Antimicrobial Therapy and Surgical Management of Odontogenic Infections

Dentoalveolar infections include a wide range of conditions from localized abscesses to deep-neck space infections or more severe cases of necrotizing fasciitis. Odontogenic infections and emergencies are a significant part of an oral and maxillofacial surgeon’s daily practice. On a daily basis, an oral surgeon needs to be prepared to deal with any infection-related emergencies ranging from a toothache, localized vestibular abscess to deep head and neck abscesses. Management of these odontogenic infections could propose a challenge due to complex microbiology of the odontogenic infection and the potential for advancement to a life-threatening emergency. It is crucial that the oral and maxillofacial surgeon has knowledge of anatomic boundaries and fascial spaces to be able to make an accurate diagnosis and perform prompt surgical management. For the patient, odontogenic infections may carry high incidence of morbidity and mortality if not treated promptly. Management of patient with an odontogenic infection is a multifaceted approach involving (1) an examination and assessment of the patient, (2) identifying the source of the infection, (3) anatomic considerations, (4) surgical intervention, (5) administration of the appropriate antimicrobial therapy, and (6) referral to an appropriate provider if indicated. This chapter provides the clinician with a better understanding of diagnosis and pharmacological management as well as surgical treatment of patients with odontogenic infections

Estimation of the Rate of Soil Erosion in the Tasik Chini Catchment, Malaysia Using the RUSLE Model Integrated with the GIS 1

Abstract: The Tasik Chini Catchment, located at the southeast region of Pahang, Malaysia is experiencing soil erosion problems which are of environmental concern. So a study was conducted that involved the integration of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) with the Geographic Information System (GIS) to estimate potential soil loss and identify erosion risk areas. Values for the model on rainfall erosivity (R), topographic factors (LS), land cover (C) and management factors (P) were calculated from rainfall data, together with the use of topographic and land use maps. Soil was analyzed for obtaining the soil erodibility factor (K). Physical properties such as particle size distribution, texture, hydraulic conductivity and organic matter content (OM) were analyzed to support the erosion rate analysis. The mean soil erodibility factors varied from 0.03 to 0.30 Mg h MJ -1 mm -1 . From a total of eleven soil series studied, soil erosion results showed that the five soil series with low rate of soil loss were: Tebok, Lating, Bungor, Kekura and Gong Chenak. Two soil series with moderate soil loss were Serdang and Prang. Two soil series with moderately high rate of soil loss were Kuala Brang and Rasau. The Malacca soil series had high erosion rate. The worst-case scenario was the Kedah soil series. The soil erosion potential zones were classified into five classes namely very low, low, moderately high, high and very high soil loss. The results indicated that 71.54% of the study area lay within the very low erosion risk class, 2.94% in the low erosion risk class, 3.38% in the moderately high erosion risk class, 1.45% in the high erosion risk class and 13.25% in the very high erosion risk class. This high erosion rate is expected to generate high sediment yield influx into the water bodies of Tasik Chini making the lake shallower and perhaps even non existent in the near future if precautionary measures are not taken

Electrification of a City Bus Network: An Optimization Model for Cost-Effective Placing of Charging Infrastructure and Battery Sizing of Fast Charging Electric Bus Systems

The deployment of battery-powered electric bus systems within the public transportation sector plays an important role to increase energy efficiency and to abate emissions. Rising attention is given to bus systems using fast charging technology. This concept requires a comprehensive infrastructure to equip bus routes with charging stations. The combination of charging infrastructure and bus batteries needs a reliable energy supply to maintain a stable bus operation even under demanding conditions. An efficient layout of the charging infrastructure and an appropriate dimensioning of battery capacity are crucial to minimize the total cost of ownership and to enable an energetically feasible bus operation. In this work, the central issue of jointly optimizing the charging infrastructure and battery capacity is described by a capacitated set covering problem. A mixed-integer linear optimization model is developed to determine the minimum number and location of required charging stations for a bus network as well as the adequate battery capacity for each bus line of the network. The bus energy consumption for each route segments is determined based on individual route, bus type, traffic and other information. Different scenarios are examined in order to assess the influence of charging power, climate and changing operating conditions. The findings reveal significant differences in terms of needed infrastructure depending on the scenarios considered. Moreover, the results highlight a trade-off between battery size and charging infrastructure under different operational and infrastructure conditions. The paper addresses upcoming challenges for transport authorities during the electrification process of the bus fleets and sharpens the focus on infrastructural issues related to the fast charging concept

Detailed Anatomy of the Temporomandibular Joint

The temporomandibular joint is one of the most complex structures in the human body. Understanding the form is a prerequisite to understanding the function. This chapter is devoted to presenting the details of TMJ anatomy

Estimation of the Rate of Soil Erosion in the Tasik Chini Catchment, Malaysia using the RUSLE Model Integrated with the GIS

The Tasik Chini Catchment, located at the southeast region of Pahang, Malaysia is experiencing soil erosion problems which are of environmental concern. So a study was conducted that involved the integration of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) with the Geographic Information System (GIS) to estimate potential soil loss and identify erosion risk areas. Values for the model on rainfall erosivity (R), topographic factors (LS), land cover (C) and management factors (P) were calculated from rainfall data, together with the use of topographic and land use maps. Soil was analyzed for obtaining the soil erodibility factor (K). Physical properties such as particle size distribution, texture, hydraulic conductivity and organic matter content (OM) were analyzed to support the erosion rate analysis. The mean soil erodibility factors varied from 0.03 to 0.30 Mg h MJ-1 mm-1. From a total of eleven soil series studied, soil erosion results showed that the five soil series with low rate of soil loss were: Tebok, Lating, Bungor, Kekura and Gong Chenak. Two soil series with moderate soil loss were Serdang and Prang. Two soil series with moderately high rate of soil loss were Kuala Brang and Rasau. The Malacca soil series had high erosion rate. The worst-case scenario was the Kedah soil series. The soil erosion potential zones were classified into five classes namely very low, low, moderately high, high and very high soil loss. The results indicated that 71.54% of the study area lay within the very low erosion risk class, 2.94% in the low erosion risk class, 3.38% in the moderately high erosion risk class, 1.45% in the high erosion risk class and 13.25% in the very high erosion risk class. This high erosion rate is expected to generate high sediment yield influx into the water bodies of Tasik Chini making the lake shallower and perhaps even non existent in the near future if precautionary measures are not taken

Hydrological Assessment and Water Quality Characteristics of Chini Lake, Pahang, Malaysia

The purpose of this study was to assess the hydrological properties and water quality characteristics of Chini Lake in Pahang, Malaysia. A total of seven sampling stations were established at the main Feeder Rivers of Chini Lake for measurement of stream flow. A total of 10 monitoring stations covering the study area were selected for water sampling. Fourteen water quality parameters were analyzed based on in-situ and ex-situ analysis for two seasons and laboratory analyses were carried out according to the HACH and APHA methods.Stream flow from the seven Feeder Rivers into the Chini Lake was relatively slow, ranging from 0.001 to 1.31 m /s3 or an average of 0.21 m3 /s. According to the INWQS (Interim National Water Quality Standards, Malaysia) classification, the temperature was within the normal ranges; conductivity, total suspended solids (TSS), nitrate, sulphate and total dissolved solids (TDS) were categorized under class I, while turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammoniacal nitrogen and phosphate came under class II and pH under class III. Furthermore water quality in Chini Lake varied temporally and spatially and the most affected parameters were pH, TSS, turbidity, DO, ammoniacal nitrogen, phosphate and conductivity. Based on the Malaysian Water Quality Index (WQI), the water in the Chini Lake was classified under class II, meaning it is suitable for recreational activities and safe for body contact

Use of 137Cs activity to investigate sediment movement and transport modeling in river coastal environment

Conflicts between human and environment always triggered to sedimentation and erosion problems within the coastal areas, Therefore understanding sediment transport processes in a river estuary and coastal waters was important when studying sediment transport and mobility within the river coastal environment. This article aims to investigate the sediment transport and mobility of the Kemaman River estuary, Terengganu Malaysia. In this article, it was demonstrated that anthropogenic activities within a watershed, such as agriculture and urbanization affected the sediment yield from the watershed. Over four months observation (November 2008-February 2009), the delivery of suspended sediment from the Kemaman River to the Kemaman Estuary had increased by about 25%. Based on the in-situ measurement of 137Cs activity, the measure activity ranged between 5638-22421 cpm for backshore while for foreshore was between 2655- 13354 cpm. The mean values for backshore and foreshore were 15153 and 6261 cpm respectively with suspended sediment concentration, recorded from 17 November to 10 February was between 110.5-218.8 mg L -1. Using flow and suspended sediment discharge data provided by the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) revealed were possible increasing trend in suspended sediment discharge and concentration, particularly during the monsoon season. Temporal analysis indicates that the trend of sediment yield was increased during the monsoon season resulting over sediment supply adjacent to the river mouth and causing difficulty for fisherman to navigate the boats. In a broader context, this study can underscores the need to address the anthropogenic impacts and flood monsoon on sediment yield in the Kemaman-Chendor estuary system