Mesiodistal tooth size in non-syndromic unilateral cleft lip and palate patients: a meta-analysis

Objectives: To evaluate, using meta-analysis methodology, mesiodistal tooth dimensions in non-syndromic unilateral cleft lip and palate (CLP) patients. Materials and methods: A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar Beta, EMBASE Excerpta Medica, CINAHL, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Collaboration, identifying English and non-English articles reporting on mesiodistal tooth dimensions on the cleft and non-cleft side of non-syndromic unilateral CLP patients. Additional studies were identified by searching reference lists of articles consulted. Only studies with a suitable control group were included. Two examiners independently performed the literature search and data extraction. Using meta-analysis software, data extracted from each selected study were statistically combined using the fixed-effects model. Weighted mean differences, 95% confidence intervals, and heterogeneity were calculated for each measurement. Results: Four articles fulfilling the inclusion criteria were located and included in the meta-analysis. Maxillary incisors and first molars were found to be significantly larger on the non-cleft side while mandibular incisors and premolars were larger on the cleft side, in non-syndromic unilateral CLP patients. On the cleft side, maxillary premolars and second molars were larger in cleft than control patients while incisors were smaller, whereas all mandibular teeth were larger in cleft patients. On the non-cleft side, all maxillary teeth except for the central incisors were larger in the cleft than control patients, while all mandibular teeth were larger in the cleft patients except for lateral incisors. Conclusions: Non-syndromic unilateral CLP patients tend to have larger posterior but smaller anterior teeth compared with the general population. Comparing sides, unilateral CLP patients tend to have smaller maxillary but larger mandibular teeth on the cleft than on the non-cleft side. Clinical relevance: Given that obtaining a stable, functional, and esthetic occlusion requires a thorough evaluation of tooth size, knowledge about trends in tooth size variations in CLP patients can help with dental and orthodontic treatment plannin

Appreciation of cleft lip and palate treatment outcome by professionals and laypeople

The aim of the study was to analyse the aesthetic evaluation of head photographs of treated individuals with clefts by laypeople and professionals and to investigate how certain cephalometric variables could be related to their rating. A set of five standardized head photos (frontal, both laterals, three-quater right and left) of 12 Caucasian patients with treated unilateral cleft lip and palate were presented to 12 adult laypeople, 12 orthodontists, and 12 maxillofacial surgeons. For each set of photos the judges had to answer four questions on a visual analogue scale (VAS). The answers were analysed for intra- and inter-panel level of agreement and correlations of assessments with certain cephalometric parameters were determined. There was a high level of agreement for all assessments of each panel of raters. However, laypeople were less satisfied with lip and nose aesthetics compared to professionals. The three groups were similarly satisfied with the aesthetics of the jaws and the face. The anterior position of the maxilla (SNA) influenced positively professionals' ratings of facial aesthetics. Orthodontists were negatively influenced when the vertical dimension of the face or the distance of the lower lip to E-plane were relatively increased. The latter was the only cephalometric parameter correlated with lower aesthetic scores obtained from laypeople. Professionals report greater satisfaction from the treatment outcome and evaluate cleft consequences with less severity than laypeople. According to cephalometric findings, the relative positions of the lips seem to dominate facial aesthetics' appreciation by laypeople, while specialists appear to focus on different features of the fac

Examining the Relationship between Emotions, Customer Satisfaction and Future Behavioral Intentions in Agrotourism

Marketers have been working tirelessly to determine the factors that lead to customer satisfaction presuming that customer satisfaction automatically leads to repeated customers. Service quality, customer satisfaction, customer loyalty and repeat business are issues well recognized and investigated by researchers. Recent theory however suggests that service quality alone doesn’t necessarily encourage customers to repeat their choices, but rather, “complete” customer satisfaction does Thus, the main research question addressed in this paper is how to complete the relationship between “complete” customer satisfaction and repeat business. The customer’s emotions have been proved to be a key determinant to turn a satisfied customer into a repeated one. The research was conducted in 2009, addressed to customers of agrotourism businesses on Lesvos Island and Florina – Greece

Examining the Relationship between Emotions, Customer Satisfaction and Future Behavioral Intentions in Agrotourism

Marketers have been working tirelessly to determine the factors that lead to customer satisfaction presuming that customer satisfaction automatically leads to repeated customers. Service quality, customer satisfaction, customer loyalty and repeat business are issues well recognized and investigated by researchers. Recent theory however suggests that service quality alone doesn’t necessarily encourage customers to repeat their choices, but rather, “complete” customer satisfaction does Thus, the main research question addressed in this paper is how to complete the relationship between “complete” customer satisfaction and repeat business. The customer’s emotions have been proved to be a key determinant to turn a satisfied customer into a repeated one. The research was conducted in 2009, addressed to customers of agrotourism businesses on Lesvos Island and Florina – Greece

Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Diluted Combustion in a Direct Injection CNG Engine Featuring Post- Euro-VI Fuel Consumption Targets

The present paper is concerned with part of the work performed by Renault, IFPEN and Politecnico di Torino within a research project founded by the European Commission. The project has been focused on the development of a dedicated CNG engine featuring a 25% decrease in fuel consumption with respect to an equivalent Diesel engine with the same performance targets. To that end, different technologies were implemented and optimized in the engine, namely, direct injection, variable valve timing, LP EGR with advanced turbocharging, and diluted combustion. With specific reference to diluted combustion, it is rather well established for gasoline engines whereas it still poses several critical issues for CNG ones, mainly due to the lower exhaust temperatures. Moreover, dilution is accompanied by a decrease in the laminar burning speed of the unburned mixture and this generally leads to a detriment in combustion efficiency and stability. The optimization of in-cylinder turbulence plays a fundamental role in compensating this trend. The present paper is specifically focused on the characterization of the diluted combustion in the direct injection engine. The results of an experimental activity have been presented, aimed at characterizing the in-cylinder combustion process and the exhaust temperatures at 2000 rpm and variable load, both without dilution and with 20% of external EGR. At the same time, a 3-D numerical model for the in-cylinder turbulence and combustion simulation has been developed in Converge. The model embeds a user-specified laminar-flame speed submodel, which was derived from a 1-D combustion simulation model with detailed chemistry. The model has been calibrated against experimental data and then used to characterize the heat release dependence on the dilution. The experimental activity has evidenced the potential of EGR to increase the engine efficiency, by allowing to increase the boost level at full load and by reducing pumping losses at partial load. As far as the maximum allowed EGR rate is concerned, the CFD activity showed that the limit can be detected on the basis of a threshold value of the MFB0-50 interval. At 2000 rpm and medium load the maximum EGR rate ranged around 35% and showed an increasing trend versus load. It also demonstrated a decreasing trend against the engine speed

Bundle branch reentrant tachycardia treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy in a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy

A 66 years old woman with known dilated cardiomyopathy and severely reduced ejection fraction presented with bundle branch reentrant tachycardia. Bundle branch reentrant tachycardia is an uncommon form of ventricular tachycardia incorporating both bundle branches into the reentry circuit. The diagnosis is based on electrophysiological findings and pacing maneuvres that prove participation of the His- Purkinje system in the tachycardia mechanism. Radiofrequency ablation of right bundle is proposed as the first line therapy. In our patient, the ablation imposed a high risk of complications in view of the existing conduction defects. We decided to proceed with a CRT – D implantation, which improved patient’s symptoms and diminished ventricular tachycardia episodes. As a result, biventricular pacing may serve as an alternative method to ablation treatment

ONLINE ONLY Distances between facial landmarks can be measured accurately with a new digital 3-dimensional video system

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate a new digital 3-dimensional infrared video system to determine its accuracy, precision, and validity in measuring facial distances. Methods: Bench experiments were performed by measuring the vertical and diagonal distances of chessboard squares of known length to determine the system's accuracy and precision. To test the system's validity, 16 healthy volunteers participated in this study. Vertical and horizontal distances of the face were measured electronically at rest, and on posed and aggressive smiles. All measurements were repeated after 8 weeks. Direct measurements of the intercanthal distance were obtained twice with calipers. Results: A minor systematic error was found in the bench experiments, with the highest absolute error of 0.227 6 0.39 mm. The analysis with this video system showed good reproducibility of all measured distances when the mean of 2 frames was used to compare distances. Digital measurements of the intercanthal distances showed high agreement with the clinically obtained values. Conclusions: This digital video system can measure geometric distances in a 3-dimensional environment with high precision. Facial distances can be measured with good accuracy and precision, allowing applications in research and clinical practice. (Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2010;137:580.e1-580.e10

Trying to resolve the taxonomic confusion of Paracalanus parvus species complex (Copepoda, Calanoida) in the Mediterranean and Black Seas through a combined analysis of morphology, molecular taxonomy and DNA metabarcoding

Paracalanus parvus is reported as the most abundant representative of the genus and one of the main components of the coastal zooplankton in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. However, the subtle taxonomic differences between P. parvus and the congeneric species P. indicus and P. quasimodo, in combination with the ample morphological variation found in Mediterranean specimens, render problematic the correct identification. A recent molecular study by Cornils and Held (2014) provided evidence of cryptic speciation in the P. parvus complex and indicated that P. parvus s.s. does not have global distribution, but may be restricted to the northeastern Atlantic. In order to clarify the taxonomic status and distribution of this species complex in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, a study was conducted on Paracalanus specimens collected from different locations across the aforementioned marine basins and sequenced for portion of the COI mitochondrial gene. An accurate taxonomic analysis was also carried out to correlate morphological characteristics with the molecular species' assignation. The phylogenetic analysis of the specimens together with the publicly available sequences of P. parvus complex revealed the presence of four molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) in the Mediterranean, which differed in abundance and geographic distribution. The combination of morphological and molecular data revealed great inconsistencies between morphospecies and MOTUs. Moreover, several bulk zooplankton samples were analyzed through DNA metabarcoding in the frame of the “MetaCopepod” project to provide more extensive information on the spatiotemporal distribution and abundance of the target specie

The “MetaCopepod” project: Designing an integrated DNA metabarcoding and image analysis approach to study and monitor the diversity of zooplanktonic copepods and cladocerans in the Mediterranean Sea

The timely and accurate analysis of marine zooplankton diversity is a challenge in ecological and monitoring studies. Morphology-based identification of taxa, which requires taxonomy experts, is time consuming and cannot provide accurate resolution at species level in several cases (e.g. immature stages, cryptic species, broken specimens). The “MetaCopepod” project is aimed at overcoming these limitations by developing a high-throughput and cost effective methodology that integrates DNA metabarcoding and image analysis. Utilizing the accuracy of DNA metabarcoding in species recognition and the quantitative results of image analysis, zooplankton diversity (mainly of copepods and cladocerans) is assessed both qualitatively (species' composition) and quantitatively (abundance, biomass and size-distribution). To achieve this goal, bulk zooplankton samples are first scanned and analyzed with ZooImage and then massively sequenced for a selected fragment of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene. Through a bioinformatic pipeline, sequences are compared to a reference genetic database, constructed within the project, and identified at species- level. The methodology was calibrated by using both mock and taxonomically identified samples and demonstrated on samples collected monthly from monitoring stations across the Mediterranean Sea. It is currently optimized for higher integration and accuracy and is expected to become a powerful tool for monitoring zooplankton in the long term and for early warning of bioinvasions and other ecosystem change

On understanding multi-instrument Rosetta data of the innermost dust and gas coma of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko - results, strengths, and limitations of models

Numerical models are powerful tools for understanding the connection between the emitted gas and dust from the surface of comets and the subsequent expansion into space where remote sensing instruments can perform measurements. We will present such a predictive model which can provide synthetic measurements for multiple instruments on board ESA's Rosetta mission to comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (hereafter 67P). We will demonstrate why a multi instrument approach is essential and how models can be used to constrain the gas and dust source distribution on the surface