Accuracy of the Justy II apex locator in determining working length in simulated horizontal and vertical fractures

Aim: to study the effectiveness of an electronic apex locator (Justy II) in locating simulated horizontal and vertical fractures in single roots. Methods: an electronic apex locator (EAL) (Justy II, Yoshida Dentcraft, Tokyo, Japan) was used to measure the distance within the canal of horizontal (n=31) and vertical (n=31) fractures, created with a disk in single-rooted teeth. Accuracy of the EAL was evaluated by comparing the measurements with those made using a size 10 file. Data were analyzed with the non-parametric Passing and Bablok method. Results: for simulated horizontal fractures the EAL measured exactly the same length as a size 10 file, without constant or proportional errors. In vertical simulated fractures the EAL measured (on average) with a constant error of 7.5 mm shorter than the size 10 file; the difference had a wide confidence interval (–72.3 to 2.6 mm). Conclusion: in this laboratory study, the Justy II EAL was able to determine accurately the position of simulated horizontal fractures but was unreliable when measuring simulated vertical fractures

Oxygen molecule dissociation on carbon nanostructures with different types of nitrogen doping

Energy barrier of oxygen molecule dissociation on carbon nanotube or graphene with different types of nitrogen doping is investigated using density functional theory. The results show that the energy barriers can be reduced efficiently by all types of nitrogen doping in both carbon nanotubes and graphene. Graphite-like nitrogen and Stone-Wales defect nitrogen decrease the energy barrier more efficiently than pyridine-like nitrogen, and a dissociation barrier lower than 0.2 eV can be obtained. Higher nitrogen concentration reduces the energy barrier much more efficiently for graphite-like nitrogen. These observations are closely related to partial occupation of {\pi}* orbitals and change of work functions. Our results thus provide useful insights into the oxygen reduction reactions.Comment: Accepted by Nanoscal

HIPPOTHERAPY OF CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME: DIFFICULTIES, RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WORK

There are many forms of therapy for children with Down syndrome. Among them, hippotherapy is gaining more and more scientific recognition in Poland. Hippotherapy represents an alternative form of rehabilitation, with a key link being an adequately trained horse. The major benefit of hippotherapy is a broad spectrum of effect. It is important for the rehabilitation of people with Down syndrome that hippotherapy offers great opportunities to stimulate physical, cognitive, sensory and verbal areas. Its effect on social functioning of the individual is also substantial. Attractive forms of the therapeutic sessions, positive results of hippotherapeutic effects and the increasing popularity represent the motivation for both practitioners and scholars for organization of knowledge and limitation of scepticism about this field of science.This paper presents author’s observations collected over many years of work as a hippotherapist with people with disabilities. It is aimed to bring closer the aspect of using hippotherapy in the work with children with Down syndrome. The paper also stresses the difficulties and methods to overcome them. It identifies the risks and the observed successes

Assessment of Referring Providers Use and Perceptions of the Burnett Burn Assessment and Management Tool for Estimating Burn Size

Accurate assessment of burn percentage and depth are critical aspects in the initial assessment of the burn patient and guide both the immediate clinical management and subsequent need for follow up. To better assist providers in out-lying facilities, The University of Kansas Health System (TUKHS) Burnett Burn Center developed the Burnett Burn Assessment and Management Tool (BBAMT), which was recently distributed to referring hospitals and clinics. The purpose of this project was to assess the knowledge and perceived needs of outside providers of the burn wound triage and referral process, by evaluating 1) the implementation of the evidence based BBAMT with outlying providers; and, 2) the perceived needs of referring providers for accurate triage of burn wounds to TUKHS inpatient Burnett Burn Center or Outpatient Burn and Wound Care Clinic (OBWCC). A convenience sample of providers (n=14) were recruited, to evaluate the use of the BBAMT for treatment of a patient. The email addresses of referring providers were recorded and a needs assessment survey was sent by email using open-ended and likert style questions. Tool accessibility was moderate (mean of 3.6), provider’s understanding and confidence were higher (mean 4.5 and 4.4, respectively). The BBAMTs helpfulness in determining burn %TBSA, burn depth, and referral to inpatient vs. outpatient was also high (mean 4.1). Four common themes were identified from the open-ended question: overwhelming; inpatient vs. outpatient care; fluid calculation; and valuable. This study provided new knowledge of the perspective and competency needs of outside providers of the burn wound triage and referral process. Recommendations for improvements to the BBAMT and the distribution process of the tool to surrounding facilities have been made

Force and energy dissipation variations in non-contact atomic force spectroscopy on composite carbon nanotube systems

UHV dynamic force and energy dissipation spectroscopy in non-contact atomic force microscopy were used to probe specific interactions with composite systems formed by encapsulating inorganic compounds inside single-walled carbon nanotubes. It is found that forces due to nano-scale van der Waals interaction can be made to decrease by combining an Ag core and a carbon nanotube shell in the Ag@SWNT system. This specific behaviour was attributed to a significantly different effective dielectric function compared to the individual constituents, evaluated using a simple core-shell optical model. Energy dissipation measurements showed that by filling dissipation increases, explained here by softening of C-C bonds resulting in a more deformable nanotube cage. Thus, filled and unfilled nanotubes can be discriminated based on force and dissipation measurements. These findings have two different implications for potential applications: tuning the effective optical properties and tuning the interaction force for molecular absorption by appropriately choosing the filling with respect to the nanotube.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figure

ANIMALS IN RESOCIALIZATION

The benefits of relations between humans and animals have encouraged both scientists and members of other communities to popularize the knowledge in the field of animal-assisted therapy. Currently, animal-assisted therapy has been used not only in therapy, but also in resocialization. The increasing popularity of this form of supporting maladjusted people who are isolated from society or people with disabilities encouraged both practitioners and researchers to organize knowledge, thus reducing the scepticism about the usefulness of animal-assisted therapy. In Poland, the particular focus of the animal-assisted therapy is on the use of dogs to enhance the resocialization process. However, various experimental resocialization programs have also used horses and even lamas. This paper is intended to familiarize the reader with the aspects of the assistance of animals in resocialization. Furthermore, it emphasizes the difficulties and advantages that can be expected from integration of this type of therapy into resocialization programs

Radius and chirality dependent conformation of polymer molecule at nanotube interface

Temperature dependent conformations of linear polymer molecules adsorbed at carbon nanotube (CNT) interfaces are investigated through molecule dynamics simulations. Model polyethylene (PE) molecules are shown to have selective conformations on CNT surface, controlled by atomic structures of CNT lattice and geometric coiling energy. PE molecules form entropy driven assembly domains, and their preferred wrapping angles around large radius CNT (40, 40) reflect the molecule configurations with energy minimums on a graphite plane. While PE molecules prefer wrapping on small radius armchair CNT (5, 5) predominantly at low temperatures, their configurations are shifted to larger wrapping angle ones on a similar radius zigzag CNT (10, 0). A nematic transformation around 280 K is identified through Landau-deGennes theory, with molecule aligning along tube axis in extended conformationsComment: 19 pages, 7 figure2, submitted to journa

Atomic Configuration of Nitrogen Doped Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Having access to the chemical environment at the atomic level of a dopant in a nanostructure is crucial for the understanding of its properties. We have performed atomically-resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy to detect individual nitrogen dopants in single-walled carbon nanotubes and compared with first principles calculations. We demonstrate that nitrogen doping occurs as single atoms in different bonding configurations: graphitic-like and pyrrolic-like substitutional nitrogen neighbouring local lattice distortion such as Stone-Thrower-Wales defects. The stability under the electron beam of these nanotubes has been studied in two extreme cases of nitrogen incorporation content and configuration. These findings provide key information for the applications of these nanostructures.Comment: 25 pages, 13 figure

Work attitudes and work ethic as predictors of work engagement among Polish employees

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between work engagement and the psychological traits of employees, such as attitudes towards work and work ethic. Additionally, the study included demographic characteristics of employees and organizational characteristics. Research was conducted using the Polish adaptations of two well known methods: Multidimensional Work Ethic Profile and Utrecht Work Enagagement Scale, as well as the Work Attitude Questionnaire (WAQ)-a new Polish method. 360 adult employees of two large Polish regions took part in the study. The analysis showed a significant influence of hedonic-autotelic attitude, as well as four dimensions of work ethic on work engagement. It seems to be an important conclusion that work engagement turned out to be far more determined by the subject's psychological traits than demographic and organizational ones. These results, indicating the special role of the perception of work as a central value, can be used only in the area of attitudes towards work formed during adolescence (e.g., at school, in career counseling) but also in the area of motivating the employees by the organization