Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: a dental perspective

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is regarded as a potentially life threatening breathing disorder characterised by periodic cessation of air intake during sleep. Treatment modalities include conservative measures such as weight loss, change in sleep position and avoidance of alcohol: these may suffice in reducing airway obstruction. Pharmacotherapy has also been used with various grades of success. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) helps maintain airway patency during sleep by a continuous stream of air under light pressure. Tracheostomy, by its very nature, completely bypasses any pharyngeal obstruction but is associated with a high degree of morbidity. Other surgical procedures such as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), orthognathic surgery, hyoid-myotomy suspension and tongue reduction have also been used. Mandibular advancement splints (MAS) are increasingly being recognised as a suitable management option for those subjects with mild to moderate OSA. A study was undertaken to ascertain the effectiveness of using mandibular advancement splints in the treatment of OSA. Mandibular protrusion using a MAS is frequently, but not invariably, associated with improvement in velo- and oro-pharyngeal airway dimensions in awake subjects.peer-reviewe

The prevalence of malocclusion in Maltese schoolchildren as measured by the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need

The Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN), a widelyused, standardised epidemiological tool was used to determine the prevalence of malocclusion in Maltese schoolchildren. The use of an internationally-accepted, graded index based on both health and aesthetic scales allows prioritisation of treatment and appropriate direction of resources. Furthermore it allows training curricula to be tailored to the population requirements. This will maximise cost-benefit ratios to the advantage of both the patient and the service provider. This study highlights the similarities and differences between the Maltese and other populations and draws attention to the traits most prevalent for our population.peer-reviewe

An improved algorithm for evaluating trellis phase codes

A method is described for evaluating the minimum distance parameters of trellis phase codes, including CPFSK, partial response FM, and more importantly, coded CPM (continuous phase modulation) schemes. The algorithm provides dramatically faster execution times and lesser memory requirements than previous algorithms. Results of sample calculations and timing comparisons are included

From AAA to F: How the Credit Rating Agencies Failed America and What Can Be Done to Protect Investors

In the fallout from the current economic crises, many have struggled to determine what went wrong. One factor contributing to the massive combustion of the U.S. financial markets (and thus the economy as a whole) was investors\u27 heavy reliance on inaccurate, inflated credit ratings. Because of the long entrenchment of credit ratings in the regulatory structure and, perhaps more significantly, in the investment culture, reducing the reliance on those ratings is unlikely. This Note summarizes the increased reliance on credit rating agencies and credit ratings in the regulatory structure and examines some suggested models for reform. It argues that present reform efforts, however, address superficial flaws in the regulatory structure and fail to confront the real issues that undermine the validity of credit ratings. This Note proposes a model for regulating credit rating agencies in a manner akin to the regulation of broker dealers, through a self-regulatory organization. It argues that the SEC should seek to ensure the transparency and integrity of the markets by facilitating, through regulatory requirements, the formation of a self-regulatory organization with oversight of and responsibility for credit rating agencies

Technological Intermediaries and Freedom of the Press

Recent scholarship has argued that the constitutional guarantee of freedom of the press refers to speech-disseminating technology, such as the printing press, rather than to the institutional press. This Article argues that to protect the free press rights of authors, technological intermediaries such as presses and internet and online service providers must be afforded greater protection than authors for publishing and disseminating sanctionable speech. Unless intermediaries are granted near-complete immunity, the government will be able to censor authors collaterally by threatening to punish intermediaries for authors\u27 speech, forcing intermediaries to restrain what the government cannot directly. Specifically, this Article explores the longstanding, symbiotic relationship between liberty of the press and copyright law, and argues that, even if copyright protections are generally consistent with the Free Speech Clause, they may violate the Free Press Clause when they motivate collateral censorship of non-copyright-infringing speech

Perfect Enforcement Of Law: When To Limit And When To Use Technology

Road safety cameras can photograph your car running red lights. Some bars record information on driver’s licenses to establish that their patrons are old enough to drink. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) uses automated web crawlers to try to find illegal copies of mp3s, and iTunes embeds personal identifying information in the tracks of every song you buy

Why Canada Needs REUs

Problems of earth science involve not only questions of physical science and engineering, but also of the social sciences and humanities. As a fourth-year geo-environmental engineering student, I am increasingly concerned that issues of philosophy and public policy are being neglected in earth science classrooms. Realizing that my scholastic career was narrowing, I sought an opportunity to alleviate this concern and expand my horizon. This summer I participated in just such an opportunity: the Global Climate Change and Society Program, a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) sponsored by the National Science Foundation and held in Boulder, Colorado. Throughout the program, students were encouraged to collaborate with peers from around the country, exposed to an outstanding roster of guest speakers, and inspired to reap practical knowledge in disciplines outside their area of specialization. Canadian undergraduates in Earth science would greatly benefit from participating in educational programs of a similar nature. Canada's closest analogue of the National Science Foundation, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, needs to expand its outreach programs and spearhead a campaign to develop Research Experiences for Undergraduates in Canada