 mm, 95% CI: 0.16 –0.60 mm) and systemic antibiotics (GDCRI studies: mean: 1.35 mm, 95% CI: 0.97–1.73 mm; ADA review: mean: 0.39 mm, 95% CI: 0.21–0.57 mm). Conclusion: In the literature on adjunctive agents supplementing SRP, findings from investigators linked to GDCRI stand out as having significantly more favorable estimated effects. Meanwhile, some agents studied by GDCRI-linked investigators have not been investigated by other researchers. In the absence of a clear explanation for discrepant results, it is recommended that unusually favorable reported effects of adjunctive agents be viewed with caution. Knowledge Transfer Statement: The present meta-analysis observed an unusually large effect size of adjunctive agents to scaling and root planning in studies conducted by the same research group. These results were not consistent with trials on adjunctive agents and previous reports. As this research group has exclusively tested most of the agents, their results must be viewed with caution until other independent groups replicate the studies and reproduce the effect size.

Size Effects in Optical and Magneto-Optical Response of Opal-Cobalt Heterostructures

Search for new types of efficient magnetoplasmonic structures that combine high transparency with strong magneto-optical (MO) activity is an actual problem. Here, we demonstrate that composite heterostructures based on thin perfectly-arranged opal films and a perforated cobalt nanolayer meet these requirements. Anomalous transmission appears due to periodic perforation of Co consistent with the regular set of voids between opal spheres, while resonantly enhanced MO response involves the effects of surface plasmon-polariton (SPP) excitation at opal/Co interface or those associated with photonic band gap (PBG) in opal photonic crrystals. We observed the enhancement of the MO effect of up to 0.6% in the spectral vicinity of the SPP excitation, and several times less strong effect close to the PBG, while the combined appearance of PBG and SPP decreases the resultant MO response. Observed resonant magneto-optical properties of opal/Co heterostructures show that they can be treated as functional self-assembled magnetoplasmonic crystals with resonantly enhanced and controllable MO effect.

The impact of market orientation on the internationalisation of SMEs

Purpose A key point in the internationalisation process of companies comes with the choice of international market. Following this choice, the results companies may thereby obtain help in measuring their level of international performance. This study aims to measure the impact of internationalisation processes in keeping with company market orientations (MOs) through measuring their effect on international performance. Design/methodology/approach The authors obtained the data from a questionnaire sent out by email to a total of 8,103 exporting companies and/or with interests in exporting (the study population) registered in the AICEP-Portugal Global database that provided the email addresses of the company representatives responsible for internationalisation. The authors received a total of 320 valid responses (sample). Findings The results display a positive MO effect both on internationalisation processes and on international performance. The authors also note the importance of studying the influence of strategic orientations on internationalization processes, motivated by the particular SME’s characteristics. Originality/value The authors aim to contribute to the study of the influence of the MO, both upstream and downstream, thus seeking to verify its impact on internationalization processes.

Electrochromic properties of Mo-doped V2O5 thin films deposited by spray pyrolysis process

In this work, we have studied the Mo effect on V2O5 thin films, the samples were deposited by spray pyrolysis technique on heated glass substrates at 500 °C. The dopant amount was varied at different concentration, 2%, 4% and 6%. Different techniques were carried out, in order to studied the Mo effect on V2O5, such as XRD, Raman, SEM, AFM and electrochemical analysis. From the obtained results, all the samples exhibited orthorhombic structure with (001) predominant orientation. The optical properties of Mo concentration effect were studied in their colored and discolored states. These electrochemical studies were performed in LiClO4 electrolyte with 0.5 mol/L of C4H6O3. The transmittance value of the samples decreased from 76% to 10% at 690 nm, when the samples have changed color, from colored state to discolored state respectively.