Investigating interocclusal perception in tactile teeth sensibility using symmetric and asymmetric analysis

The purpose of this clinical trial was to determine the active tactile sensibility of natural teeth and to obtain a statistical analysis method fitting a psychometric function through the observed data points. On 68 complete dentulous test persons (34 males, 34 females, mean age 45.9 ± 16.1years), one pair of healthy natural teeth each was tested: n = 24 anterior teeth and n = 44 posterior teeth. The computer-assisted, randomized measurement was done by having the subjects bite on thin copper foils of different thickness (5-200µm) inserted between the teeth. The threshold of active tactile sensibility was defined by the 50% value of correct answers. Additionally, the gradient of the sensibility curve and the support area (90-10% value) as a description of the shape of the sensibility curve were calculated. For modeling the sensibility curve, symmetric and asymmetric functions were used. The mean sensibility threshold was 14.2 ± 12.1µm. The older the subject, the higher the tactile threshold (r = 0.42, p = 0.0006). The support area was 41.8 ± 43.3µm. The higher the 50% threshold, the smaller the gradient of the curve and the larger the support area. The curves showing the active tactile sensibility of natural teeth demonstrate a tendency towards asymmetry, so that the active tactile sensibility of natural teeth can mathematically best be described by using the asymmetric Weibull functio

Change in HbA 1c Across the Baseline HbA 1c Range in Type 2 Diabetes Patients Receiving Once-Weekly Dulaglutide Versus Other Incretin Agents

Introduction: This exploratory post hoc analysis investigated the relative changes in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) treated with dulaglutide versus active comparators across a continuous range of baseline HbA1c values using data from three phase III randomised controlled trials. Methods: Data from patients receiving once-weekly dulaglutide 0.75 and 1.5 mg, once-daily sitagliptin 100 mg, once-daily liraglutide 1.8 mg or twice-daily exenatide 10 ?g in the intent-to-treat populations in the AWARD-5, AWARD-6 and AWARD-1 trials were analysed using last observation carried forward analysis of covariance. Starting with the predefined statistical model from each study, the type of association between HbA1c baseline and change at 26 weeks was modelled. Consistency of treatment effect was assessed via treatment-by-baseline HbA1c interaction terms. Results: Improvements in HbA1c occurred in all treatment groups across the entire baseline HbA1c range. The relationship between HbA1c baseline and magnitude of change was linear in all treatment groups, with greater reductions in patients with higher baseline HbA1c values. Across the continuum of baseline HbA1c values, patients treated with dulaglutide 1.5 mg achieved a similar mean HbA1c reduction to patients receiving liraglutide 1.8 mg and a greater reduction than patients receiving twice-daily exenatide or sitagliptin. In AWARD-5, the treatment-by-baseline HbA1c interaction P value (0.001) demonstrated progressively greater HbA1c reduction in dulaglutide-treated compared with sitagliptin-treated patients as baseline HbA1c increased. Conclusion: Our results suggest that dulaglutide is an appropriate therapeutic option for patients with T2DM across a wide range of baseline HbA1c values, including those with poor metabolic control

Investigating interocclusal perception in tactile teeth sensibility using symmetric and asymmetric analysis

The purpose of this clinical trial was to determine the active tactile sensibility of natural teeth and to obtain a statistical analysis method fitting a psychometric function through the observed data points. On 68 complete dentulous test persons (34 males, 34 females, mean age 45.9 ± 16.1 years), one pair of healthy natural teeth each was tested: n = 24 anterior teeth and n = 44 posterior teeth. The computer-assisted, randomized measurement was done by having the subjects bite on thin copper foils of different thickness (5-200 µm) inserted between the teeth. The threshold of active tactile sensibility was defined by the 50% value of correct answers. Additionally, the gradient of the sensibility curve and the support area (90-10% value) as a description of the shape of the sensibility curve were calculated. For modeling the sensibility curve, symmetric and asymmetric functions were used. The mean sensibility threshold was 14.2 ± 12.1 µm. The older the subject, the higher the tactile threshold (r = 0.42, p = 0.0006). The support area was 41.8 ± 43.3 µm. The higher the 50% threshold, the smaller the gradient of the curve and the larger the support area. The curves showing the active tactile sensibility of natural teeth demonstrate a tendency towards asymmetry, so that the active tactile sensibility of natural teeth can mathematically best be described by using the asymmetric Weibull function

Individual and culture-level components of survey response styles: a multi-level analysis using cultural models of selfhood

Variations in acquiescence and extremity pose substantial threats to the validity of cross-cultural research that relies on survey methods. Individual and cultural correlates of response styles when using two contrasting types of response mode were investigated, drawing on data from 55 cultural groups across 33 nations. Using seven dimensions of self-other relatedness that have often been confounded within the broader distinction between independence and interdependence, our analysis yields more specific understandings of both individual- and culture-level variations in response style. When using a Likert scale response format, acquiescence is strongest among individuals seeing themselves as similar to others, and where cultural models of selfhood favour harmony, similarity with others and receptiveness to influence. However, when using Schwartz’s (2007) portrait-comparison response procedure, acquiescence is strongest among individuals seeing themselves as self-reliant but also connected to others, and where cultural models of selfhood favour self-reliance and self-consistency. Extreme responding varies less between the two types of response modes, and is most prevalent among individuals seeing themselves as self-reliant, and in cultures favouring self-reliance. Since both types of response mode elicit distinctive styles of response, it remains important to estimate and control for style effects to ensure valid comparisons

Being oneself through time: bases of self-continuity across 55 cultures

Self-continuity – the sense that one’s past, present, and future are meaningfully connected – is considered a defining feature of personal identity. However, bases of self-continuity may depend on cultural beliefs about personhood. In multilevel analyses of data from 7287 adults from 55 cultural groups in 33 nations, we tested a new tripartite theoretical model of bases of self-continuity. As expected, perceptions of stability, sense of narrative, and associative links to one’s past each contributed to predicting the extent to which people derived a sense of self-continuity from different aspects of their identities. Ways of constructing self-continuity were moderated by cultural and individual differences in mutable (vs. immutable) personhood beliefs – the belief that human attributes are malleable. Individuals with lower mutability beliefs based self-continuity more on stability; members of cultures where mutability beliefs were higher based self-continuity more on narrative. Bases of self-continuity were also moderated by cultural variation in contextualized (vs. decontextualized) personhood beliefs, indicating a link to cultural individualism-collectivism. Our results illustrate the cultural flexibility of the motive for self-continuity

Beyond the ‘East-West’ dichotomy: global variation in cultural models of selfhood

Markus and Kitayama’s (1991) theory of independent and interdependent self-construals had a major influence on social, personality, and developmental psychology by highlighting the role of culture in psychological processes. However, research has relied excessively on contrasts between North American and East Asian samples, and commonly used self-report measures of independence and interdependence frequently fail to show predicted cultural differences. We revisited the conceptualization and measurement of independent and interdependent self-construals in 2 large-scale multinational surveys, using improved methods for cross-cultural research. We developed (Study 1: N = 2924 students in 16 nations) and validated across cultures (Study 2: N = 7279 adults from 55 cultural groups in 33 nations) a new 7-dimensional model of self-reported ways of being independent or interdependent. Patterns of global variation support some of Markus and Kitayama’s predictions, but a simple contrast between independence and interdependence does not adequately capture the diverse models of selfhood that prevail in different world regions. Cultural groups emphasize different ways of being both independent and interdependent, depending on individualism-collectivism, national socioeconomic development, and religious heritage. Our 7-dimensional model will allow future researchers to test more accurately the implications of cultural models of selfhood for psychological processes in diverse ecocultural contexts

Ressourcenorientierte Arbeit in Beratung und Supervision. I, Wintersemester 1995/96

Schon seit Jahren beschäftigte mich immer wieder der Gedanke, daß der Profi auch aus dem lernt, was gut gelungen ist (mein Beispiel ist immer die köstliche Gorgonzolasauce) und nicht immer nur aus eigenen oder fremden Fehlern. Somit kam mir der ressourcenorientierte Ansatz, wie er im Neurolinguistischen Programmieren durchgeführt wird, sehr entgegen. Besonders beeindruckt hat mich eine Demonstration von Dr. Frank Krause, der mit Dr. Maja Storch zusammen das Zürcher Ressourcen Modell entwickelt hat. Die häufige Anwendung dieses Modells in meinen eigenen Supervisionen führte bei mir zu der Überzeugung, daß diese Arbeitsweise höchst effektiv ist, außerdem den Beteiligten viel mehr Spaß macht und mehr Kräfte mobilisiert als viele der üblichen Problemlösestrategien. Auch die bekannten Lindauer Psychotherapiewochen bieten dieses Thema 1996 an. Eine Informationsschrift der Technikerkrankenkasse mit dem Titel Balance zeigt, wie sehr man sich um eine Verbreitung dieses Ansatzes im Bereich des Gesundheitswesens bemüht. In Hinblick auf möglichst anwendbare Modelle für die späteren Diplompsychologinnen entstand die Idee, das Thema Ressourcenorientierung in Beratung und Supervision als Fallseminar im Anwendungsfach Pädagogische Psychologie anzubieten. Im Gegensatz zur weitverbreiteten Defizit - Orientierung, bei der immer auf das geachtet wird, was man selbst oder jemand anderes nicht kann, wird der Blick bei der ressourcenorientierten Sichtweise auf Situationen, Zustände gelegt, in denen man sich im Vollbesitz der eigenen Fähigkeiten fühlt oder in denen man sich wohl fühlt. Aus dieser Perspektive ergeben sich häufig unerwartete Lösungen

Ressourcenorientierte Arbeit in Beratung und Supervision. II, Wintersemester 1996/97

Schon seit Jahren beschäftigte mich immer wieder der Gedanke, daß der Profi auch aus dem lernt, was gut gelungen ist (mein Beispiel ist immer die köstlicheGorgonzolasauce) und nicht immer nur aus eigenen oder fremden Fehlern. Somit kam mir der ressourcenorientierte Ansatz, wie er im NeurolinguistischenProgrammieren durchgeführt wird, sehr entgegen. Besonders beeindruckt hat mich eine Demonstration von Dr. Frank Krause, der mit Dr. Maja Storch zusammendas Zürcher Ressourcen - Modell entwickelt hat. Die häufige Anwendung dieses Modells in meinen eigenen Supervisionen führte bei mir zu der Überzeugung, daßdiese Arbeitsweise höchst effektiv ist, außerdem den Beteiligten viel mehr Spaß macht und mehr Kräfte mobilisiert als viele der üblichen Problemlösestrategien.Auch die bekannten Lindauer Psychotherapiewochen boten dieses Thema 1996 an. Eine Informationsschrift der Technikerkrankenkasse mit dem Titel Balancezeigt, wie sehr man sich um eine Verbreitung dieses Ansatzes im Bereich des Gesundheitswesens bemüht.In Hinblick auf möglichst anwendbare Modelle für die späteren DiplompsychologInnen entstand die Idee, das Thema Ressourcenorientierung in Beratung und Supervision als Fallseminar im Anwendungsfach Pädagogische Psychologie anzubieten.Im Gegensatz zur weitverbreiteten Defizit - Orientierung, bei der immer auf das geachtet wird, was man selbst oder jemand anderes nicht kann, wird der Blick beider ressourcenorientierten Sichtweise auf Situationen und Zustände gelegt, in denen man sich im Vollbesitz der eigenen Fähigkeiten fühlt oder in denen man sich wohl fühlt. Aus dieser Perspektive ergeben sich häufig unerwartete Lösungen

Tactile sensibility of single-tooth implants and natural teeth under local anesthesia of the natural antagonistic teeth

The term osseoperception describes the capability of developing a subtle tactile sensibility over dental implants. The present clinical study aims at clarifying the question of how far tactile sensibility is to be attributed to the periodontium of the natural opposing tooth of the implant