Futures Research Methodologies: Report of an Exploration of a Delphi Study

In an unpublished Second Report on a Survey of Doctorates in Art Education , the author examined the responses of persons with doctorates in art education with regard to those items which dealt with their perceptions of the field as it existed both at the time of the survey and as they perceived the future might be. The responses suggested a lack of consensus regarding the present state of art education as well as little agreement regarding the direction(s) the field ought to be taking. Although the survey form used was quite lengthy, most information solicited was provided with the exception of those questions regarding future projections. The results of the survey motivated this researcher (1) to investigate appropriate research methodologies to be applied to art education for forecasting future possibilities for the field and (2) to ascertain leadership groups in the profession who would be influential in planning for and designing alternative futures for art education

Reliability and Validity of the OrthoMechanics Sequential Analyzer

poster abstractPurpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of newly developed software in the assessment of orthodontic tooth movement three dimensionally. Methods: The sample consisted of pre- and post- treatment computed tomography scans and plaster dental models of 20 orthodontic subjects treated with a hyrax expander as a part of their comprehensive orthodontic treatment. Dental arch measurements, including arch widths, tooth inclinations and angulations, were measured on the scans using InvivoDental 3D imaging software version 5.1. The plaster dental models were laser scanned, superimposed, and measurements were obtained digitally using the new software. Agreement between the digital models and the CT measurements was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), paired t-tests, and Bland-Altman plots. A p-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: High agreement (ICC > 0.9), a non-significant paired t-test, and no indication of agreement discrepancies were observed for most of the measured parameters. Conclusions: The new software program offers a valid and reliable tool concerning dental arch measurements obtained from 3D laser scanned models. It could be considered a possible practical method that helps the orthodontist evaluate the treatment progress in a non-invasive manner and without unnecessary radiation exposure. Funding: Indiana University Purdue University - Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research & the Funding Opportunities for Research Commercialization and Economics Success (FORCES)

Targeting Succinate Metabolism in Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury.

Timely reperfusion is critical for salvaging ischemic tissue in myocardial infarction, in stroke, and during resuscitation. Paradoxically, the reperfusion of blood into the ischemic organ is damaging in itself, leading to ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury. Best clinical practice is to reperfuse rapidly to limit ischemic time. Despite this, extensive IR injury still occurs, which is a major driver of pathology, making the prevention of this damage a clear unmet clinical need.1 Recent work has shown a role for mitochondrial succinate metabolism in IR injury that opens up exciting new therapeutic approaches

The Reliability and Reproducibility of Conventional, Digital and CT Created Cephalograms: A Comparative Study

poster abstractObjective: The purpose of this retrospective radiographic study was to determine the reliability and reproducibility of skeletal and dental measurements of lateral cephalograms created from computed tomography (CT) scan compared to the conventional and digital lateral cephalograms. Method: Following reliability studies, CT records of 30 patients were obtained from the archives. The lateral cephalometric radiographs of these patients were initially manually traced. Then the same radiographs were scanned and traced using Dolphin Imaging software Version 11 (Dolphin Imaging, Chatsworth, CA, USA). Totally 16 (10 angular and 6 linear) measurements were performed. Cephalometric measurements performed on conventional, digital and CT created cephalograms were compared statistically using repeated measures analysis of variance. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05 level. Result: The intrarater reliability test for each method showed high values r >.090 except for the mandibular length which had a correlation of 0.82 for the CT created cephalogram. Five measurements (N-A- Pog, N-S, ANS-PNS, Co-ANS and Co-Gn) were found to be significantly different between the CT created and conventional cephalograms and three measurements (SNB, ANB, and /1-MP) were found to be significantly different between the CT created and digital cephalograms. Conclusion: The measurement differences between the conventional, digital and CT created cephalograms are statistically significant, but clinically acceptable

Effects of mandibular advancement appliances on the upper airway dimensions

poster abstractPurpose: The aim of this retrospective cephalometric study was to investigate dentoskeletal and airway dimensional changes in a group of orthodontic patients with deficient mandible using Herbst vs. MARA appliances. Methods: Pre-treatment and post-treatment lateral cephalometric radiographs of 34 subjects with deficient mandible (aged 9-22 years) were selected from the postgraduate orthodontic clinic archives. The cephalograms were classified into 2 groups . Group 1 (n=17) consisted of cephalograms from individuals treated with a Herbst appliance and group 2 (n=17) consisted of cephalograms from individuals treated with a MARA appliance. Each cephalogram was traced manually and the selected dentoskeletal and airway parameters were recorded for all subjects. Intraclass correlations (ICC) were performed on duplicate measures of 10 cephalograms to assess reliability. Paired t-tests were used to differences in the airway parameters from pre-treatment to post-treatment within groups. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: ICC values were ˃0.90 for all measurements. Significant changes were recorded in ANB, N-S, ANS-PNS, Go-Gn, Overbite, Overjet, Co-ANS, Co-Gn, TFH, AFH, and LAFH for both Herbst and MARA groups. Airway parameters such as soft tissue thickness of the posterior pharyngeal wall (Ba-ad1 and Ba-ad2), anteroposterior dimension of bony nasopharynx (Ba-PNS, AA-PNS and AA-ptm), and width of the nasopharyngeal airway space (PNS-ppw1) showed statistically significant decreases in both groups. The Herbst group also showed statistically significant decrease in the sagittal depth of pharyngeal lumen at the nasopharynx and oropharynx (ptm-ad1, PNS-ad1, and PNS-ppw2) while the MARA group demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in the angle represents the anteroposterior dimension of the nasopharynx (AA-S-PNS). Conclusion: Using mandibular advancement appliance decrease significantly the upper airway dimensions. The amount of the change in the upper airway size was variable between Herbst and MARA appliances

Mucosal Thickening of Maxillary Sinuses of CLP vs non-CLP patients

poster abstractObjectives: The objective of this retrospective radiographic study was to compare mucosal thickening of maxillary sinuses of patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP) vs. non-CLP. Methods: Following IRB approval, three-dimensional cone beam computerized tomographs (CBCT; i-CAT) of children with unilateral CLP and children without CLP (age and gender matched; 8-14yoa; n=15ea) were selected randomly from pre-existing orthodontic records. Following reliability studies, one investigator segmented both sinuses from each CBCT using Dolphin-3D Imaging software. The sinuses were separated coronally into .4mm slices anterioposteriorly. Bony sinuses and airspaces were outlined manually on each slice. Software calculated total sinus and airspace area. Areas were summed and multiplied by slice thickness to determine volume. Mucosal thickening was the difference between total sinus and airspace volumes. Percent mucosal thickening was calculated. Since no significant differences existed between cleft (left) and noncleft (right) sides of either patient group (p>.05), sinuses for each group were pooled (n=30 ea). Significant differences in total sinus, airspace, mucosal thickening volumes and % mucosal thickening were determined using paired t-tests, accepting p<0.05 as significant. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) scatterplots were used to determine patterns of multivariate variation based on group, age, and sex. MANOVA was used to confirm PCA findings. Reliability was determined using Intraclass Correlations (ICC). Results: Reliability was excellent (ICC>0.99). The CLP total sinus and airspace volume were significantly smaller and mucosal thickening and % mucosal thickening were significantly greater than non-CLP sinuses (all p<.024). PCA showed that 89.6% of sample variance was explained by PC axis 1 and 2 (group and age). Age group 8-9yrs showed more separation with 13-14yrs than with 10-12yrs. MANOVA confirmed a significant effect of sample (p=.001) and age (p=.007)