Quality Measurement of Accommodation Services in the Kymenlaakso Region Using Expectation-Perception Model

This thesis gives an overview of the service quality of accommodation industry in the Kymenlaakso region in Finland and focuses on the expectation-perception approach. The main target falls on the customers of hotel companies located in the region in the autumn period of 2014. The objective of this research was to test the difference in expected and perceived quality of services offered by hotel companies. The service quality analysis aimed to detect quality gaps and to prevent tourists’ disappointment in the region. The study was based on the analysis of expectations and perceptions questionnaires filled by the hotel visitors. The SERVQUAL model was chosen as basis for questionnaires as it measures the quality of service. In total, the number of 119 respondents participated in the survey. The statistical analysis was performed. Based on the expectation-perception gap analysis positive and negative differences were detected with various levels of significance. Furthermore, the improvement possibilities were identified in such areas as appearance of hotel facilities, service performance and city guides or brochures availability

Soft-tissue cone-beam computed tomography (ST-CBCT) technique for the analysis of skeletal, dental and periodontal effects of orthopedic rapid maxillary expansion

Orthopedic rapid maxillary expansion (RME) is a common treatment of choice for managing transverse deficiency of the maxilla. This approach may have desired and undesired skeletal, dental and periodontal effects that may be assessed clinically or through imaging techniques. This study aims to investigate the dental, skeletal and periodontal effects of orthopedic RME using the soft-tissue cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) technique. The sample consisted of 10 patients (5males and 5 females) aged between 10 and 14 years (mean age: 12.5 years) treated with Hyrax orthopedic device. CBCT scans set for the registration of soft tissue (ST-CBCT) were taken from each patient before (T1) and 120 days after (T2) RME. Skeletal (n=10), dental (n=1) and periodontal (n=4) parameters measured in ST-CBCT were compared between T1 and T2 using t-test within a significance level of 5%. The skeletal parameters with statistically significant increase (p<0.05) in T2 were the width of the buccal alveolar bone crest, the external width of the dental arch at the level of buccal cusps, and the width of the dental arch at the level of most prominent dental surface contour. Representing the dental parameter, the inclination of the anchor teeth was statistically significant for premolars (p<0.05). The only statistically significant outcome in periodontal parameters was the decrease in buccal bone plate thickness of first molars (p<0.05). Dentists must be aware of the ST-CBCT technique for the analysis of hard and soft tissue after orthodontic and orthopedic treatments. This technique revealed that the RME reached optimal skeletal and dental effects with minimal periodontal side effects

Organoids in Translational Oncology

Translational medicine aims to translate the most promising preclinical research into clinical practice. Oncology is a continuously growing medical field: the scientific research on cancer biology is currently based on in vitro experiments, carried out on tissue culture plates (TCPs) and other 2D samples. In this context, 3D printing has greatly improved the biofabrication of new biological matrices that mimic the extracellular environments, which may characterize healthy from cancerous tissues. Organoids have recently been described in several reports on scientific literature. The term that better describes such organoids-based tumoral tissues is "tumoroids". Tumoroids are substantially "tumor-like organoids", typically deriving from primary tumors harvested from patients. This topical review aims to give an update on organoids applied in translational medicine, paying specific attention to their use in the investigation of the main molecular mechanisms of cancer onset and growth, and on the most impacting strategies for effective targeted therapies

A Dedifferentiation Strategy to Enhance the Osteogenic Potential of Dental Derived Stem Cells

Dental stem cells (DSCs) holds the ability to differentiate into numerous cell types. This property makes these cells particularly appropriate for therapeutic use in regenerative medicine. We report evidence that when DSCs undergo osteogenic differentiation, the osteoblast-like cells can be reverted back to a stem-like state and then further differentiated toward the osteogenic phenotype again, without gene manipulation. We have investigated two different MSCs types, both from dental tissues: dental follicle progenitor stem cells (DFPCs) and dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). After osteogenic differentiation, both DFPCs and DPSCs can be reverted to a naïve stem cell-like status; importantly, dedifferentiated DSCs showed a greater potential to further differentiate toward the osteogenic phenotype. Our report aims to demonstrate for the first time that it is possible, under physiological conditions, to control the dedifferentiation of DSCs and that the rerouting of cell fate could potentially be used to enhance their osteogenic therapeutic potential. Significantly, this study first validates the use of dedifferentiated DSCs as an alternative source for bone tissue engineering

Innovative Development of Higher Education

The article considers the essence of innovation in higher education and the integration of educational, scientific and industrial scope. Disclosed forms of innovation in higher education, as well as their role in the interaction of education, science and business. Defined forms of cooperation between education, science and business. Review the modalities of cooperation between education and business in the examples of financial and technological academy city of Korolev, Moscow region. Were revealed directions of innovation developing higher education.And also drawn conclusions on the matter. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n4p59

Quantitative Assessment of Dentinal Tubule Disinfection in Absence of Biofilm on Root Canal Walls: An in vitro Study

Introduction: This study aimed at assessing the quantitative effect of calcium hydroxide, 2% chlorhexidine gel, and 1.5% chlorhexidine linked to xanthan gel specifically against intratubular bacteria. Methods and Materials: Fifty-two semi-cylindrical bovine dentin specimens were infected with Enterococcus (E.) faecalis by centrifugation with subsequent 7-days incubation. The surface of specimens was disinfected with 3% H2O2. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and the count of bacterial colony-forming units (CFU/mg) were used to assess dentin infection. A total of 40 specimens were incubated for 2 weeks with one of the intracanal medication applied (10 samples for each group): 1) calcium hydroxide, 2) 2% chlorhexidine gel, 3) 1.5% chlorhexidine linked to xanthan gel and 4) sterile saline. Final passive ultrasonic irrigation with 3% sodium hypochlorite was performed in half of the total specimens. The effect of intracanal medications and irrigation against intratubular bacteria was assessed by bacterial culturing of dentin shavings. Two-Way ANOVA model was applied followed by post-hoc Tukey's test for multiple pair-wise comparisons of mean CFU/mg values. Results: SEM, CLSM, and bacterial culturing confirmed the absence of the surface biofilm on the root canal wall and showed vital intratubular bacteria at the depth up to 700 mm. Two-week application of 1.5% chlorhexidine with xanthan gel and 2% chlorhexidine gel significantly decreased intratubular bacterial counts compared with saline (P=0.0003 and P=0.0005, respectively). Subsequent passive ultrasonic irrigation with 3% sodium hypochlorite significantly reduced the number of intratubular bacteria in all groups except for the group with 1.5% chlorhexidine-xanthan gel (P=0.0054). Conclusion: This modified ex vivo model study showed ultrasonically activated irrigation with sodium hypochlorite had greater effect on intratubular bacteria counts compared with 2-week application of intracanal medications

THE MUSEUM AS A FACTOR OF INCREASE OF INNOVATIVE POTENTIAL OF THE CHILDRENS HOME IN SOCIALIZATION OF ORPHAN CHILDREN

В статье описаны трудности социализации детей-сирот, рассмотрены общие аспекты музейной педагогики и описан опыт деятельности музея детско- го дома как фактора повышения его инновационного потенциала.The article characterizes the problems of the orphan childrens socialization, it examines general aspects of museum pedagogics and it describes experience of activity of the museum as a factor of increase of innovative potential of the childrens home