The aesthetic experience of the Kuwaiti audience : an application of reception theory

The aesthetic experience of the spectator has a continuous ability to become a new experience at every theatrical event. This thesis endeavours to explore this phenomenon and test the variables that may influence the theatrical experience of a Kuwaiti spectator through the use and application of a survey questionnaire. In Chapter One we aimed to provide the thesis with a historical background to serve as a backdrop for the reader of this thesis to better understand the experience of Kuwaiti spectator and to know the main features and historical events that shaped the Kuwaiti society and how various historical events affected as well as shaped the Kuwaiti individual and society. The sea and the desert life, the discovery of oil and the Iraqi invasion are the main events which formulated the features of the Kuwaiti spectator. In Chapter Two we presented the theoretical framework of this study with emphasis on the reception theory. In Chapter Three we discussed the development of Arabic theatre as a backdrop of the Kuwaiti theatre. While the fourth chapter traces the stages of the development of Kuwaiti theatre from its early beginnings to the present, Chapter Five is the presentation of the two study cases examined in this research. The sixth chapter is devoted to the experimental application and its results, and in Chapter Seven we have examined the correlation between the variables

Dental anxiety among university students and its correlation with their field of study

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the subjective ratings of dental anxiety levels among university students enrolled at Jordan University of Science and Technology. In addition, the present study aimed to explore the sources of dental anxiety and the impact of gender on the perceived dental anxiety and the correlation between field of study and dental anxiety level. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Modified Corah Dental Anxiety Scale was used to measure dental anxiety among the study population. Six hundred subjects were recruited into the study from Jordanian undergraduate students from the faculties of Medicine, Engineering, and Dentistry. RESULTS: Five hundred and thirty five complete questionnaires were returned, which accounts for a response rate of 89.2%. The totals of the mean anxiety scores were the following: Medical students, 13.58%; Engineering students, 13.27% and dental students, 11.22%. About 32% of the study population has scored 15 or more. Dental students had the lowest percentage of those who scored 15 or more. Surprisingly, the medical students were responsible for the highest percentage of those who scored 15 or above. Although women demonstrated statistically higher total dental anxiety scores than men (p= 0.03), the difference between both genders was small and could be clinically insignificant. The students were anxious mostly about tooth drilling and local anesthetic injection. CONCLUSIONS: Lack of adequate dental health education may result in a high level of dental anxiety among non-dental university students in Jordan. Further studies are required to identify the correlates of dental anxiety among university students

The diffusion of management accounting innovations : a study of the factors influencing the adoption, implementation levels and success of ABC

During the late 1980s considerable publicity was given to the criticisms of management accounting. In response to these criticisms new innovations emerged. The innovation that has attracted the greatest interest has been activity-based costing (ABC). This study gathers empirical data to examine various issues relating to ABC derived from an extensive review and synthesis of the relevant literature, including the contingency theory literature. The major aims of the study are to investigate the extent to which various contextual factors influence the adoption of ABC systems, to determine the reasons and factors which have discouraged firms from adopting ABC and to examine the impact of various factors in determining the success of ABC systems. Other objectives include examining the importance of specific motives for implementing ABC systems and examining the extent to which other accounting innovations and strategic management accounting practices are associated with the adoption/non-adoption of ABC systems. A postal questionnaire was conducted using 1,000 UK manufacturing and nonmanufacturing organisations with an annual sales turnover in excess of £50 million as the target population. Not-for-profit organisations were excluded from the population sample. The findings are based on 176 responses (a usable response rate of 19%). Strong support was found for the intensity of the competitive environment, size, extent of the use of lean production techniques (including JIT techniques), importance of cost information, extent of the use of innovative/strategic management accounting techniques and corporate sector having a significant influence in the adoption of ABC systems. Using factor analysis, three factors were found to be significantly associated with ABC success. They were managerial understanding and the ability to use ABC information, positive attitudes by accounting staff towards ABC and adequate training for ABC and a clear understanding of its purposes. The dominant motives for implementing ABC related to the deficiencies of the existing system such as the existing system not providing useful information to management, it was necessary to update the existing costing information system and the existing costing system was not reliable. The most important reasons for not implementing ABC were that the perceived benefits did not justify the cost of implementing it, most of the indirect costs were fixed, the existing system was considered satisfactory for controlling overheads and the general lack of support from top management or individuals to act as champions. A distinguishing feature of the study is that it overcomes the deficiencies of previous ABC studies that have used bivariate statistical tests. These studies have examined independently, without controlling for the impact of other variables in the model, whether the difference between ABC adopters and non-adopters are statistically significant in respect of each of the selected contextual variables. This study uses mutivariate binary logistical regression that systematically controls for the impact of the other explanatory variables that are likely to influence the adoption of ABC.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Multiple Lingual Cusps Trait on Mandibular Premolars and Hypoconulid Reduction Trait on Mandibular First Molar in Living Jordanian Population. Intra- and Inter-trait Interactions

The objective was to determine the expression and fluctuating asymmetry of two dental morphological traits in the living Jordanians: The lingual cusp number on the lower premolars (LP1 and LP2) and the hypoconulid (distal cusp) reduction on the lower first molar (LM1). In addition, both intra- trait and inter- trait interactions were analyzed. Three hundred school children (15.5± 0.4 years) were involved. Impressions for the mandibular dental arches were taken, and dental casts were reproduced. The above-mentioned traits were observed. Paired sample t test and nonparametric corre- lation analysis were used for data analysis. Three-cusped LP1 was found in 11.40 % of the examined students, while the two-cusped LP1 was found in 88.60%. In comparison, the Three-cusped LP2 was found in 61.40% while the two-cusped LP2 was found in 38.60% of the observed subjects. The frequencies of the 4-cusped and 5-cusped LM1 were found to be 8.65% and 91.35%, respectively. Nonparametric correlation analysis revealed positive and statistically significant asso- ciation between the expression of two lingual cusps on LP1 and on LP2 in both genders (p0.05). Bilateralism was highly significant in the tested traits in both genders (p<0.001).This finding might be a sign of relatively low environmental stresses experienced by the living Jordanians and/or great ability of its individuals to buffer the adverse effects of such stresses on dental development. This study is a useful addition to the ex- isting literature in that it examines a previously poorly characterized population and assists in placing the contemporary Jordanian population within the current framework of human population groups globally

Satisfaction with Dental Implants: A Literature Review

Recent years have witnessed a consistent trend toward the introduction of patient assessment of different treatment outcomes in dental practice. Patient satisfaction with dental implants was considered among these treatment modalities. Few literature reviews have been published on this topic. This article critically analyzes the concerned topics related to patient satisfaction with dental implant. A MEDLINE search was completed from 1983 to 2004, along with a manual search, to locate related articles on the topic. Dental implants provided promising and predictable results regarding patient satisfaction and various aspects of life assessment. (Implant Dent 2005;14:399–408

Combined Implant and Tooth Support: An Up-to-Date Comprehensive Overview

Objectives. This article presents a review on the concerned topics and some considerations related to the concept of splinting teeth and implants in the rehabilitation of partial edentulism. Study Selection. An electronic PubMed/MEDLINE and manual search of identified articles and reviews as well as clinical, laboratory, and finite element studies was performed in this project. Due to the shortage in within-subject, long term, randomized, controlled clinical trials regarding the subject a meta-analysis was not possible. Results. Although surrounded with some controversy, joining teeth and implants during the rehabilitation of partial edentulism provides the clinicians with more treatment options where proprioception and bone volume are maintained and distal cantilevers and free end saddles are eliminated. It makes the treatment less complex, of less cost, and more acceptable for the patient. Conclusions. Whenever suitable and justified, combining implant and tooth support might be recommended as an alternative during rehabilitation of partial edentulism. Based on the literature, clinical tips and suggestions were recommended to increase the success of this treatment

THE PREVALENCE OF MALOCCLUSION AND ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT NEED IN A SAMPLE OF SYRIAN CHILDREN

Knowledge of a population’s epidemiological situation is vital in planning and provision of dental health services. The present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of malocclusion and orthodontic treatment need in Syrian children. A randomly selected sample of 200 Syrian children aged between 8 and 13 years was collected from three different public schools in Damascus. For each participant, the records were a pair of dental study casts and a frontal intra-oral photograph. Firstly, Angle’s classification was used to classify malocclusion and the treatment need was assessed utilizing the Aesthetic Component (AC) and the Dental Health Component (DHC) of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN). The treatment demand was also evaluated in association with gender and the connection between the two components of IOTN was statistically ascertained. The results of the study showed that more than one third of the subjects in the sample were in moderate to great need for orthodontic treatment. No significant difference in treatment need was found between genders and a statistically significant association was expressed between the two components of IOTN

Ozone Treatment of Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis: A Double Blinded Study

This study aimed to evaluate the use of ozone to treat recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). Consecutive sixty-nine participants with RAS were recruited into this non-randomized double blind, controlled cohort observational study (test group). A control group of 69 RAS patients who matched test group with age and gender was recruited. RAS lesions in test group were exposed to ozone in air for 60 seconds while controls received only air. Ulcer size and pain were recorded for each participant at baseline and daily for 15 days. Ulcer duration was determined by recording the time taken for ulcers to disappear. The main outcome measures were pain due to the ulcer, ulcer size and ulcer duration. 138 RAS participants (69 participants and 69 controls) were analyzed. Ulcer size was reduced starting from the second day in test group and from the fourth day in control. Pain levels were reduced starting from the first day in the test group and from the third day in controls. Ulcer duration, ulcer size after day 2 and pain levels were more reduced in the test group. In conclusion, application of ozone on RAS lesions for 60 seconds reduced pain levels and enhanced ulcers’ healing by reducing ulcers’ size and duration

Narghile (water pipe) smoking among university students in Jordan: prevalence, pattern and beliefs

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background and objectives</p> <p>Narghile is becoming the favorite form of tobacco use by youth globally. This problem has received more attention in recent years. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and pattern of narghile use among students in three public Jordanian universities; to assess their beliefs about narghile's adverse health consequences; and to evaluate their awareness of oral health and oral hygiene.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study was a cross-sectional survey of university students. A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire was distributed randomly to university students in three public Jordanian universities during December, 2008. The questionnaire was designed to ask specific questions that are related to smoking in general, and to narghile smoking in specific. There were also questions about oral health awareness and oral hygiene practices.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>36.8% of the surveyed sample indicated they were smokers comprising 61.9% of the male students and 10.7% of the female students in the study sample. Cigarettes and narghile were the preferred smoking methods among male students (42%). On the other hand, female students preferred narghile only (53%). Parental smoking status but not their educational level was associated with the students smoking status. Smokers had also significantly poor dental attendance and poor oral hygiene habits.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study confirmed the spreading narghile epidemic among young people in Jordan like the neighboring countries of the Eastern Mediterranean region. Alarming signs were the poor oral health awareness among students particularly smokers.</p

Relationship between Impacts of Complete Denture Treatment on Daily Living, Satisfaction and Personality Profiles

Objectives: To investigate the association between satisfaction with conventional complete denture prostheses (CDs), impacts of CDs on daily living and personality profiles. Materials and methods: Fifty-six patients (28 males and 28 females; mean age 53.79 ± 7.762 years) with fitted upper and lower removable CDs were recruited for this study. Clinical success of CDs was assessed according to specific clinical criteria. The dental impact on daily living questionnaire (DIDL) was used to measure satisfaction with CDs and their impacts on daily living. NEO five factor inventory (NEO - FFI) was used to measure patients’ personality profiles. Pearson correlation test and regression models were used to analyze the collected data. Results: Females were more satisfied with appearance and less satisfied with eating and scored higher on neuroticism, and lower on extraversion and openness personality domains (p < 0.05). Older patients were more satisfied with appearance and less satisfied with oral comfort and general performance (p < 0.05). Neuroticism, extraversion, openness and agreeableness personality profiles could predict and had significant relationship with CDs impacts on daily living and satisfaction with CDs. Conclusion: Psychological profiles (e.g. neuroticism, extraversion, openness and agreeableness) might play a role and explain CDs impacts on daily living and patients’ satisfaction with their oral status and CD treatment, therefore, might be used to predict satisfactory outcomes of CD treatment. In this regard, technical aspects of CDs are less essential when the prosthesis is clinically successful. Clinical significance: Psychological factors may play a role and also provide valuable information for the prediction of satisfactory outcomes of complete denture treatmen